How to back a hardware gadget dream in Paris safely

Backing a hardware gadget dream means giving to a real person with a real goal. You see the plan before you give, money is held per milestone and you decide when each part is released.

A hardware gadget moves from a promising prototype to parts that fit, assemble and survive testing. Make tooling and production decisions depend on documented design checks, not renders alone.

How Backers are protected

14-day review per milestone

When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.

15% fee, deducted — never added

Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: €100 gives the Dreamer €85. The fee is kept if money is returned.

Gifts, not shares

Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.

  1. 01

    Before you back

    Read the story and the milestones. Check that the amounts add up and that each step has something concrete to prove. If anything is unclear, ask in chat first.

  2. 02

    While the dream runs

    Your backing is split across the milestones. When proof is posted you are notified and can release your share or ask for more. You can back anonymously.

  3. 03

    If something goes wrong

    If you do not release a milestone in time, the money still held for it and later steps comes back to you, minus the fee. You can report a dream or block a user at any time.

Example milestone plan

An example plan for a hardware gadget dream with a goal of €45,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.

  1. Milestone 1

    €9,000 · 20%

    Prove the key function

    Post a bench demonstration, a component shortlist and measured results showing the gadget’s main function in a basic prototype.

  2. Milestone 2

    €11,250 · 25%

    Refine the physical design

    Share enclosure drawings, revised circuit photos and assembly notes showing fit checks and changes from the first prototype.

  3. Milestone 3

    €18,000 · 40%

    Build the pilot batch

    Upload pilot unit photos, supplier invoices and a build record tracking assembly issues and component substitutions.

  4. Milestone 4

    €6,750 · 15%

    Complete reliability checks

    Post test logs, inspection photos and final assembly instructions with a summary of unresolved limits and planned support.

Risks to plan for

  • R1

    Parts become unavailable

    A chosen component may disappear before the pilot build. Record suitable alternatives during design work and leave budget for checking substitutions before ordering a batch.

  • R2

    Enclosure fit problems

    A circuit that works on a bench may not fit its case or connectors. Use the second milestone for physical fit checks before committing the largest share to pilot production.

  • R3

    Pilot units fail testing

    Repeated use may expose faults absent from a single demonstration. Define reliability checks before the pilot build and retain testing budget for inspection and redesign work.

Questions and answers

Can I raise support before I know the final unit design?

Show the function you have demonstrated and the design questions still open. Separate prototype refinement from pilot production so Backers can review fit checks before the largest manufacturing commitment.

Is a pilot batch the same as being ready for mass production?

No. A pilot batch helps reveal assembly problems, component issues and testing needs at a limited scale. State its intended size and evidence clearly without presenting it as proof that larger production is ready.

Can I see how my money was used?

Yes. Each milestone shows the Dreamer's proof, how much is held and how much is released. You only release money for milestones you have reviewed yourself.

Budget example

A typical cost split for a hardware gadget dream in Paris, shown in EUR. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.

Example goal

€45,000

  • Design and prototype iterations€11,250 · 25%
  • Components tooling and pilot production€20,250 · 45%
  • Testing and design verification€9,000 · 20%
  • Packaging and support preparation€4,500 · 10%

What you receive

Backers give
€45,000
Platform fee (15%)
−€6,750
You receive
€38,250

Ready when you are

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