Indiegogo is shaking up crowdfunding—creators may soon deliver products before the campaign even ends!
Jay Peters, a senior reporter focusing on technology and gaming, reports that Indiegogo is introducing a brand-new campaign type called “Express Crowdfunding.” This innovative approach allows creators to start shipping their products while the crowdfunding campaign is still active, instead of forcing them to wait until the campaign concludes.
According to Indiegogo spokesperson Maciej Kuc, this move was largely inspired by the company’s recent transition to the infrastructure of its new owner, board game crowdfunding platform Gamefound. Kuc explained that switching to entirely new technology is never simple. The system Indiegogo is currently building was originally designed for Gamefound, which operates as a more conventional crowdfunding platform. The core assumption behind the platform was that creators would run a campaign to raise funds first, and only after the campaign ends would they enter the pledge manager phase—the stage where orders are finalized, additional pledges are added, and shipping addresses are collected. Essentially, the system assumed a waiting period of at least two weeks between the campaign and shipping.
And here’s where it gets controversial: the current setup has caused notable delays. For example, Android Authority reported on Ayaneo’s campaign for its new Pocket AIR Mini retro gaming handheld. The company initially planned to start shipping by the end of November, but due to platform policy requirements, it couldn’t collect customer addresses until December 5th. Ayaneo had to wait until December 2nd to even request moving the campaign into the Pledge Manager phase, and that request itself takes roughly three days to process. As a result, shipments are now expected to begin "around" December 10th—a frustrating delay for backers eagerly awaiting their devices.
With Express Crowdfunding, Indiegogo aims to solve this problem by letting creators ship sooner, potentially reducing waiting times and giving backers faster access to products. Kuc mentioned that this new campaign format should be available starting in early February.
And this is the part most people miss: while faster shipping is a huge benefit, it also raises questions about quality control, production readiness, and risk for creators. Could rushing fulfillment lead to mistakes, or will it truly revolutionize the crowdfunding experience? We’d love to hear your thoughts—do you think Express Crowdfunding will improve campaigns, or could it create new headaches for both creators and backers?
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