DidiervanH

Today we launch our private beta on Product Hunt.

Ellie is a language learning app, that is built to end one-size-fits-all learning paths. We aim that our learners finally learn what they want to learn: the things they actually use!

It won't be a perfect version, but we can use all support with just a simple upvote to continue building this product.
Get a free invite for our private beta via the page!

https://www.producthunt.com/post...

Hiya!
Crowdfunding has become a serious option to fund the development of our next features, especially as it also creates an early userbase. Here are some of my learnings:
- As a preparation, I highly recommend to check for the platform's resources. Usually there is a huge amount of documentation available on websites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
- Secondly, go on Discover pages and search campaigns you love. Note the strengths and weaknesses of the content, the landing page text, the funding tiers and the updates during the campaign.
- Thirdly, create a sheet that aligns your funding goal, with the tiers/packages you aim to offer and align this with the backer persona that you aim to target. Calculate how many backers you need per Tier to reach your goal and evaluate if you are able to find those people.
- Lastly, use @YouTube or @ChatGPT by OpenAI deep research. Learn from people who have done it and analyze.

From a backer perpective, what do you think are packages that would make you crowdfund a project?
Do you have specific learnings from crowdfunding?
**note we are not talking about equity crowdfunding

Hi community!
We are building a mobile education app, targeting B2C. Though our first MLP (Minimum Lovable Product ) is soon ready to be alpha tested, we are already planning the next phases to develop new key features. So far our product has been bootstrapped, but crowdfunding has become a serious option to grow an early userbase and fund continued development.
We've done the initial homework poured over platform docs, watched countless YouTube guides, and analyzed successful (and not-so-successful) campaigns. Though beyond the obvious, there are various decisions to take that are less straightforward:

• Funding goal

  • How to find the right balance between covering costs as well as making sure the goal is being reached (given all-or-nothing model).

  • What other factors except costs weigh into this calculation?

  Beta launch timing

  • Should a beta version be live in the app stores before the campaign kicks off to show traction and that we ARE able to deliver, or should we pause launch until the end of the campaign?

  Project location

  • Does the official project location significantly impact backer perception, taxes, operations, or anything else unexpected?

  • We have various options still to locate the project (Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid)

  Reward Tiers

  • Beyond standard early access or discounts, what reward tiers truly motivated backers? Any creative ideas or common pitfalls to avoid?