Crowdfunding Nerds: Kickstarter Marketing, Business, & Beyond!

Crowdfunding Nerds: Kickstarter Marketing, Business, & Beyond!

Since 2019, Crowdfunding Nerds has helped over 200 crowdfunding creators raise over $30M on Kickstarter and Gamefound. In addition to that, we have generated over $100M in ecommerce sales and had clients featured on Shark Tank, ”As Seen On TV,” and more. We work with IP’s like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Star Trek, Mass Effect, Dune, and more... But we have also helped a TON of first-time creators fund on day 1, too! Our podcast exists to help you with your journey before, during, and after crowdfunding using real-world examples from our clients. We share what’s working and what is not in today’s market. We build pre-launch e-mail lists, get backers during live campaigns, and drive pre-orders and e-commerce sales after your campaign ends! If you’re DIY marketing (doing it yourself), we created the Crowdfunding Nerds Academy to help, which has specialized courses designed to make sure you’re doing it right! Buckle up; it’s about to get nerdy.

Episodes

September 12, 2025 49 mins

Ever bought a game just because it looked cool? In Episode 248 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean explore the concept of "game shaped objects"—games that lure us with their aesthetics but might not see much playtime. Why do we sometimes buy games that end up as shelf trophies? 

 

Join us as we dive into the tension between art and marketability in game design. Sean shares tales of gifting games like Codenames that become more o...

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Crowdfunding Nerds Podcast episode 247 is here, and it's a rollercoaster of insights! Are GameFound's latest moves set to shake up the crowdfunding landscape? Can Kickstarter keep pace with its tech updates? Join Andrew and Sean as they dissect GameFound's acquisition of Indiegogo and what it means for creators and backers alike. Could this shift in the industry redefine marketing strategies? We also dive into the controversial wo...

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Ready to conquer the crowdfunding world of 2025? In Episode 246 of the Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean unravel the secrets to overcoming backer objections in an ever-evolving landscape. Are stretch goals truly a double-edged sword? Can gameplay exclusives be more gimmick than game-changer? We dive into insights from Chris George of Room and Board, tackling these questions head-on. Join us as we share golden nuggets from managi...

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August 18, 2025 71 mins

Ever wondered what it takes to launch a successful tabletop gaming company? In Episode 245 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, Andrew and Sean are joined by Marco Pecota from Raybox Games to unravel the secrets behind a $100,000 crowdfunding campaign and the art of world-building in gaming. How do you craft a modular game that appeals to diverse budgets? Why are deluxe versions so enticing? Marco shares his fascinating journey from ...

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August 11, 2025 64 mins

Ever wondered how sibling dynamics shape the creation of a board game? In episode 244 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, we dive deep with Brian and Michael Toth of Toth Games about their journey in crafting Legends of the Arena. Join Andrew and Sean as they explore the Toth brothers' collaborative process, starting from a shared childhood love for games to the challenges of translating video game dynamics into a board game format....

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August 4, 2025 62 mins

Ever wondered how to navigate the choppy waters of crowdfunding with finesse? In Episode 243 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Sean and Donnie are joined by Robin Stokkel, the mastermind behind the card game River Rats. Robin takes us on a riveting journey through his Kickstarter campaign, sharing the secrets behind his marketing magic and the lessons learned along the way. Why is Reddit both a goldmine and a minefield for marketers? How do ...

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Ever wondered how to turn a canceled pledge into a success story? Join us for Episode 241 of Crowdfunding Nerds, where Sean chats with Chris Loizou from SBG Editions about the art of running a successful crowdfunding campaign. Dive into Chris's experience with his project, Ascendia, and discover how personal outreach can recapture those elusive canceled pledges with a whopping 90% success rate! Why did Chris choose GameFound over ...

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Ever wondered how trading card games (TCGs) are evolving in 2025? In episode 244 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Sean dives deep into the world of TCGs with guests Donnie Chase and Jacob Cecil. We tackle the hot issues of scalping, grading, and distribution, and explore how intellectual properties and marketing strategies are reshaping the industry. Jacob shares his journey from engaging high school students with Magic: The Gathering to ma...

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Ever wondered how a DVD cover could revolutionize your ad copy? In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean dive into the art of crafting compelling ads, drawing inspiration from the unexpected world of DVD and Blu-ray covers. Discover how these tiny marketing masterpieces can teach us to captivate audiences with concise, engaging text. Join us as we reminisce about Blockbuster Video's influence on consumer behavior and...

