5 ms·

Helping crowdfunded projects deliver on time and keep their backers happy

40 points by rosanna 14y ago

freshbreakfast 14y ago
The problem this project attempts to fix is based on a whole lot of correct assumptions, IMO. 2013 is going to be the year crowd-funding really takes off and creep up on a lot of consumer facing industries. And so it follows a lot of the creators are going to be surprised themselves about the very real problem of fulfillment. Basically, fulfillment and inexperience is always a bad combo. Looking forward to see how Backer Kit attacks this problem.
kirillzubovsky 14y ago
Would love to see what some of the current Kickstarter project have to say about the service. Nothing validates project better than excited users :)
thoughtcriminal 14y ago
Works for more than Kickstarter I assume? I'm not in the US, as are many other HN readers.
- mbs348 14y ago
  Currently we support only Kickstarter, because thats what we have first hand knowledge of. Happy to add others when we get a customer who needs it from us.
  - michaelmior 14y ago
    Curious to hear what the business model is. I see "start for free" mentioned a lot. What isn't going to be free? Personally, I'd rather know that if I were to use the service.
    - mbs348 14y ago
      actually it will be a paid service, but it will be free for the duration of the beta. We will make that more clear ASAP.
skdoo 14y ago
Logistics are a big problem for crowdfunding, especially first-timers, and Kickstarter isn't keen to step in. Pebble actually developed their own backer-facing website to deal with it. For campaigns without those resources, like our own, this takes care of logistical issues and lets us focus on product. Incredibly valuable.
- mbs348 14y ago
  yes! we actually talked with Eric and the Pebble guys about what worked well for them. I sure wish we had it for Diaspora.
e1ven 14y ago
Very Very good idea for a service. I could see your partnering with fulfillment companies, and integrating with their API ("T-shirts for users 1-2000 are in the mail") Is there any way to get into this without an active KS? I'd like to poke around, but I don't have a KS running at the moment. When is the expected launch? What's the pricing? ;)
- rosanna 14y ago
  Hi Colin, thanks for the kind words! We've definitely talked about those ideas :) Right now, we are only taking signups for our beta, and working with a few select KS projects to get it off the ground before opening it up to more project creators. Launch and pricing details soon—we'll keep you updated ;) Please feel free to email us at hello@backerkit.com if you have any further questions and suggestions! Thanks again.

40 points by rosanna 14y ago

The problem this project attempts to fix is based on a whole lot of correct assumptions, IMO. 2013 is going to be the year crowd-funding really takes off and creep up on a lot of consumer facing industries. And so it follows a lot of the creators are going to be surprised themselves about the very real problem of fulfillment. Basically, fulfillment and inexperience is always a bad combo. Looking forward to see how Backer Kit attacks this problem.

kirillzubovsky 14y ago

Would love to see what some of the current Kickstarter project have to say about the service. Nothing validates project better than excited users :)

thoughtcriminal 14y ago

Works for more than Kickstarter I assume? I'm not in the US, as are many other HN readers.

mbs348 14y ago
Currently we support only Kickstarter, because thats what we have first hand knowledge of. Happy to add others when we get a customer who needs it from us.
- michaelmior 14y ago
  Curious to hear what the business model is. I see "start for free" mentioned a lot. What isn't going to be free? Personally, I'd rather know that if I were to use the service.
  - mbs348 14y ago
    actually it will be a paid service, but it will be free for the duration of the beta. We will make that more clear ASAP.

skdoo 14y ago

Logistics are a big problem for crowdfunding, especially first-timers, and Kickstarter isn't keen to step in. Pebble actually developed their own backer-facing website to deal with it. For campaigns without those resources, like our own, this takes care of logistical issues and lets us focus on product. Incredibly valuable.

mbs348 14y ago
yes! we actually talked with Eric and the Pebble guys about what worked well for them. I sure wish we had it for Diaspora.

e1ven 14y ago

Very Very good idea for a service. I could see your partnering with fulfillment companies, and integrating with their API ("T-shirts for users 1-2000 are in the mail") Is there any way to get into this without an active KS? I'd like to poke around, but I don't have a KS running at the moment. When is the expected launch? What's the pricing? ;)

rosanna 14y ago
Hi Colin, thanks for the kind words! We've definitely talked about those ideas :) Right now, we are only taking signups for our beta, and working with a few select KS projects to get it off the ground before opening it up to more project creators. Launch and pricing details soon—we'll keep you updated ;) Please feel free to email us at hello@backerkit.com if you have any further questions and suggestions! Thanks again.