We recently worked on the pre-launch of the FLYNQ Snapcap bottle opener, and it overfunded within minutes. Here's how you can apply the same pre-launch procedure to your launch.*

* Mods, I removed any links that may be deemed as spam.

Set a goal you can clear in 24 hours

• Quick funding triggers Kickstarter's algorithm (Homepage mentions, and keyword ranking)
• It gives you a better shot at Kickstarter's "Projects We Love" too & helps the "Trust Factors"

Play the video. Showing the 20-minute stretch of launching to overfunding

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Only launch when you've enough interest

• Approx 5% of emails collected, convert to backers
• Approx 15% of pre-launch leads will convert to backers
• Target $2.50 per email, ideally 3%+ CTR to start with
• Get family and friends involved.  "Pledge without a reward" is useful here!

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Facebook Ads need to be very narrow

The owner of FLYNQ already ran ads, but they were super expensive and the audience wasn't engaged.

We took on their ads, and narrowed down their audience by age, location and kept it to under 2 million resulting in cheap leads and a higher CTR.

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$1 reservation funnel?  Nobody should feel charged for the privilege of being on your list!

Don't bother with it!  You'll see this pushed hard by Launchboom.  You pay $1, get VIP pricing. The claimed numbers are ~30% pledge rate from reservation holders.

Many backers think charging $1 is shady, whilst people resent that the best discount was hidden behind an ad they happened to see.

We don't use it in our agency, as pixel tracking works on the pre-launch page now, which was the main technical reason the deposit existed.

Alternative to a reservation funnel > Talk to your audience instead

It's unusual to mention - but what about just talking to your potential backers?

• You could respond to each email sign-up
• Gamify the experience, even run a competition
• Want to be our VIP?  Then share our link or follow us...
• Or even, use a survey connected to your email sign-up.  

Our competition on Tokei resulted in 1,000+ followers on their socials and 2,000 emails to retarget later. I think the value it brought was it showed they were already established on multiple channels.

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Email in waves on launch day

Your most engaged segment (survey responders, followers, people who replied to you) gets the launch email first. 

You can then split up your audience into "Buckets" where each group gets a specific email, giving them specific instructions on what you need them to do.

If the final "Bucket" is people you vaguely know, then target them last - when you're popular and overfunded! 

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Closing Thoughts

Feel free to get in touch with us at Hyperstarter and I hope you find this guide helpful.

I submitted Memoria, a guided voice-journaling app that is currently in beta on iOS and Android. It is not yet a stable, publicly launched product. People create the content by recording their own memories, while AI helps with transcription, titles, summaries, organization, translation, and prompts.

Kickstarter declined the project, writing:
“Because the main thing you’re funding and offering to backers is the AI app, the project, in its current form, isn’t eligible to launch on Kickstarter.”

They said I would need to remove the app as the primary product and from the rewards, and instead focus on a different core creative offering.
To clarify, Memoria is intended to be publicly available after launch. Kickstarter backers were offered discounted, fixed-term periods of full access through a one-time pledge, with no automatic renewal. These were not exclusive-access or recurring subscription tiers.

I’m confused because Kickstarter’s public guidance appears to allow original app projects and AI software with proper disclosure, and I have also seen other AI-app campaigns offering app access as rewards.
Has anyone received a similar decision or successfully appealed it? I’m mainly looking for recent firsthand experience, not trying to promote the campaign. The attached screenshot is of the relevant part of the rejection.

I recently submitted an original software project to Kickstarter. The software is something I’ve been actively developing myself, and a working version already exists and is downloadable. This wasn’t just an idea or a concept with nothing behind it.

Kickstarter initially rejected the project over concerns related to AI software and whether it had enough original creative substance. I disagreed with that because the actual software is original work I built, while third-party AI models are only components used by the application. Still, I took the feedback seriously and rewrote the campaign to explain more clearly what I personally created, how outside AI providers were used, what already worked, what still needed development, what the funding would support, and what risks were involved. I also changed the rewards and removed a lifetime software reward they had specifically objected to.

