The hottest Crowdfunding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Finance Topics

Queen's Wish: A Portmortem Of Mixed Success

The Bottom Feeder • 994 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology Crowdfunding
  1. The Queen's Wish series was finished with a free epilogue DLC, but its commercial run was mixed: the first game’s Kickstarter succeeded while the second game bombed, and remasters were used to stabilize finances.
  2. The games tried bold innovations—a family-and-royalty-focused narrative, mission-based tactical combat, and an empire-simulation with crafting and fort upgrades that tie systems together.
  3. The biggest failures were the visuals and exposure: poor graphics, weak marketing, and design changes that alienated longtime fans hurt sales, teaching the creator to prioritize a unified visual style and balance innovation with retaining customers.

Exposing and Fixing the Media’s Relationship with Shady Finance

The Save Journalism Committee • 309 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
đź’° Finance Crowdfunding
  1. Major newsletters accepted paid crowdfunding ads without adequate vetting or clear disclosures, which lent prestige to misleading pitches and left ordinary readers exposed to big financial losses.
  2. Crowdfunded startup markets suffer severe information asymmetry—most deals look like lemons to outside investors—so casual retail buyers are much more likely to lose money than to get rich.
  3. There are clear fixes: require plain‑English, prominent financial disclosures on fundraising pages, add stronger consumer warnings or consent steps, and either tighten or eliminate risky crowdfunding programs while publishers refuse ads they haven’t properly vetted.

A Note Of Gratitude And Appreciation

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1816 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Crowdfunding
  1. Packing and sending physical books was a joyful, hands-on way to connect with readers, and even the stressful mistakes felt meaningful.
  2. There is deep gratitude for the supporters whose financial and emotional backing made this crowdfunded creative life possible, and personal touches like handwritten notes made the relationship feel real.
  3. Creating and sharing tangible art with family felt vital in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, showing how physical, human rituals help preserve connection and humanity.

Crowdfunding Success - Was it worth it?

atomic14 • 1385 implied HN points • 22 Jul 25
đź•ą Technology Crowdfunding
  1. The ESP32 Rainbow project was successfully funded through crowdfunding. Many people found the product appealing enough to support it.
  2. The project features a colorful Sinclair Spectrum recreation with modern technology like a display and speaker.
  3. The creator is reflecting on whether the success of crowdfunding was worth it in the long run.

That was 2025!

atomic14 • 173 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Crowdfunding
  1. One person can design, crowdfund, and ship a real hardware product worldwide, but production costs, certification, tariffs, and shipping logistics make margins very tight.
  2. Building an audience before launch, using AI tooling, and embracing open source helped make the product possible and created a supportive community.
  3. Hands-on experiments with high-voltage gear, tiny RISC‑V chips, and better debugging drove learning, and sharing both successes and failures proved more valuable than chasing big profits.
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ESP32-S3 ZX Spectrum - Update 22-06-2024

Single Board ESP32 ZX Spectrum • 159 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
đź•ą Technology Crowdfunding
  1. The creator is grateful for the support shown for the ESP32-S3 ZX Spectrum project, with 432 people signing up for updates.
  2. Progress has been made in applying to platforms like Crowd Supply, developing prototypes with new features, and creating new artwork for the project.
  3. Key questions are addressed about the project, including display options, pricing, support for games, and potential selling platforms.

The American Eschaton is Almost Here

Contemplations on the Tree of Woe • 1787 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
đź’Ľ Business Crowdfunding
  1. The author has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a new RPG sourcebook filled with over 1,000 magic items. They believe it's important to launch it now while things are still stable.
  2. They encourage people who love Dungeons & Dragons, or want to share it with family, to support the book. The author thinks it could bring back good, classic gaming values.
  3. There's an upcoming livestream where the author will discuss gaming and pop culture, and interact with viewers. It's an opportunity for fans to ask questions and learn more.

Our community round has opened—let's fund this book!

The Novelleist • 282 implied HN points • 29 May 25
đź’Ľ Business Crowdfunding
  1. The community funding round for the book 'We Should Own The Economy' has opened, allowing readers to invest and share in potential profits.
  2. They have already raised almost $60,000 and invite everyone to confirm their investments through a provided link.
  3. There's an open call tonight where participants can ask questions about the book and contribute ideas on how to shape the future of capitalism.

We are crowdfunding $ for design!

Offline: dating that works • 39 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
đź’Ľ Business Crowdfunding
  1. The team is crowdfunding $5K for design to improve their product, starting with a minimum viable design and then progressing to marketing and user recruitment efforts.
  2. They are seeking support through financial pledges, volunteer resources, spreading the word, and connecting with potential users for research interviews.
  3. The project aims to evolve from a demo site to a consumer-ready product through iterative funding rounds and community engagement.

Winner takes all? Blockbusters’ effect on competition in platforms

Platform Papers • 39 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
đź’Ľ Business Crowdfunding
  1. Digital platforms have to decide between focusing on blockbusters or long-tail content strategics based on their benefits. Blockbusters can drive significant traffic and users but may also intensify competition by monopolizing user attention.
  2. On crowdfunding platforms, blockbusters can have positive spillover effects by attracting attention and increasing funding for other projects. Related blockbusters have a stronger effect on a project than unrelated ones.
  3. For platforms or businesses, promoting blockbusters strategically can lead to increased user participation, spillover benefits, and competitive advantages. Leveraging blockbusters can drive growth and attract new users to a platform.

Unboxing my secret robot addiction - part 1

Robots & Startups • 59 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
đź•ą Technology Crowdfunding
  1. The author has a long-standing interest in robots and technology, which began with building model rockets and circuits from a young age.
  2. Crowdfunding has played a significant role in supporting the author's robot addiction, allowing them to back various interesting robot campaigns over the years.
  3. Reflecting on impulsive robot purchases and considering cognitive behavioral therapies to manage the fascination for robots, showcasing the struggle of maintaining control over a growing collection.

Alternative Investment Guide #3 - Equity Crowdfunding

Concepts of Finance 🧠 • 59 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
đź’° Finance Crowdfunding
  1. Equity crowdfunding lets everyday people invest in startups by buying shares. This means you can own a small part of a new company, hoping it grows in value over time.
  2. Investors can make money through equity ownership, dividends, or selling their shares later if the company does well. However, there's always a risk of losing your investment since many startups fail.
  3. Before investing, it's important to research the company and its team, as well as understand the risks involved. Doing your homework can help you find promising investments.

#28 Episode - Everyone in VC is an Accredited Investor

Law of VC • 179 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
đź’° Finance Crowdfunding
  1. A proposed law aims to create an exam for non-accredited investors to become accredited, but it may not change much due to fund limits and regulations
  2. Increasing the number of LPs allowed per fund, opening up equity crowdfunding to funds, and easing restrictions on qualifying investments in VC funds are recommendations to address current limitations
  3. The impact of allowing non-accredited investors into venture funds may not change significantly without further regulatory adjustments

Ways to start a startup

Joshua's Notes • 19 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
đź’Ľ Business Crowdfunding
  1. Bootstrapping gives you full control but limited access to capital.
  2. Venture capital offers rapid scaling but comes with loss of control and pressure.
  3. Crowdfunding provides exposure and validation, but can be time-consuming and risky.

The power of crowds

Gray Mirror • 40 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Crowdfunding
  1. The power of crowds is demonstrated through the community funding of projects.
  2. Support for art and culture projects, like films and magazines, is essential for new cultural movements.
  3. Encouragement to pre-order and support new creative publications and projects.