This week on Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean open the curtain on the realities of crowdfunding, publishing, and marketing by sharing the things that truly “grind their gears.” From low-effort projects and unrealistic expectations to anonymous criticism and poor communication, this episode is a candid look at the mistakes creators make that can derail campaigns and business relationships.

The conversation explores how creators can avoid common pitfalls, why honest feedback is often difficult to hear, and what separates successful crowdfunding projects from those that struggle. 

Resources:

Crowdfunding Nerds: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Nimble RPG: https://nimblerpg.com/

Magic: The Gathering: https://magic.wizards.com/

ISS Vanguard: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/awaken-realms/iss-vanguard

GameFound: https://gamefound.com/en

Zatu Games: https://zatu.com/

Tabletone App: https://www.tabletone.app/

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Most creators dream about launching a successful Kickstarter, but what happens after your first campaign?

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean wrap up their marketing series by exploring the bigger picture: how to build a publishing company that lasts. They discuss why your first campaign should be viewed as the foundation, not the finish line, and why cultivating a passionate audience is far more valuable than chasing a viral launch.

The conversation also dives into creative productivity, protecting your focus in a world full of distractions, using AI responsibly, and why your next game should serve the audience you've already built rather than forcing them to follow you into an entirely different direction.

 Resources:

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

What makes a story unforgettable?

In this episode, Andrew shares what he learned after writing more than 80,000 words for the upcoming Deliverance: Council of the Fallen campaign. From surveying players to rewriting an entire campaign narrative, this conversation dives into the craft of storytelling, worldbuilding, and creating narratives that genuinely engage an audience.

Whether you're designing a board game, writing fiction, building a Kickstarter campaign, or simply trying to tell better stories through your marketing, these lessons apply far beyond games.

Resources:

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

E-commerce is where many crowdfunding creators expect the hard work to be over—but in reality, it's the beginning of an entirely new challenge. In this episode, Andrew and Sean break down what it actually takes to build a profitable online store after your crowdfunding campaign ends.

They discuss why successful e-commerce is built on testing, data, and continual optimization—not luck or guarantees. Drawing from years of experience managing marketing campaigns for tabletop games and other businesses, they explain why knowing your numbers, understanding your customer journey, and investing in long-term marketing infrastructure are essential for sustainable growth.

Resources:

- Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

- Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

- https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

- http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

- https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

- https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

- Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Episode 291 - What happens when a professionally produced crowdfunding campaign still falls short of expectations?

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean take a deep dive into the recent Bloodstone campaign on Gamefound—a campaign that raised over $180,000 but still left many wondering why it didn't meet expectations.

The discussion isn't about criticizing a creator. Instead, it's an honest case study exploring why even experienced publishers with beautiful campaign pages, premium components, and established audiences can struggle to capture enough backers. 

Andrew breaks down Bloodstone's original Kickstarter cancellation, its eventual Gamefound launch, and the difficult decisions that may have cost the campaign momentum. Together, he and Sean discuss the importance of understanding your audience, identifying a truly unique selling proposition, balancing competitive versus cooperative gameplay, and why listening to your community before launch can make all the difference.

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Episode 290 - Most creators treat the end of their crowdfunding campaign like the finish line. In reality, it's the beginning of the next phase.

In this episode, Andrew and Sean dive into one of the most overlooked opportunities in crowdfunding: late pledges. They explain how creators can continue generating revenue after a campaign closes, why keeping pledge prices the same often works best, and how a strong pledge manager setup can save enormous headaches later.

They also compare the major platforms, discuss the pros and cons of different pledge managers, and share why customer service and fulfillment support matter far more than simply chasing the lowest fees.

Resources: 

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

What happens when a toy company walks away from your invention?

For Scott Pease, it became the opportunity to finally build the game he'd dreamed about from the very beginning.

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean sit down with former Neversoft director and Snapships co-creator Scott Pease to explore the incredible journey from video game development to toy invention to crowdfunding success.

Scott shares lessons learned from working on franchises like Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, why scope creep can destroy projects, and how years of iteration eventually led to Snapships Tactics, a customizable space combat game built around creativity and strategic play.

 Thank you to our sponsors!

Stay Nerdy!

Resources:

Snapships: https://www.snapshipstactics.com/

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Episode 288 - The final 48 hours of a crowdfunding campaign can feel like a second launch. While many creators focus heavily on launch day, some of the biggest gains happen right before the campaign ends. In this episode, Andrew Lowen and Sean break down how to prepare for those crucial final days, what metrics actually matter, and how to maximize the momentum that Kickstarter and Gamefound naturally create. 

They explain why the work you do during the mid-campaign directly impacts your ending, how to think about ad performance beyond simple attribution, and why followers are one of the most important numbers to watch. 

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://herotime1.com/ - Get a 3% discount off your Hero Time Manufacturing order using code: CrowdfundingNerds101

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Resources:

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Episode 287 - Andrew & Sean review Kickstarter backer red flags. 

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Episode 286 - T.K. King & Koltin Thompson of Galactic Cruise join Andrew to discuss generating community interactions during the mid-campaign of your Kickstarter. 

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!