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July 7, 2025 69 mins

Are you cultivating "true fans" or just collecting complainers? Join Andrew and Sean as they unravel the complex relationships between investors, consumers, true fans, and complainers, and how each group can make or break your business.

 

Ever wondered how to distinguish genuine supporters from those who might harm your community? We dive into Seth Godin’s intriguing email about "generous stans" versus "cranky fans" and explore the...

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How does sound transform your tabletop RPG experience? In Episode 238 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean are joined by Niki Wegscheider from TableTone, an app revolutionizing gaming audio. Dive into the world of adaptive audio that syncs with in-game events, creating a richer, more immersive experience. Discover how TableTone's dynamic soundscapes, crafted with a blend of organic sounds, elevate your game by connecting visuals ...

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What happens when Kickstarter’s Head of Games steps into the Crowdfunding Nerds community for an AMA? Episode 237 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast is here to spill the beans! Join your hosts, Andrew and Sean, as they dissect the lively discussion with Asher McClinahan, exploring the 79 comments and 35 to 50 questions that kept the community buzzing.

 

We dive deep into the art of pre-launch strategies, the magic of email captures,...

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Ever wondered how the crowdfunding giants stack up against each other? In episode 236 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, Andrew and Sean dive into the competitive dynamics of Kickstarter, GameFound, and BackerKit. How is Kickstarter's community engagement evolving under Asher McClanahan's leadership? And what does BackerKit's million-dollar equity crowdfunding move mean for the industry? We also explore the intriguing world of org...
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Ever wondered what it takes to launch a successful game on Kickstarter? In Episode 235 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean sit down with Asher McClennahan, Kickstarter's head of games, to unravel the secrets behind a winning crowdfunding campaign. What are the "hygiene factors" you must nail on your campaign page? How can you leverage Kickstarter’s organic traffic to skyrocket your project’s visibility? Asher shares his journey ...
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Ever wondered what it takes to create iconic games like Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Daxter? How about founding your own game studio from scratch? Join us in Episode 233 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast as Andrew and Sean sit down with the legendary Bob Rafei, the creative mind behind Big Red Button Entertainment and former art director at Naughty Dog. Bob shares his fascinating journey from shaping the gaming world at Naughty Dog ...

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May 26, 2025 48 mins

Ever wondered what makes a board game crowdfunding campaign truly successful? In Episode 231 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean sit down with Chris George from the World Series of Board Gaming and Room and Board YouTube channel to uncover the secrets! How do you attract the right backers while steering clear of those who might not enjoy your game? Chris dives into the art of evaluating campaigns, from dissecting rule books to c...

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 Can you predict the unpredictable in business? How do poker strategies apply to managing unexpected challenges? Join hosts Andrew and Sean, along with guest Ryan Williams, as they explore these intriguing questions. In this episode, we dive into the delicate dance of skill, hard work, and luck in the gaming industry, highlighted by veteran insights from Bob Raffy. Ryan shares his firsthand experience with sudden tariffs threatenin...

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May 12, 2025 63 mins

Ever wondered if board gaming could be the next big spectator sport? In episode 230 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, Andrew and Sean dive into the world of competitive board gaming with Chris George, the creative mind behind the Room and Board YouTube channel and a key player in the World Series of Board Gaming (WSBG). Chris shares his fascinating journey from acting to becoming a board game aficionado, spurred by the pandemic. ...

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Ever wondered how to keep your audience hooked between game releases or the secret sauce to a successful crowdfunding relaunch? In Episode 230 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean sit down with Ryan Williams, the mastermind behind Starclash, to tackle these burning questions. Ryan spills the beans on building a thriving community, sharing his journey with Starclash and the lessons learned from past campaigns. He reveals how sett...

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April 28, 2025 62 mins

Ever wondered what it takes to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign for a tabletop game? In episode 229 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, Andrew and Sean dive into the secrets of Kickstarter success, inspired by Andrew's recent experience speaking at a Kickstarter webinar. Invited by Asher McClanahan, Kickstarter's Head of Games, Andrew shares the strategies that can make or break your campaign. From mastering Kickstarter's re...

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