Crowdfunding & preorders
Building the business
587 episodes across 39 shows cover crowdfunding & preorders. The shows that cover it most are The Amp Hour, How I Built This and The Startup CPG Podcast. The most recent, from 8 Oct 2026, is “136: Mark Four” from Thoroughly Considered.
Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Crowd Supply and preorder campaigns: planning, running them, and delivering to backers. Not crowdsourcing (designs or ideas from a community) and not fundraising from investors.
587 episodes from 39 shows, most relevant and most recent first.
587 episodes
Turning Customers Into Investors: A Popcorn Brand's Crowdfunding Playbook
Tal Moore, founder and CEO of Popsmith, details his journey from selling candy as a child to launching a premium stovetop popcorn brand with his business partner Dave Stickland. He explains how $2.2 million in personal capital and a $1.6…
347 - Get a $1 Million investment with www.grow-ny.com
Jenn Smith, Director of Food and Ag Innovation Programs at Cornell University and Director of Grow-NY, explains the details of the Grow-NY competition, a $3 million equity investment program for early-stage startups. She highlights past…
The Founder Fundraising Journey: Karl Franz Williams, Founder of Uncle Waithleys
Karl Franz Williams, founder of Uncle Waithley's, details his journey from brand management at Procter & Gamble and Pepsi to launching a Caribbean-inspired ginger beer brand. He explains the critical need for dual fundraising…
Community Fundraising 101: James Reina, Jibby Coffee, and Jonny Price, Wefunder
James Reina of Jibby Coffee and Jonny Price of Wefunder discuss the mechanics and strategy of community fundraising via Regulation Crowdfunding. They explain how Wefunder allows unaccredited investors to invest, lowering minimum checks to…
233: Raising Money For Scaling Via a Crowdfunding Campaign
Will Ford, President and Co-Founder of LaunchBoom, explains how hardware startups can leverage crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo to validate products and raise growth capital without giving away excessive equity early. He…
217: Using Crowdfunding for Real Customer Feedback on Your Invention
Yuri Dvoinos, founder of 15 companies including the maker of the Jammy portable guitar, explains how he used crowdfunding primarily for customer feedback rather than just capital. He details how the Jammy Guitar's first Indiegogo campaign…
#355: Mastering the Pitch: MedTech Innovations from Concept to Market
Blythe Karow, COO at Neurogeneces and former president/COO at Evren Technologies, shares her extensive experience pitching to investors, including securing an FDA breakthrough designation for Evren's spinal cord stimulation device. She…
191: How to Grow Your Crowdfunding Sales
Mark Pecota, co-founder of LaunchBoom, explains how hardware startups can grow crowdfunding sales by leveraging digital marketing, specifically Facebook Ads, to build pre-launch email lists and drive live campaign conversions. He details…
134: Kevin Kelly Remains Undefeated
Dan Provost, co-founder of Studio Neat, discusses his new custom guitar company, Offkilter Guitars, detailing the transition from hobbyist to small business, including sourcing parts from Warmouth and managing a fragmented manufacturing…
Ep. 23 - Making Money with Open Source Hardware
Stephen Oz and Lucian Chea of Opulo discuss various business models for open source hardware, contrasting the high costs of physical production with software. They explore revenue streams including selling assembled units or kits…
#116 TOAST-IT Makes a Deal on Shark Tank! All the Details from Inside the Tank with Founders Coco & Mafe
Toast It founders Mafe Romer and Coco Cabezas detail their journey from applying for Shark Tank to securing a $150,000 investment for 20% equity from Daniel Lubetzky. They discuss the rigorous application process, the intense preparation…
130: Embarrassment, Then Relief
Myke Curley of Cortex Brand discusses launching a high-end, London-made journal priced around $90, weighing the financial risks of tight margins against the benefits of a Kickstarter campaign. Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat…
#266: Building an Organic Social Media Following with Lindzi Shanks, XO Marshmallow
Lindzi Shanks, founder and CEO of XO Marshmallow, explains how she built a 1.4 million follower social media presence and generated over $2 million in TikTok Shop sales by treating the marshmallow manufacturing process as inherently…
Briogeo Hair Care: Nancy Twine (2020)
Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo, explains how a personal tragedy and her mother's legacy inspired her to launch a natural hair care brand after leaving a career at Goldman Sachs. She details the struggle to find a contract manufacturer…
162: Product Pre Launch Strategies For Crowdfunding Success
Will Ford, Co-Founder of LaunchBoom, explains how hardware startups can use pre-launch strategies to validate products and fund manufacturing via crowdfunding. He details the 'LaunchBoom effect,' where securing small dollar deposits…
117: Successful Equity Crowdfunding for Hardware Startups
Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, founder of FrontFundr, explains how hardware startups can use equity crowdfunding to raise capital and build a community of brand ambassadors. He distinguishes equity crowdfunding from product-based platforms like…
Advice Line with Jamie Siminoff of Ring (August 2024)
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff joins Guy Raz to advise three founders: Vico Hernandez of ErgoFlex Desk, who is launching a smart, tilting, mobile ergonomic desk via Kickstarter; Iyin Akinlabi Aladimeji of Luji's Chocolate, who seeks pricing…
#249 - Expo Pitch Slam Recap with ChiChi Foods
Chiara Munzi, co-founder of ChiChi Foods, explains how she and co-founder Izzy launched the world's first chickpea hot cereal after realizing traditional oatmeal caused energy crashes due to high sugar and low protein. They won Startup…
Bombas: David Heath and Randy Goldberg
David Heath and Randy Goldberg, co-founders of Bombas, explain how they identified a gap in the sock market after learning socks are the most requested item at homeless shelters. They leveraged Heath's father's connection to industry…
Last Chance for PDX Discount
Aaron Moncur, founder of Pipeline Design & Engineering and host of the Being an Engineer podcast, explains his motivation for launching the Product Development Expo (PDX) in Portland. He highlights the lack of a single venue for physical…
Where it comes up0:00
How to Make the Most of Expo West as an Emerging CPG Brand | Little Latke, Gato Dates & Hola Mija Chips
Taylor Blue, founder of Little Latke, explains how exhibiting in the Startup CPG section at Expo West allowed her to launch a non-GMO, seed oil-free formula and two new flavors, securing new accounts through targeted sampling. Gabriella…
091: Market Testing Prior to a Crowdfunding Launch
Will Ford, Co-Founder of LaunchBoom, explains how his agency uses a pre-launch testing phase called 'Test Boom' to mitigate financial risk and validate demand before committing to a full Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign. Ford details how…
Founder Feature: Sean Knecht of Tantos!
Sean Knecht, co-founder of Tantos (the first and only puffed pasta chip), discusses building the brand with celebrity chef Joe Sasto, detailing their origin story from a DM about flour-to-egg ratios to appearing on Shark Tank twice. Knecht…
Exploding Kittens: Elan Lee. How cat-themed Russian Roulette changed game night forever
Elan Lee, co-founder of Exploding Kittens, recounts how a card game born from a Sharpie and a deck of cards became a global phenomenon, raising nearly $9 million on Kickstarter. Lee details the company's evolution from a garage startup to…
085: Scaling Your Product Up After Crowdfunding
Ben Drury, founder of Yoto Play, explains how the company used a Kickstarter campaign to validate demand and raise $17 million in Series A funding. Drury details the transition from a Raspberry Pi Zero W-based prototype to a scalable…
073: Tips from the World’s Biggest Crowdfunding Agency
Mark Pecota, Co-Founder of LaunchBoom and author of Crowdfunded, explains how LaunchBoom uses a data-driven 'reservation funnel' to validate hardware products before launch. He details how testing deposit amounts (e.g., $1 vs. $100) on…
PayPal: Max Levchin (June 2022)
Max Levchin, co-founder of PayPal, recounts his journey from a Soviet Ukraine immigrant to a Silicon Valley pioneer, detailing the creation of Confinity and its pivot to PayPal. He describes the strategic merger with Elon Musk’s X.com, the…
Where it comes up55:15
Using IoT to Modernize Infrastructure | IotaComm's Terrence DeFranco | Internet of Things Podcast
Terrence DeFranco, CEO of IotaComm, explains how the company leverages its nationwide FCC-licensed 800 MHz spectrum portfolio and the LoRaWAN standard to provide carrier-grade connectivity for smart buildings and cities. He details the…
Minted: Mariam Naficy
Mariam Naficy, founder of Minted, explains how she pivoted her stationery platform from selling established brands to a 100% crowdsourced model after an initial launch failure. She details the early struggles of Eve.com, including VC…
S3 E4: An Impact Hardware VC's Playbook with Carlota Ochoa from Extentia
Carlota Ochoa, Principal at Extentia Capital, explains that the fund looks for hardware startups with low residual R&D risk, step-change innovations, and a clear path to cost parity, rather than marginal green improvements. She highlights…
Where it comes up36:22
275: Building a Brand New Manufacturing Company in the US with Andrew Johnson, Co-Founder of HeavyTech
Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech and CEO of ShelfAware, explains how he and his partners built a hybrid and electric heavy machinery manufacturer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while maintaining his O-ring distribution business and VMI…
067: Modern Funding Tools for Hardware Product Startups
Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, founder of FrontFundr, explains how equity crowdfunding allows hardware startups to raise capital and build community awareness simultaneously, distinguishing it from reward-based platforms like Kickstarter. He…
Electromaker of the Month, New Arduino Portenta Shield, and more!
