是阅读的时间：4分钟
Crowdfunding is tough. From developing and managing the campaign, to choosing a manufacturer, to staying on-time and under-budget–it’s a lot to manage, especially for young companies.
I’ve launched two crowdfunding projects forPocketLab—a wireless sensor for makers and STEM educators—and have learned a lot in the process. Here are five crowdfunding lessons for hardware startups (based on my own experience) to help you develop, launch, and deliver your product as smoothly as possible.
1. Don’t Underestimate Schedules
我看到公司犯的最常见的错误（包括我们的）是低估了花费多少时间。无论是机械设计，固件开发还是设置分销渠道，您都应始终遵守PI规则：一切都要花费3.14倍的时间。
行为经济学家丹尼尔·卡尼曼（Daniel Kahneman）称计划谬论。
问题在于，工程师和创始人通常会根据过程的每个步骤进行计划估算。这是我完美计划估算的一个示例：
- One week to do the CAD design
- Three days to get the 3D printed parts
- Two days to sand, prep, and paint the models
- Mechanical mockups done in 2 weeks!
这是现实通常看起来的样子：
- 1.5 weeks to do the CAD design
- Three days to get the 3D printed parts, just to realize you incorrectly sized the mounting holes, so now you have to fix the CAD model, re-order the parts, and hope nothing else goes wrong
因此，注意Pi的规则，您的计划估计将更接近现实。
2.不要使设计过度复杂化
我经常看到（和经验）的第二个陷阱是不断向您的产品添加新功能的冲动。不要做！把事情简单化。
我很幸运地开发了一种相当简单的机械设备，该设备由一个塑料箱内的电路板组成，其中只有一个移动元件来启动ON/OFF按钮。PocketLab的简单性使我们能够通过只有三人团队向数千个客户推出和支持产品。
当你考虑建筑产品不同features, colors, add-ons, and accessories, just imagine all the additional complexities that will be added not just to the design/development process, but fulfillment and logistics as well.
For the first PocketLab Kickstarter, we had just two customization options: a green or orange case. Simple right? Nevertheless, as we were packaging and shipping a thousand devices from our garage, we managed to screw up the packaging many times and had to tear open the boxes, replace the devices, and re-package.
尽可能多地保持简单 - 尤其是对于您的第一个产品。
3.考虑本地制造
对于制造业，我们决定使用本地合同制造商，以便PCB组件，编程，最终构建和测试都在本地完成。（我们的PCB和注射模制案例均在中国采购）
美国制造业的成本更高吗？是的，按单位为基础。但是，我们最终通过不必旅行和运送最终商品来节省资金。这是我们如何从本地制造中受益的一个示例：
In our early manufacturing runs, we had issues with correct operator training and device testing. But since our CM was local, we were able to drive to the factory on short notice, help debug the process issues, and fix our manufacturing problems in a short cycle.
My advice is to strongly consider whether or not you really need to go overseas for manufacturing. The price difference might not be as much as you think (consider that assembling the iPhone 6s in the UIS would only cost an extra$ 30- $ 40，零售价为749美元).
4.不要低估努力（和压力）
Be warned! Planning and operating a Kickstarter campaign is emotionally and mentally exhausting. We’ve done one campaign and we are in the middle of a second, and it’s still an emotional rollercoaster. You will stare at the dollar amount raised far too long and check your campaign page way too often. Doing a crowdfunding campaign is a leap of faith that your product will be adopted by random strangers on the internet and nothing quite prepares you for that experience.
在我们的第一个PocketLab发布会上，我们有数百名热情的人愿意在其存在和热爱结果之前购买我们的产品。但是我们也有一些对结果感到失望的客户。如果您像我一样，您可能会记得少数人比所有真正快乐的人更加生动地感到失望。
因此，要做好准备 - 这是一段漫长而情感的旅程。
5.使用众筹平台
对于PocketLab的众筹活动，我们都选择了Kickstarter作为我们的首选平台。我认为，Kickstarter和Indiegogo都非常有助于在您的产品周围产生嗡嗡声并从客户那里获得真正的反馈。每个平台约占您筹集的资金的5％，但成本值得您获得可见性。
If you’re in the process of developing a hardware product, remember you are doing something that’s very challenging. Take heart in knowing that there are many of us going through the same challenges, and hopefully some of my advice can prove useful!
