Indiegogo plans to launch a new “Express Crowdfunding” campaign format that lets creators ship things while the campaign is ongoing, rather than forcing them to wait until the campaign ends.
Indiegogo spokesperson Maciej Cook explains The Verge This change was inspired by a recent move by Indiegogo to the infrastructure of its new owner, board game crowdfunding company GameFound:
Switching to a completely new technology is always a big challenge. The technology Indiegogo is currently working on was originally created for GameFound – a slightly more “typical” crowdfunding platform. Its basic concept was that manufacturers run a campaign to raise money to bring a product to life. The technology expected at least two weeks to elapse between the crowdfunding campaign and the pledge manager stage – the moment when orders are finalized, new ones are added, and shipping addresses are collected.
A prime example of the current system’s delays, which was reported on Android AuthorityAyaneo had a campaign for its new Pocket Air Mini retro gaming handheld. Ayaneo originally planned to begin shipping the handheld by the end of November, but due to “platform policy requirements,” the company says it can’t collect addresses for shipping until December 5. Specifically, Ayaneo says it can’t request to move a campaign to the pledge manager stage, where shipping addresses are collected, until December 2, and that request takes about three days to be reviewed. According to Ayaneo, shipments will now begin “approximately” on December 10th.
Cook says Indiegogo’s new Express crowdfunding format “should be available” in early February.
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