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, and why sharing your game development journey can turn casual obse...
Jun 23, 2025•58 min•Ep. 238
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 organic search traffic with Ahrefs, comparing Kickstarter’s vast reac...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 237
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 from tech to gaming, underscoring the power of community and shar...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 236
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 to launching his own studio. We dive into the creative process beh...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 233
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 crafting compelling campaign pages. Discover why clear communicati...
May 26, 2025•48 min•Ep. 230
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 threatening his crowdfunding project, revealing how adaptability and strateg...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 234
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. His YouTube channel gained fame with "Five Reasons You Shouldn't B...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 228
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 setting realistic goals and a shorter campaign strategy led to Starcla...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 232
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 referral metrics to building a dedicated email list, we cover it al...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 231
Are you ready to level up your board game design skills? In this episode of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, join hosts Donnie and Sean as they dive into the world of board game pitching with the talented Adam Porter, a seasoned designer from Wales. Ever wondered how to catch a publisher's eye at conventions like Essen Spiel or UK Games Expo? Adam spills the secrets on leveraging these events for success. Discover why game mechanics take center stage over themes when pitching to publishers and le...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 227
Ever wondered how tariffs shape the world of manufacturing and international trade? In Episode 227 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean dive deep with Hersh Glueck, a supply chain expert with boots on the ground in China. How do tariffs impact Chinese manufacturers, and what ripple effects do they have on global trade? Join us as Hersh sheds light on the ever-evolving tariff landscape, likening its volatility to Bitcoin! From the historical tensions under Trump's presidency to the current geop...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 229
How do skyrocketing tariffs impact your crowdfunding project? Can you turn these challenges into opportunities? Join us, Andrew and Sean, as we dive deep into these pressing questions with our guest, Ryan Williams. In this episode, we dissect the recent tariff hike from 20% to 54% on Chinese goods and its profound impact on the board game industry. Discover how tariffs are calculated and why they matter, especially when you're manufacturing overseas. Ryan shares his pandemic-era wisdom, highligh...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 226
Ever wondered how to keep your cool when your crowdfunding campaign is overshadowed by a big name like Blizzard Entertainment? In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, hosts Andrew and Sean dive deep into the emotional and strategic hurdles that creators face on their crowdfunding journey. We discuss the mindset needed to tackle demoralization and the unpredictability of success. Andrew shares his personal experience with his Deliverance campaign, coinciding with the launch of a major Witcher proj...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 225
Are you ready to dive into the world of crowdfunding with a twist of strategy and resilience? In Episode 224 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, hosts Andrew and Sean team up with Ryan Williams, a fellow Nerd, to unpack the journey of his Kickstarter project, Starclash, inspired by the iconic StarCraft series. Ever wondered how to manage a Kickstarter campaign while juggling life's chaos or how to handle those pesky negative comments? Ryan spills the beans on these challenges and more. We explore...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 225
Episode 221 of Crowdfunding Nerds is here, and it's a game-changer! Ever wondered how alternate reality games (ARGs) can skyrocket a game's success? Or how a viral phrase like "the cake is a lie" came to be? Join us as we dive deep into the world of game development with the legendary Jeep Barnett, known for his work on the Portal series at Valve. Jeep shares his journey from video games to board games, revealing the magic behind ARGs that captivated players worldwide. Discover how these interac...
Mar 17, 2025•56 min•Ep. 221
Have you ever wondered how scammers craft their traps so convincingly? In this gripping episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, hosts Andrew Loewen and Sean take you on a harrowing journey through a sophisticated scam attempt that nearly cost Andrew $9,500 in Bitcoin! Andrew recounts how the scammers, posing as law enforcement, manipulated real-life events, like a recent jury summons, to weave a believable narrative. Discover how his wife’s quick thinking and a call to the police unraveled the deceitful ...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 223
Did you know game specialization can level up your marketing? Join us for Episode 221 of the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast, where Andrew and Sean unravel the complexities of board game publishing and marketing. Sean shares insights from his recent lecture, guiding us through the three pathways for creators: self-publishing, partnering with a publisher, or a hybrid approach. Discover the pros and cons of each, and why having a built-in audience is your secret weapon. We also dive into alternative mo...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 222
Are you ready to dive into the world of crowdfunding tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs)? In episode 220 of Crowdfunding Nerds, hosts Andrew and Sean are joined by Mark Diaz Truman, the CEO and co-founder of Magpie Games, to unravel the intricacies of this dynamic industry. Ever wondered how a Kickstarter project like "Fallen London" can raise over $700,000? Or how to stand out in a market dominated by Dungeons & Dragons? Mark shares his strategies on streamlining reward tiers and engaging f...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 220
