Indiegogo is where clever and innovative projects take flight with the support of early adopters like you. Ready to dive in? Crowdfunding has both risks and rewards, so read on for everything you need to know about evaluating and backing projects.
Ready to discover product ideas and cool projects? Check out the collections below to see some of the latest campaigns in technology and design:
Backing campaigns on Indiegogo is a great way to get access to new ideas, but it’s important to remember that crowdfunding is not shopping, so it can require a little extra attention from you upfront. Here’s how to get started with evaluating crowdfunding campaigns on Indiegogo:
This is where to find a detailed overview of the product. Keep an eye out for progress photos, timelines, and other info that indicates the status of the project.
What to consider
Are there photos or videos showing at least an early version of the product in use?
Does the overall timeline of the project seem realistic and attainable?
Every campaign has a funding goal that is set by the entrepreneurs behind the project. Some entrepreneurs require significant funds to complete their projects, while others may be further along in their project and have only a modest goal.
What to consider
Has the project team set a realistic goal, relative to their progress to date?
As the campaign unfolds, the project team will send updates to backers and followers. These updates are the best way to keep track of progress over the course of the project.
What to consider
If the project has been live for some time, has the project team been sending meaningful updates?
Do you see concrete progress (photos, test results, etc.) towards creating their product?
Think of this like a very high-level progress bar -- it’s a quick way to see how far along the project is in the product development process. (Note that only campaigns in our Tech & Innovation category have a project stage.)
What to consider
Do their estimated delivery dates feel realistic given their stage of development?
If the project is in the concept stage, has the project team presented a clear plan to bring their product all the way to the market?
Before backing a project, it’s a good practice to do a quick check on the people behind the project. Open up the profile to look for the company website, social accounts, and any previous crowdfunding history.
What to consider
Are the people behind the project active in engaging with their customers online?
For any prior crowdfunding campaigns, did they meet their timeline and ultimately ship products to backers?
Crowdfunding gives you the opportunity to support entrepreneurs and new technology from the earliest stages of development. Be sure to evaluate every campaign closely and contribute at a level you can afford in the event that the team is unable to complete the project as planned.
Indiegogo is where entrepreneurs debut new and exciting hardware products, often long before they hit mainstream availability. This is your chance to be the earliest of the early adopters.
Many campaigns on Indiegogo launch with special perks and heavily discounted prices for the very first backers. For most campaigns, being early can mean getting your product at a fraction of the eventual MSRP.
By backing projects, sharing comments, and interacting with the project team, you can help shape the design and features of products before they come to market. On Indiegogo, the entrepreneurs are listening.
Indiegogo exists to help entrepreneurs connect directly with an audience of technology lovers and early adopters, like you. Every time you support a project, you’re helping entrepreneurs achieve their dream of launching something new.
Feedback, questions, and comments.
The place to find feedback, questions, and comments from other backers. If you’re among the first backers of a project, there may not yet be much discussion, so take extra care to evaluate the campaign story and other portions of the campaign page.
What to consider
Is the project team adequately responding to questions and comments from backers?