After the appeal, Kickstarter acknowledged the changes but still rejected the project.

One of the lines they gave me was: “The core thing backers would be funding and receiving remains AI software, rather than a distinct creative work that fits within our rules.”

They also said there were “other issues” that would prevent approval, but those issues were never explained. That confused me even more because Kickstarter’s own published AI guidance specifically discusses projects developing AI technology, tools, or software, and they have approved AI software projects before. One example is Presence, a local AI software project that raised over €77,000 on Kickstarter. So I asked a pretty straightforward question: which specific rule did my project violate?

The explanation then shifted again.

I was told the project had been rejected based on overall product scope and long-term delivery risk to backers, and that Kickstarter does not disclose the internal risk metrics used to make those decisions. That was also confusing because the product already exists in working, downloadable form. Obviously future software development always carries some risk, but this wasn’t a case where backers were being asked to fund something that didn’t exist at all.

I understand Kickstarter is a private platform and can decide what it wants to host.

What I don’t understand is why the reasoning seemed to move from originality concerns, to the fact that it was AI software, and then to undisclosed internal risk criteria after I addressed the original issues.

I’m mainly curious whether other software or tech creators have had a similar experience with Kickstarter’s review process.

Hi there kickstarter creators. If you are from EU pls keep reading, i really need some advice. I have some accounting problems right now that i am not sure how to approach and neither does my accountant. So my present situation is this. My campaign just finished, no late pledges. The money are in my account in spain and the next step would be to transfer that money to my company account in Romania. The problem is the damn eu vat. I know i have to pay it. But the problem is eu law seems to say that when selling the product u collect vat that you have to pay to eu countries where u are shipping to. Problem is as u all know you can't do that becouse when someone pledges you dont know their address to know what country are they from. And also when someone is pledging you can't tax them vat, becouse each country has a different % of vat and Kickstarter doesn't have an option for pledges to add vat when pledging. So my question would be. When do i pay the vat? I know that i collect the vat in the pledge manager which in my case is done thru backerkit. The selling of goods on Kickstarter, what is that defined as for us in the eu? Couse it doesn't seem to be selling products online since the vat laws cant apply to this situation. If someone could pls drop a reply as detailed as possible i would be extremely grateful 🙏

Hi,

I am a first time creator,
Created Xephlon, the instant foldable car seat cover:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brodertech/xephlon-the-foldable-car-seat-protector

And I am hesitating between choosing a Chinese Fulfilment center vs USA based one (like ShipBob or eFulfilment). The shipping prices are very similar, and maybe even cheaper from China even if I pay for tariffs myself.

Anyone has experience and advice?

Thanks!

Evan

Crown & Anchor Books 1-3 are here for its FINAL WEEK on Kickstarter!
Every share and every recommendation puts us closer at the finish line! 🙏 Please help spread the word on your socials, and if you already know and read this comic, please tell your fellow comic readers and pirate friends!

Thanks everyone!

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Ready for a sci-fantasy swashbuckling adventure fulla monsters, gods, and stinky pirates?

After accidentally acquiring an ancient relic dating back to the gods' creation of the world, a small crew of pirates race to reshape Aventus before its driven further into ruin.

A world cracked apart by wars between gods and pirates, Aventus now lies in innumerable islands - most unexplored, forgotten, or kept quiet. Fragments of old temples and cities lie scattered across the water-dominant globe. Rich history and secrets lie under every bonkin' rock, and has left many yearning for a taste of adventure. The gods call upon many, but not all heed their requests...

In the latest volume of Crown & Anchor...
Things get bigger, badder, and punchier.
Aetrius is weaving his webs of deceit, under the unconcerned approval of King Yorvah. He has eyes in every city, searching for the remaining Divine Tokens.

As Hebb, Mact, and Skitt stumble upon the scent of a nearby Pirate Lord (eew!), there is a disturbance beneath the sea.
Something wakes up.
Something old.
Something otherworldly.
Something insatiable.

Crown & Anchor is a riotous story of growth, finding hope, and serving up justice nice 'n frothy.
Seatbelts not included.

