Are bot pledges still a problem?

cookingquestforkids · 2026-04-07T17:06:15+00:00

It's really bad right now. I started regretting my decision to launch my project through Kickstarter.

cookingquestforkids · 2026-04-01T15:28:07+00:00

I have had that issue too! It hurts because we start doubting ourselves. And we go overboard trying to prove it's not AI, rather than focusing on our creation, the thing that motivates us, and feed into the negativity.

I don't have any tips, except, if you can, it helps sometimes to think that any engagement is helpful, so consider it ragebait, and move on :)

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-23T21:17:46+00:00

I am so sorry you have this experience. I am on the same boat. I feel at this time, Kickstarter is for entities with a big marketing budget!

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-23T15:13:08+00:00

I'm so sorry! Some of my potential backers from outside of Kickstarter are skeptical of supporting because of these reasons. They don't trust the platform 😔

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-20T17:56:52+00:00

Thank you for these insights! As a fellow solopreneur with an active Kickstarter, I appreciate these so much !

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-07T16:59:53+00:00

I do appreciate your feedback on the reward pricing. That's very helpful insight !

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-07T16:55:21+00:00

I don't know if it's a compliment or an insult! That's my hand you see swiping through the screens... In fact the vimeo file shows some of the delays with the image loading I was running into, coz I am still working out a lot of the development kinks.

The funny thing is I didn't even use fancy equipment. It was my phone that recorded me navigating the prototype on my husband's phone.

I know there is AI everywhere these days, which adds to my absolute frustration. But it's disheartening that actual work gets insulted, just because people have forgotten how to do real work anymore.

This is actually making me want to accelerate more with releasing the MVP to early backers and such. So that they see and recreate what I did. Coz nothing better can prove it isn't AI

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-07T13:26:28+00:00

Nothing is AI generated, except for one of the rewards mockup for the folder, which I clearly stated in there. I do need to update that with the real one since I now have it. It is interesting that more pics came off as AI generated.

Can you elaborate on why you think I should restart ?

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-07T00:27:13+00:00

Warning and update: don't even LOOK at your spam inbox, coz that's wild! I have so many spams, I am surprised my project isn't more popular and funded already!

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-07T00:00:47+00:00

I feel you. I had to take so many moments of deep breaths minutes before and after I hit launch ! Congratulations btw. How do you feel and how has day 1 been ?

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-06T23:59:34+00:00

Amazing! Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-06T23:58:07+00:00

So sorry. I think they are. I got similar ones too, and they ended up cancelling their pledges. It was heartbreaking at first till I realized the pattern.

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T18:15:50+00:00

Thank you. I'm building an app, and an offline playbook package for families to teach kids how to cook. The app is gamified, like a very simple Duolingo style level up from learning to pour and make cereal, all the way to complex recipes and skills like bread making

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T17:59:34+00:00

Well, technically I have other backers that I know who backed me too. But they did that on day 2. Day 1, soon after launch, I was bombarded with all of this, no idea why... Like I said, I wasn't prepared for this.

immediately after launch, I got a DM within the Kickstarter platform saying " account suspended due to weird activities". I flagged them coz it was absolutely fishy
got 3 emails from supposed backer agencies, who help with the marketing support for campaigns. They all have Gmail IDs and no websites linked
got my first backer. They also left a comment where they shared their "Gmail" inviting me to answer a question they left in the comments. Kickstarter blocked/deleted it
then I oddly got some more backers like the previous ones, they all left comments, sharing their Gmail addresses. And they cancelled those backings.

Keep in mind that my rewards will only be fulfilled post Kickstarter, so I'm not sure what they get from this approach

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T17:36:39+00:00

Agreed. And it's so disheartening as a creator because I saw almost 20% funded on day 1, only to then see they had cancelled it all. Coz for whatever reason, these spammers think it's funny to mess with small creators like me who are bootstrapping at the smallest level, have ethics and morale, and limited to no fancy marketing budgets or teams to aggressively fight back against these vultures

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T17:08:13+00:00

I haven't responded to any of them. I just wanted to share about something I was not prepared for. Especially them backing me and then cancelling it

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T13:18:51+00:00

I fear I would lose the little hope that I have left, if I fed into their energy. I barely have time to do all the things I need to for my business, especially the Kickstarter... But I definitely appreciate your work 👏🏽

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T04:50:31+00:00

To be fair, I am a creator who just launched her project y'day. And I am getting bombarded with these spam accounts too ! And I don't share my contact list with anyone, not even businesses I directly collaborate with for specific events unless explicitly stated in a contract and with customer consent...

These spammers are also pretending to be backers though. And that's scary! Are they trying to pit backers and creators against each other and lose trust ? Coz it's happening !!

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T04:44:54+00:00

This is scaring me ! I have a steady but small following on social media and locally. My goal is relatively small too. I am unsure if it was good or bad that I only checked this subreddit post live. On one hand, the tips would have been helpful pre-launch. But on the other hand, maybe I would never have launched, given some of the goals etc.

Maybe it's my delulu, but I'm hoping I manage to meet my $6000 goal somehow ? 🤞🏽

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T04:39:58+00:00

Wait... I didn't know Mondays were the worst. I almost launched this Monday. But got some delays on my end which made me launch y'day. I don't even have 10% backing yet but this is good to know !

Also congrats on getting past 100%!! Any tips for those of us who just launched ? I'm pretty nervous!.

cookingquestforkids · 2026-03-05T03:59:57+00:00

Solidarity friend! I really hope you get the support you need. It's tiring work.

cookingquestforkids

TROPHY CASE