By Fabien Gaussorgues

Last week, I was looking at some concepts for new products on Indiegogo. Like many other people, I like to see new ideas.

Also, some Kickstarter or Indiegogo projects have become our clients in the past. So it’s only natural for us to browse those websites.

Over the weekend, I found an interesting concept on Indiegogo. It is a computer mouse that can eliminate the pain that comes from holding a traditional mouse (in a poor position).

• Nice project. Nice marketing. And it is already 1200% funded. However, here are a few surprising facts:
• The pledged amount is only 6,000 USD.
• The target was 500 USD (very low, so they are assured the project is a success). It doesn’t correspond to the realistic needs of funding a new product of that nature.
• No information on the company, the founders, or the team
• The only thing we see is the location: Shenzhen.

Could it be a Chinese supplier, selling their products on Indiegogo?

It seems to be the case. Here are a few other websites where this mouse is sold:

• Alexpress (for small businesses of individuals in the West), for 26 USD
• Tmall (mainly for individuals located in mainland China), for 23 USD

What is happening here?

This Chinese company use Indiegogo as a distribution channel for a product they are already making. And they are selling it at a higher price there.

It’s not clear whether they are a manufacturer or a trading company. In any case, if this use of Indiegogo and maybe Kickstarter becomes mainstream, it could change the face of project crowdfunding.

This already seems to be a trend on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo. It means buyers might want to be more careful doing their own due diligence. They are buying “China direct”, so it is not different from buying on Alibaba or Made-In-China!