Indiegogo is preparing to introduce an innovative campaign structure known as “Express Crowdfunding,” a system carefully designed to transform how creators interact with their supporters. Under the traditional crowdfunding model, creators generally have to wait until their campaign concludes before they can begin the process of shipping their promised items. The new approach, however, allows them to start fulfilling and sending out products actively while the campaign itself is still ongoing. This represents a significant shift toward a faster, more flexible, and more responsive framework for creators and backers alike.
According to Indiegogo spokesperson Maciej Kuc, who discussed the development with The Verge, this strategic adjustment was strongly influenced by Indiegogo’s recent technological transition to new infrastructure developed under its current owner, Gamefound—a company best known for its expertise in crowdfunding board games. Kuc explained that migrating an entire operational platform to a new technological ecosystem poses considerable challenges, requiring careful adaptation and testing. The infrastructure they are now integrating was originally engineered for Gamefound’s ecosystem, which, while similar in spirit, represents a slightly more conventional model of crowdfunding. In that system, the underlying assumption was that creators launch campaigns primarily to raise the capital necessary to bring an idea into reality. The technology was built around the expectation that a minimum of two weeks would separate the active campaign phase from the pledge management phase—the latter being the stage where creators finalize supporter orders, process additional pledges, and collect logistical details such as shipping addresses. This predetermined delay, while logical in the original system, has often proven restrictive to creators whose products are already manufactured or ready for immediate distribution.
An illustrative case highlighting the practical difficulties of this older system was described by Android Authority, which reported on the campaign by Ayaneo for its latest portable retro gaming device, the Pocket AIR Mini. Ayaneo had initially scheduled shipments to commence by the end of November. However, due to Indiegogo’s “platform policy requirements,” which prevented the early collection of shipping information, the company was forced to delay fulfillment. Specifically, Ayaneo stated that it was unable to request a shift from the active campaign stage to the Pledge Manager phase—the administrative step that opens access to backers’ shipping data—until December 2. After the request, a review process lasting approximately three days meant that addresses could only begin to be gathered as of December 5. Consequently, the first shipments of the handheld console were postponed to roughly December 10. This example vividly demonstrates the friction such policies introduce for creators eager to deliver their products swiftly and maintain momentum with their supporters.
To address these obstacles and modernize the user experience, Indiegogo’s forthcoming Express Crowdfunding format is meant to provide a solution that bridges the gap between creative energy and logistical execution. By allowing creators to operate campaigns that seamlessly transition into fulfillment while funding remains active, the platform aims to accelerate delivery times, strengthen trust among backers, and cultivate a more dynamic relationship between creators and their communities. As Maciej Kuc indicated, this forward-thinking format is anticipated to be available to the public in early February, marking a pivotal step in Indiegogo’s evolution as it seeks to redefine the balance between innovation, efficiency, and user empowerment in the crowdfunding landscape.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/836886/indiegogo-express-crowdfunding-ayaneo-shipping
