Kickstarter
Crowdfunding for physical products and creative projects
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7.0editor score
Pros
- Backers pay before you manufacture
- Built-in audience of early adopters
- Public proof of demand
Cons
- All-or-nothing and a lot of preparation
- Fees plus fulfilment risk
- Campaigns fail quietly without their own audience
What it does
Backers pledge money for a product that does not exist yet; you only get paid if the goal is met.
Using it to validate
For a physical product, a campaign is the most honest market test available. Budget two months of preparation and bring your own first hundred backers; the platform alone rarely delivers them.
Pricing
About 5 percent platform fee plus payment processing on successful campaigns.
Who it suits
Hardware, design and creative product ideas.