Money Money Money

Ireen Laarakker, MSc,

Founder Dutch Design Starter

Crowdfunding for designers

It’s not (only) about the money

Content

➔ Short introduction crowdfunding➔ No story no glory➔ Check for crowdfundability➔ How to start a campaign

It is growing explosively

But what is it?

Funding goal achieved? Money is transferred and you start realisation

Funding goal NOT achieved? Money is returned to investors/consumers

Before you start consider this:

➔ Succesrate design projects on Kickstarter 39%

➔ Average size successfull campaigns €7000➔ Minimum time spent: 1 day a week

So first find out:

➔ Do you have a story?➔ Is your design “crowdfundable”?➔ How to execute a successful crowdfunding

campaign

No story No glory

➔ WHY would people share your story?◆ Are you solving a problem? (waterworks)◆ Do you have an inspiring goal? (mine-kafon)

No story No glory

➔ If it’s only about the shape, the material, the production technique, or you starting your first production, it’s not a story for crowdfunding design

➔ Can you ‘lend’ a story?

Is your design crowdfundable?

➔ Is it new? REALLY new!➔ Is it suitable for internetsale?➔ Do you have proof of concept?

Proof of concept

Do you have a story?

Is your design crowdfundable

?

Need investors to

start production?

Decision flow chart

YES

YES

YES

Try regular sales channels:➔ gallerie➔ (design) webshop➔ (design) presale (be carefull

when giving price reductions!)

Consider crowdfunding?

Try investment funding➔ Loans➔ Stock➔ Convertible

bonds

NO

NO

Learn how to execute a campaign

NO

Prepare your campaign➔ Build a team➔ Platform choice➔ Goal➔ Rewards➔ Video➔ Networkbuilding➔ Launch & promote

Build a team➔ 30% more chance of success➔ Increases your reliability➔ More expertise➔ Larger network

Platforms

➔ Type (equity, rewards, loan, donation)➔ International/ local/your own website➔ niche/general➔ The success does NOT depend on the

platform, it depends on YOU➔ Find the platform that bests suits your

needs

Goal settingHave a concreet goal (selling 50 chairs is not a goal, investing in a production mould is).

Your goal shoud be your Break Even Point.

Rewards➔ 5 to 8 rewards➔ small donation for supporters: €5➔ most slected: €25 , €70 ➔ earlybird offer➔ dealer package➔ ‘mecanas’ reward

Video➔ max 2 minutes (less is more)➔ Original (if possible)➔ Show don’t tell (no talking heads)➔ Call to action➔ Be convincing, honest, passionate, likeable

and reliable

Crowdfunding = networkfunding

➔ start your mailchimp account RIGHT NOW!➔ Start following relevant blogs➔ Start building social media networks

Launch & Promote

➔ Don’t forget offline networking!➔ Organise a kick-off for your ambassadors ➔ Keep feeding your network with interesting,

relevant information (about your campaign)➔ Ask your network for help

What can DDS do for YOU

➔ Proof of concept➔ promotion in design world➔ Advice & coaching➔ Network & expertise in production and

distribution➔ Adding flexible crowdfunding

functionality to YOUR website.

It’s not (just) about the money

➔ It's about networking➔ It's about promotion➔ It's about research➔ It's about engagement➔ It's about (pre)sales