Ever wonder why some crowdfunding campaigns soar while others barely get off the ground? In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean unravel the secrets behind effective product demonstration for crowdfunding success. Andrew kicks things off by sharing his journey as a board game publisher and the hurdles he faced with Kickstarter. Can fresh eyes breathe new life into your marketing strategy? Sean thinks so, and he shares insights on overcoming project fatigue by seeking new perspecti...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 219
Episode 218 of Crowdfunding Nerds is here, and we're diving deep into the world of crowdfunding platforms! Have you ever wondered how Kickstarter and GameFound stack up against each other? Or what goes on behind the scenes of our podcast? Join us as we tackle these questions and more! Andrew is determined to address your feedback and share insights from recent episodes featuring GameFound's CMO, Alex Radcliffe. We’re not about hit pieces; we're about honest, constructive dialogues. Kickstarter's...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 218
Ever wondered how a simple email subject line can make or break your crowdfunding campaign? In this episode, Andrew and Sean unravel the secrets behind crafting compelling subject lines that boost open rates and ensure your emails land where they belong—in the inbox, not the spam folder. Join us as we introduce the Crowdfunding Nerds Academy, where we offer a treasure trove of courses, including our latest on email marketing. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or on a tight budget, our academy prov...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 217
Ready to dive into the world of crowdfunding with a twist? In Episode 216 of Crowdfunding Nerds, Sean and Andrew, unravel the mysteries of Gamefound's new advertising platform, AdFound. Could this be the game-changer creators have been waiting for, or is it just another player in the crowdfunding arena? We dissect AdFound’s competitive edge—offering a mere 5% fee on conversions compared to BackerKit’s 15%—but is cheaper always better? We also tackle the crucial question of data ownership and the...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 216
Curious about the next big thing in crowdfunding? Join us on Crowdfunding Nerds as Andrew and Sean dive into a fascinating conversation with Alex Radcliffe, Gamefound's CMO, who spills the beans on Gamefound's explosive growth and ambitious goals for 2025. From its humble beginnings as a pledge manager to raking in over $85 million in 2024, Gamefound is making waves. But can it dethrone Kickstarter? We explore the pros and cons of each platform and how Gamefound plans to attract and maintain big...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 215
Ever wondered how to turn your contractor relationships into thriving partnerships? In Episode 214 of Crowdfunding Nerds, join Andrew and Sean as they dive deep into the art of managing contractor relationships with finesse! How do you ensure fair treatment and open communication with your contractors? What’s the secret to setting boundaries without stifling creativity? Andrew and Sean share personal stories—from being undervalued by big corporations to dealing with flaky clients—that reveal the...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 214
Dive into Episode 213 of Crowdfunding Nerds with Andrew, Sean, and Donnie Chase as we tackle a crucial question: How do you handle negative feedback without letting it derail your creative process? Join us as Donnie opens up about his decade-long game development journey, sharing his fears about public reception and the fine line between constructive criticism and negativity. Andrew sheds light on his experiences with Deliverance, revealing how player feedback transformed his game for the better...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 213
Are you ready to dive into the secrets of a successful crowdfunding campaign? In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean unravel the mysteries of timing your campaign launch. Is September really the golden month? And why does March have an edge? Discover how tax refunds and fresh paychecks can boost your backer count! We also explore Kickstarter's latest blog post on optimal launch times and compare it with our own data from over 200 campaigns. Learn why Tuesdays are buzzing with tra...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 212
Episode 211 of Crowdfunding Nerds is here, and it's packed with insights and predictions! Ever wondered how accurate our 2024 forecasts were? Or what the future holds for crowdfunding in 2025? Join us as we take a deep dive into our past predictions and unveil our new ones for the year ahead. We kick things off by revisiting my bold 2024 predictions, like the surge in hobby-level gaming and the economic recovery under the Biden administration. Did Deliverance Council the Fallen hit the $1,000,00...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 211
Ever wonder how to keep your creative flame burning when the spark starts to fade? Episode 210 of Crowdfunding Nerds is here to light the way! Join Sean and special guest Donnie Chase as they dive deep into the art of maintaining motivation and overcoming creative blocks, especially in long-term projects. Donnie, a member of the Crowdfunding Nerds team, shares his enlightening journey with his novel "Serafima: The Convergence of Fireflies," a project that evolved from a comic to a tabletop game,...
Dec 16, 2024•51 min•Ep. 210
Ever wondered how to crack the code of selling board games on Amazon? Episode 209 of Crowdfunding Nerds has you covered! Join hosts Andrew and Sean as they chat with Henry Nguyen-Locke from Avant Games, who brings his e-commerce wizardry to the table. Henry dives deep into Amazon's unique marketplace, revealing why light, fun, family games are the golden ticket. Discover how Amazon's search-first nature shapes consumer behavior and why keyword mastery is your secret weapon. From optimizing produ...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 209
Curious about the secret sauce behind a successful Kickstarter campaign? In Episode 208 of the Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean are joined by Andy Mangham, developer of the game Spring Sign, for an insider's look at Kickstarter magic! Andy, who works at The End Games in Virginia, reveals how he leveraged his local game store community to smash his $18,000 funding goal, raising over $25,836 from 300 backers! We dive into the nitty-gritty of conversion rates, the power of newsletters, and how e...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 208
