In a launch group, you’ll launch your crowdfunding campaign alongside all the other projects that are entering the funding phase the same week as you. You’ll be automatically assigned to a group as soon as you launch your project. You can find your launch group in your project management section under Team → Launch Group.
How am I assigned to a launch group?
All projects that launch between 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and 7:00 p.m. on the following Thursday are part of a launch wave. What matters is the moment you press the "Start" button and your project enters the funding phase. You don’t need to apply or register.
- Before your launch, the team management tool will show you an estimate of how many projects and people are expected to join your launch team. This number may change leading up to your launch date.
- Your launch group will open on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. You'll receive an email with a link to your group.
- A launch cohort typically consists of 30–40 projects and the team members behind them.
Where can I find my launch band?
In your project management section, go to Team → Launchbande. There you'll find:
- The shared metrics for your launch team
- The schedule for your community calls (via Google Meet)
- the list of all active members with their detail pages
- group chats and direct messages to individual members
- the option to leave the launch group
In addition, each Launchbande has a public community space featuring key metrics, the latest blog posts, and all of the group’s projects. You’ll continue to have access to your Launchbande even after your project ends.
What happens during the community calls?
Each Launchbande group meets once a week via video (Google Meet) for seven weeks. The schedule can be found under Team → Launchbande.
- The first call (Intro Call) takes place on the Monday after your campaign launch and is facilitated by Startnext.
- After that, the group chooses its own weekly meeting time. Startnext provides support but does not serve as a permanent moderator.
- Each call has a theme and includes a "Launch Challenge": a small task for the current week.
Communication between the calls takes place in the group chat directly on Startnext, without going through WhatsApp or Instagram.
How can I get the most out of my launch team?
- Get actively involved: Those who regularly read and post in the group chat benefit the most from the mutual support.
- Support your group's other projects—share, comment, and contribute yourself. That way, your contacts will become new supporters.
- Use the weekly tasks as a routine to gradually integrate community building into your day-to-day campaign activities.
Does the launch event cost anything, and do I have to participate?
Launchbande is free and included in all plans, regardless of which package you start with. Participation is automatic but optional: If you'd rather start on your own, you can leave at any time by going to Team → Launchbande.
Where can I find out more?
The reason why the Launch Groups exist and what we hope to achieve with them is explained in the blog post “We Form Groups—You’re No Longer Starting Out Alone.”