Indiegogo: how crowdfunding fuels innovation

Crowdfunding has transformed the way new products reach the world. Instead of relying solely on venture capital or traditional financing, creators can now turn to their audience, inviting early adopters to support ideas long before they hit the market. Among the major platforms shaping this movement, Indiegogo has become a global launchpad for technology, design, and innovation.

What is Indiegogo?

Indiegogo is a reward-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2008 that enables entrepreneurs, startups, and inventors to raise funds directly from the public. Unlike equity platforms where contributors become shareholders, Indiegogo focuses on perks: early access, limited editions, special bundles, or exclusive pricing.

Today, Indiegogo hosts more than 800,000 campaigns, with millions of backers worldwide supporting technology, mobility, design, and lifestyle projects.

How Indiegogo works

Launching a project on Indiegogo follows a clear structure:

1. Campaign creation

Creators design a campaign page including their story, product description, prototype proof, pricing tiers, goals, and timeline. Indiegogo requires transparency and proof of concept before a campaign goes live.

2. Funding models

Indiegogo offers two types of funding:

• Fixed Funding: funds are collected only if the target amount is reached.
  
  
• Flexible Funding: creators receive whatever amount is pledged, even if the goal is not fully met.
  
  

This flexibility allows creators to choose the model best suited to their stage of development.

3. Backer engagement

Backers contribute by selecting “perks,” which may include early units, accessories, limited editions, discounts, or exclusive updates. Throughout the campaign, creators post updates and engage with the community.

4. Fulfillment

After the campaign closes, creators must manufacture and deliver perks to backers. Indiegogo emphasizes the importance of clear communication and realistic timelines.

Why creators choose Indiegogo

Indiegogo appeals to early-stage innovators because:

• It reaches a global audience with high interest in cutting-edge tech.
  
  
• It builds early market validation, proving demand before mass production.
  
  
• It drives visibility, often leading to press coverage, partnerships, and additional investors.
  
  
• It fosters a loyal early adopter community, which often remains engaged long after the campaign ends.
  
  

For hardware and deep-tech products especially, Indiegogo offers a way to fund early industrialization while collecting real user feedback.

Challenges and risks

Crowdfunding comes with responsibilities:

• Manufacturing delays can frustrate backers if timelines aren’t realistic.
  
  
• High production costs may require careful planning to avoid losses.
  
  
• Customer expectations must be managed with transparency and frequent updates.
  
  
• Campaigns are not guaranteed to succeed: success relies heavily on marketing, communication, and product readiness.
  
  

Indiegogo publicly highlights these risks and encourages responsible campaign planning.

By the way…

Skyted is also launching its own Indiegogo campaign to fund the FTG-30. Discover it here.

FAQ about Indiegogo

Is Indiegogo the same as Kickstarter?
No. Both platforms support reward-based crowdfunding, but they differ in funding models, flexibility, and the types of projects typically featured.

Who can back a project?
Anyone over 18 can support a campaign from anywhere Indiegogo operates.

Do backers get equity?
Not with standard campaigns; they receive perks, not shares. 

What happens if a campaign fails to deliver?
Indiegogo encourages creators to communicate transparently. However, backing a campaign always carries risk; refunds are not guaranteed unless specified by the creator.

How much does Indiegogo charge?
Indiegogo takes a 5% platform fee + payment processing fees on funds raised.

Conclusion

Indiegogo democratizes innovation. It allows creators to test ideas, gather early support, and build momentum before a product even exists at scale. For backers, it’s the chance to be part of the story, not just buying a product, but helping bring it to life.

In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, platforms like Indiegogo play a crucial role in powering the next generation of breakthroughs.