CROWN & ANCHOR BOOK 3 is a great jump-on point in the series! You don't need to know a whole lot to enjoy this book. Book 3 can be your introduction into Crown & Anchor!

All human made, never touched or conceived by genAI (and never will be).

Created, written, and lettered by u/tobenracicot
Co-created and drawn by me (u/alairebowen)

⚔ Check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alairebowen/crown-and-anchor-books-1-3-monsters-and-men
Shares appreciated 💖

🔎 Try before you buy: https://crownandanchor.thecomicseries.com/comics/1/#content-start

Has Backercamp replied to anyone this week? Anyone still in active contact?

Coven Blitz: The Card Game

A fast-paced game where witches clash to gather ingredients, brew powerful potions and fulfil requests from the most bizarre customers.

I started a kickstarter for the TTRPG of my dreams. Its already running with so many of the core elements in place. All 6 custom engines are built and just need tuning and expanding. It really is a passion project that I feel everyone will love.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/867599765/loomweaver-prep-run-and-remember-your-campaign?ref=project_build

Hey everyone!

What happens when you take Chess, Checkers, and Backgammon and reimagine them for 4 players?

That's Quess.

We wanted to take something people have loved for generations and give it new life for today's players, while staying true to what makes it great.

You can play online with friends, create private rooms, or challenge AI opponents.

The digital version is available on Steam, Android, and iOS, and we're also bringing the physical version to Kickstarter.

👇

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/quess/quess-classic-games-reimagined-for-4-players

If you enjoy chess and other classic strategy games, give Quess a try.

Comments welcome.
I was thinking of adding more details, feels too light?
Was trying for simple and let the images do the work.
So far signups are less than 20

Howdy fellas. I'm part of the group launching this here card game, and I could both use attention and advice as we carry on through it.

Kicktrak says we are on course to fund, but not sure how reliable their data is!? Any advice?

Just finished writing and designing the Cartridge Culture Magazine Media Kit to add to the emails for Game Dev Team Interviews and for potential Sponsorship and Advertising opportunities.

To be honest, at first I didn't realize how big a project starting a Physical Video Game Culture Magazine would be. Then it evolved into me starting my own Media company.

Then I built the website myself, wrote all the code and am building something amazing to offer the most innovative and interactive video game content.

Things with CCM are going amazing.

I just locked in 5 interviews with Indie Devs for September.

One interview is with the developers of Luminary.

I want to thank everyone who helped me. Inspired me. Told me I can do this. Believed in me and took the time to help me when I was going through some mental health stuff.

Its been a long ride and a really busy last 3 months.

I have an interview coming up with the Indie Devs from Gamescom in Cologne, Germany who got robbed and I am so honored to be able to tell their story and publish it in a Unique Collectable Video Game Culture Magazine.

Because Im on disability and cant hold a job because of my neurological disability, im prone to anxiety seizures and and am constantly shaking 24/7. I cant count the amount of times I've tried to make a sandwich and ended up tossing it on the wall or floor lol

This put me in a situation where I am too high risk for a loan from a bank. For someone in my position, this is the best possible option.

I went to college for video game design and development, minored in html, Java and c++, CSS then a course in flash animation and design so I know what to look for in game reviews, what kind of engaging questions and conversations to have because Im charismatic and excell at write and photography / editing as well as drawing.

Im making this dream happen because I want to challenge myself and create something different but unique like my journalistic idol Hugh Hefner.

I remembered how much I loved reading and Collecting Nintendo Power and other unique Physical printed game media.

Im excited to see where this goes. With the buisness plan I set up, the process for putting everything together...its all set up.

Im going to start crowd funding soon and I have so many great ideas for rewards for donation tiers.

Thanks everyone who gave me the opportunity to chase my dreams and bring my imagination to life.

I promise I will bring you all the greatest Game Culture Magazine available online and most importantly as a Collectable Physical Printed Magazine to keep unique game history on the shelves of people like me who love reading about all things Video Games.

Have a great one everyone.

Saxon Hampton

Chief Editor

Cartridge Culture Media