Prototype Stage
Use your prototype to show how the product works and to test the assumptions behind your price, production plan and delivery date.
By Arthur Manukyan, CRO at TCF
Show what the prototype can do
Film the product being used in an ordinary setting. Explain which features work now and which still need development. Keep renders clearly labelled so backers can distinguish the proposed design from a working unit.
Check the production plan with suppliers
Ask about tooling, minimum order quantities, testing and lead times. Get written quotes where possible. Record what those quotes exclude and how long they remain valid before using them in your budget.
Price each reward against its costs
For each proposed reward, include the product, packaging, shipping and fees. Extra colours, bundles and accessories add work to production and fulfilment; keep only the options you can realistically support.
Share progress and collect questions
Show potential backers what you are testing and ask what they still need to see. Repeated questions can reveal gaps in the product or in how you explain it. Keep improving both while you build your audience.
These are questions I use to review a launch plan. For platform guidance, read Kickstarter’s Creator Handbook. Check the current requirements before submitting your project.
Working through the budget? Use the US Kickstarter fees calculator to estimate the amount left after platform fees, processing and failed payments.