Example milestone plan
An example plan for a hardware gadget dream with a goal of CN¥330,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥66,000 · 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.
Milestone 2
CN¥82,500 · 25%
Refine the physical design
Share enclosure drawings, revised circuit photos and assembly notes showing fit checks and changes from the first prototype.
Milestone 3
CN¥132,000 · 40%
Build the pilot batch
Upload pilot unit photos, supplier invoices and a build record tracking assembly issues and component substitutions.
Milestone 4
CN¥49,500 · 15%
Complete reliability checks
Post test logs, inspection photos and final assembly instructions with a summary of unresolved limits and planned support.
- 01
Make every step provable
A milestone only works if a Backer can look at your proof and agree it is done. 'Buy equipment' is weak; 'equipment bought, receipt and photo posted' is strong.
- 02
Order by risk
Put the cheapest, fastest step first. Each released milestone proves you deliver and funds the next. Leave the biggest amount for the step where most of the work is already done.
- 03
Keep the amounts honest
Milestones must add up exactly to your goal. Price each step from real quotes, include tools and services, and split any step that is too big to prove in one go.
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.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a hardware gadget dream in Beijing, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥330,000
- Design and prototype iterationsCN¥82,500 · 25%
- Components tooling and pilot productionCN¥148,500 · 45%
- Testing and design verificationCN¥66,000 · 20%
- Packaging and support preparationCN¥33,000 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥330,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥49,500
- You receive
- CN¥280,500
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: CN¥1,000 gives the Dreamer CN¥850. 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.
Questions and answers
How many milestones should a hardware gadget dream have?
Three to six works for most dreams. Fewer gives Backers little to review; more than seven makes each step feel small. The example plan on this page uses four.
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.
Ready when you are
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