Available Wednesday (Nov. 11), the integration connects Kickstarter’s Pledge Manager, its post-campaign tool for collecting shipping information, taxes and add-on purchases, with Shopify’s commerce platform. Creators can sync finalized orders to Shopify for fulfillment and automatically send tracking information back to Kickstarter, where backers can follow their shipments.
The integration is designed for creators who use Kickstarter to introduce products and build initial demand but rely on Shopify to manage ongoing sales and fulfillment. It eliminates the need to export and reformat spreadsheets before uploading backer orders into Shopify.
The app allows creators to match Kickstarter reward variants with Shopify products using stock keeping unit (SKU) numbers. They can transfer orders in batches, pause or resume synchronization and schedule multiple waves of fulfillment. Backers have 48 hours to confirm their shipping addresses before orders are transferred.
The launch reflects the growing overlap between crowdfunding and traditional online retail. Platforms such as Kickstarter can help businesses validate demand and finance initial production, while commerce infrastructure gives successful campaigns a way to manage fulfillment and subsequent sales through established retail operations.
For creators, that distinction becomes more important as campaigns generate larger order volumes. Kickstarter’s integration is intended to make the transition from a funded project to a functioning commerce operation less dependent on manual processes. Its Pledge Manager also integrates with ShipStation.
The app is free for Kickstarter creators using Pledge Manager, although standard Kickstarter crowdfunding fees still apply. Users need a launched Pledge Manager, Shopify administrator access and matching SKUs for their products and Kickstarter rewards.
“Kickstarter is where creators prove there’s demand for an idea, and Shopify is where they grow it into a business,” Jeff Kennedy, who works in partnerships at Shopify, said in a statement.
