Crowdfunding in an Era of Uncertainty
In 2015, we launched our first Kickstarter campaign for our jamstik+ controller and raised more than $800,000. In 2018, we followed up with an Indiegogo campaign that brought in over $650,000. Those campaigns helped us prove that crowdfunding wasn’t just about raising money — it was about building a community, testing ideas, and creating momentum for new products.
Fast forward to today, and our most recent campaign for the Jamstik Core electric MIDI guitar has raised just under $35,000. On paper, that’s still a respectable figure. But compared to the breakout campaigns of a decade ago, the difference is stark. And we’re not alone. Many creators in the hardware and music tech space are seeing smaller campaigns, longer timelines, and more uncertainty around fulfillment.
So what changed?
The New Reality of Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has matured. Back in 2015, the model felt fresh and exciting. Consumers were eager to be part of something new, and Kickstarter was buzzing with a sense of discovery. Today, the space is crowded with everything from passion projects to multi-million-dollar campaigns run by companies with massive marketing budgets. It’s harder for independent creators to break through the noise. There are still big success stories—at the time of writing, another guitar product has raised just shy of $200,000, but it’s hard to compare us, as they are backed by a parent company that has sold half a million guitars.
At the same time, backers themselves are more cautious. Over the years, delays, failed campaigns, and even outright scams have made many people think twice before pledging. Plus, huge media outlets that covered our original campaigns won’t (or can’t) cover us. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one reporter from a major outlet replied that crowdfunding is now on their ‘black list.’ Crowdfunding has shifted from being a wide-open frontier to something closer to a pre-order platform with higher risks than retail.
Tariffs, Supply Chains, and the Economy
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Beyond the platform itself, external factors weigh heavily on creators. Tariffs, especially those that affect electronics and musical instruments, can swing dramatically without warning. For a small company planning production months in advance, that unpredictability makes it difficult to set fair prices without taking on extra risk.
Add in the broader economic uncertainty — rising costs of materials, international shipping headaches, and consumer spending habits shaped by inflation — and you have a challenging environment for creators and backers alike.
Why Crowdfunding Still Matters
Even with these challenges, crowdfunding remains one of the few ways for independent creators to bring niche or innovative products to life. For us, it’s still about building a direct relationship with our community of musicians and producers. Every backer isn’t just a number — they’re someone who believes in our vision enough to put their money behind it.
And while today’s numbers might not match the headline-making campaigns of 2015 or 2018, the value of crowdfunding isn’t just measured in dollars. It’s measured in the conversations it sparks, the early feedback from passionate users, and the energy that comes from putting a bold idea into the world.
Looking Ahead
Crowdfunding may no longer guarantee six-figure launches for small creators, but it remains a powerful tool — if we adapt our expectations. We need to treat it less like a shortcut to massive funding, and more like what it has become: an essential first step in building awareness, validating demand, and starting conversations with the communities that matter most.
Would a pre-order on our website have been a better strategy? Media are more likely to cover a pre-order, and customers are more likely to trust a pre-order, but time will tell. I’ll report back here on how much of a boost the Kickstarter ecosystem brings to our campaign. I’m hopeful that being dubbed a “Project We Love” by Kickstarter still means something.
The reality is, tariffs and economic swings aren’t going away. Neither is uncertainty. But if the last decade has taught us anything, it’s that creators and communities can adapt. Crowdfunding is evolving — and so must we.
