Learn how to use crowdfunding as a way to raise money to help finance your small business or startup with Kickstarter strategies and best practices when SBDC business adviser Jim Thomsen joins host and SBDC director Kelly Bearden on this week’s free webinar.

Jim specializes in business management, funding sources, international trade, and crowdfunding. Prior to the SBDC, he retired as president of Outdoor International at VF Corporation where he was responsible for acquisitions that included Eastpak, Kipling, Vans, The North Face and others.

Kelly begins the webinar with a look at strategies to start, grow and expand existing businesses.

This marks the 362nd episode of the “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.

The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one help to small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to https://csubsbdc.com/ for more information or to sign up to meet with a business advisor at no cost.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

01:01 What’s up today October 15, 2025

03:13 Poll question #1: “Have you ever heard of or explored using Kickstarter to fund a business idea or launch a product?

04:52 Poll question #2: “How likely would you consider crowdfunding, such as Kickstarter, to help start or expand a business?

05:46 Poll question #3: If you were to launch a crowdfunding campaign, what would be your primary goal? 10:01 Economic Corner – SBA loan concerns and economic outlook

16:14 Subscribe to our CSUB SBDC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc

15:05 Community Calendar – Tehachapi Mountain AVA Harvest Festival https://allevents.in/tehachapi/100001751253830349?ref=sharer

17:15 Crowdfunding models

-Debt – social lending sites (KIVA, Prosper, Lending Tree, and others)

-Nonprofit crowdfunding is growing

-Equity or investment

-Rewards: pledge of funds in exchange for reward or pre-purchased product.

19:30 Kelly introduces Jim Thomsen, SBDC consultant who specializes in entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, business management, funding sources and international trade

21:33 Jim Thomsen begins his presentation on crowdfunding Kickstarter Best Practices

25:16 Set a realistic and achievable funding goal with restrictions that affect eligibility and payout.

26:09 Early momentum is crucial for crowdfunding success, with higher emphasis on friends, family, mailing lists, and press to create a strong initial surge. Shorter campaigns risk insufficient reach, while longer ones may cause procrastination.

28:25 Video is essential for Kickstarter campaigns, but professional quality is not mandatory; authentic, clear presentations from real creators can resonate well with backers. A well-crafted campaign page should be mobile-friendly and address common questions clearly, including a FAQ section and rationale for why the product can succeed. https://www.kickstarter.com/

Advertising and Prelaunch Strategies

32:36 Facebook and Instagram ads are leading channels for reaching audiences and make it easy to start with small budgets to test and refine campaigns.

33:15 Crowdfunding strategy includes building a mailing list of potential backers before launch and using initial backers to create early momentum and visibility. Rewards are created in tiers, including lower-cost options and higher, more exclusive bundles to attract varying levels of support, and early-bird pricing to drive early commitments.

38:25 Importance of authenticity to backers of crowdfunding projects

38:46 Kelly rejoins Jim to show 4 examples of successful crowdfunding campaigns

39:47 Crowdfunding example – CSUB Humanities Department raised $4,000 for a visiting sculptor from the Ivory coast to create a sculpture of Martin Luther King Jr. for the campus. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1536850207/martin-luther-king-jr-sculpture-on-campus

41:46 Klettersack project – Jim provides details that include refiling a trademark, launching a Kickstarter-style campaign, and offering tiered rewards from stickers to numbered limited editions, which successfully raised far more than expected. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iconoriginals/the-original-klettersacktm-from-wilderness-experie

46:26 Successful Niche Crowdfunding Example – Yosemite Climbing Association https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yosemiteclimbingassn/yosemite-climbing-association-gallery-and-museum

48:33 Successful Niche Crowdfunding Example – CleanTrek inventor John McShane https://www.clean-trek.com/

CleanTrek Kickstarter promo https://youtu.be/LwwQiOPfl00?si=gODFeyWhxA11mRnM

53:26 Kelly and Jim with Questions and Answers from attendees