The host of The Electromaker Show announces the 'Electromaker of the Month' initiative, a monthly contest for community projects with prizes from Nordic Semiconductor, including the nRF52840 dongle and BLE Development Kit. The episode…
Kickstarter: Perry Chen (2018)
Perry Chen, co-founder of Kickstarter, explains how the platform evolved from a 2002 idea about funding creative projects to its 2009 launch, emphasizing the 8-year development period and the decision to remain a public benefit corporation…
Shootout at the CNCF Corral
Bryan Cantrill, Adam Leventhal, Rachel Stephens, and Adam Jacob discuss the public dispute between Synadia and the CNCF regarding the NATS project, focusing on the failed attempt to withdraw the project and the resulting trademark…
Productive Pi Hacks, Amazing Arduino Inventions, New Hardware Galore!
The host of The Electromaker Show reviews several maker projects, including Matthias Wandel’s RP2040-based microwave current sensor and Alisdair Allan’s hack of an IKEA Vindriktning air quality monitor using a Raspberry Pi Pico W. The…
Policygenius: Jennifer Fitzgerald
Jennifer Fitzgerald, co-founder of Policygenius, explains how she and partner Francois de Lame left McKinsey to build an online insurance marketplace, starting with a focus on disability insurance. They initially struggled to raise venture…
136: Mark Four
Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the Kickstarter campaign for their first fountain pen, the Mark Four. They explain the design challenges of creating a sealed, magnetic cap system and balancing the pen's weight, while…
Advice Line with Jamie Siminoff of Ring
Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring and current CEO of Door and Door, joins Guy Raz to answer questions from three hardware founders. Siminoff advises Vico, inventor of the Ergo Flex Desk, on focusing his Kickstarter campaign on specific…
Arduino User Groups Return, new RP2040 boards, TinyML Drill!
The host discusses the return of Arduino User Groups, highlighting the value of in-person maker communities, and introduces the Neuton Maker Day webinar focused on TinyML applications like predictive maintenance and slope control. He…
How to Validate the Market for Your New Product with Ivo Kalburdzhiev of CreatorClub
Ivo Kalburdzhiev, co-founder and CEO of CreatorClub, explains a product market validation process for hardware startups to avoid building unwanted products. He details a funnel using Facebook and Instagram ads to drive traffic to a landing…
355 - Shark Tank Alum Olivia Abrams from Tick Mitt!
Olivia Abrams, CEO and Co-Founder of TickMitt, discusses the journey of creating a chemical-free tick removal mitten and the Tick Sidekick with her father, Steve. She details their experience pitching on Shark Tank, where they received two…
#75 Behind the Scenes of Equity Crowdfunding with tbh (+ Popadelics)
Elena Guberman, co-CEO of tbh (co-founded by Noah Schnapp), details their successful equity crowdfunding campaign on Republic, which raised over $450,000 from 550+ investors with a $50 minimum. She explains the rigorous due diligence…
93 Rejections, One Revolution: How Indiegogo Changed Crowdfunding Forever
Indiegogo co-founders Danae Ringelmann and Slava Rubin recount the company's origin, from their initial focus on democratizing film funding to pivoting into a general crowdfunding platform after facing 93 investor rejections during the…
103: BxCttr
Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the progress of their Kickstarter campaign for the Keen utility knife, noting that while the campaign is performing well organically, paid advertising efforts have not yielded sufficient…
Lessons from a Recovering Hardware Founder | Bluesmart, ROOM, Kite Compliance | Brian Chen
Brian Chen, founder of Kite Compliance, recounts his journey from co-founding Bluesmart, the smart-luggage startup that raised $2.2M on Indiegogo before airlines banned non-removable batteries, to scaling ROOM, a modular office furniture…
Serena & Lily: Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter. They Built a $20M Brand—Then One Investor Almost Destroyed It
Lily Kanter and Serena Dugan, co-founders of Serena & Lily, explain how they scaled a luxury home goods brand from a baby boutique to a $20M enterprise, navigating a disastrous private equity deal that nearly destroyed the company. They…
033: Top Crowdfunding Mistakes with Khierstyn Ross of Crowdfunding Uncut
Khierstyn Ross of Crowdfunding Uncut explains that successful crowdfunding requires building an audience and validating positioning before launch, citing her early failure with Thin Ice where she raised only a third of her goal due to poor…
Advice Line with Norma Kamali of Norma Kamali (November 2024)
Fashion designer Norma Kamali joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders: Ahmed Ijaz of Cambridge Spectacle Company, Bob Wilkoff of Sunny Bowls, and Adriana Alvarez of Love Her Shop. Kamali advises Ijaz on translating his brand's…
429: The Fabric of Your Lungs
Jaco, Jimmy Diresta's daughter and founder of the brand Giaco, discusses the development of her Kickstarter product, the Darkfade flashlight, explaining how trusting an external electronics engineer initially caused significant delays and…