- 01
Gifts, not investments
A backing is a voluntary gift towards a goal. Nothing is sold, no ownership changes hands and no return is promised. Backers support a person; you keep control.
- 02
Why milestones still matter
Without contracts, Backers rely on transparency. You post proof for each milestone so they can review your progress and choose to support your dream directly with confidence.
- 03
What you owe Backers
Honesty: a true story, proof for each milestone and updates in chat. Not profits or repayment. Because Backers can pay milestone by milestone, they only send further support as you prove progress.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to review the proof, ask for more info, and decide whether to keep supporting your next milestone.
0% commission — direct gifts, nothing taken
Backers pay exactly what they choose directly through your payment methods. cohero takes 0% commission on backings, so you keep what is sent. Any refunds or disputes are handled directly between you, the Backer and your payment provider.
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.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a mobile app dream with a goal of $30,000. Backers pay you directly, funding the goal all at once or milestone by milestone as you post proof for each step.
Milestone 1
$4,500 · 15%
Validate the core flow
Post an interactive screen prototype, a prioritised feature list and anonymised notes from guided usability sessions.
Milestone 2
$12,000 · 40%
Build the main features
Share a recorded walkthrough of a working app build, completed feature checks and a summary of remaining development tasks.
Milestone 3
$7,500 · 25%
Test across devices
Upload a device test matrix, anonymised crash reports and before-and-after evidence for the main issues resolved.
Milestone 4
$6,000 · 20%
Prepare the release build
Post release build screenshots, setup documentation and a maintenance checklist with credentials and private data removed.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a mobile app dream in Houston, shown in USD. Backers pay you directly using your accepted payment methods.
Example goal
$30,000
- App design and development$19,500 · 65%
- Hosting and service integrations$3,000 · 10%
- Device testing and quality checks$4,500 · 15%
- Release and maintenance reserve$3,000 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $30,000
- 0% platform commission
- −$4,500
- You receive
- $25,500
Risks to plan for
- R1
Feature scope keeps growing
Extra features can absorb development time before the core flow works. Lock the first build scope in the prototype milestone and keep optional ideas outside its budget.
- R2
Device-specific failures
A build that works on one phone may fail on another screen or operating system. Budget for a defined device test matrix and reserve time for fixes before release preparation.
- R3
External service changes
An app may depend on services with changing limits or interfaces. Identify those dependencies early and include integration checks and a fallback plan in the release work.
Questions and answers
Do I have to pay Backers back?
No. Backers send gifts directly to your own payment account. cohero never holds funds or reverses payments; any dispute or refund request is handled between you and the Backer through your payment provider.
Do I need a finished app before creating a funding dream?
You can start with a clearly scoped prototype and development plan. Show which screens are interactive, which features still need code and how later milestones will provide working builds and device test evidence.
Can I share app progress without exposing user data?
Record a demonstration using invented accounts and sample content. Remove credentials from logs and screenshots, and use anonymised issue summaries so Backers can review the build without seeing real user records.
Ready when you are
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