Karaneko went from quiet beginnings to a Kickstarter catching attention everywhere, earning a Project We Love badge, doubling their follower base from 460 to 940, and lining up an exciting collaboration with Deltarune, all before launch. Here is how I built that momentum and helped set the stage for a strong campaign.
Joining the Campaign
I first discovered Karaneko on Reddit, where a post about their upcoming campaign caught my attention. The concept was exciting, and I began following along. Over the next few weeks, it was clear the campaign wasn’t gaining traction, and their follower growth was slow.
On August 26th, 2025, I had the initial call with the developer. They were hesitant and nervous, likely from a prior bad consultation experience. Once they felt comfortable, we discussed the campaign, the community, and what could be improved. Their page was well-structured and visually strong, but marketing and pre-launch strategy were their biggest hurdles.
By September 10th, the team signed on to work together. I began setting up the pre-launch strategy:
- Securing the Project We Love badge
- Taking over social media and creating content highlighting the game’s story, updates, and features
- Planning giveaways, press outreach, and streamer engagement
The first milestone came on September 18th, when Karaneko earned the Project We Love badge. This early success built momentum, generated excitement in the community, and provided confidence that the campaign could grow quickly.
From 460 followers when I first met the team, we grew to 500 by October 4th and ultimately reached 940 by October 30th. This growth laid the foundation for the Deltarune collaboration and the major giveaway, giving the campaign visibility and excitement well before launch.
Process & Challenges
When I joined the campaign, the Karaneko Discord had around 1,500 members, growing toward 1,600. Early on, I focused on creating a structured pre-launch plan. This included crafting posts to encourage discussion, sharing, and participation, and managing direct engagement with the community to maintain momentum. The excitement around the Kickstarter was so intense that we ended up creating a separate channel for me to manage Kickstarter-specific questions.
Since the team was taking a step back during the campaign, I managed all aspects of social media, content creation, and upselling, ensuring the campaign maintained traction while they focused on other priorities. I also lined up outreach to streamers and press, creating a pipeline for visibility when the campaign went live.
The result was a smooth, well-organized pre-launch strategy that built both confidence and excitement among backers, allowing the team to focus on the game without worrying about campaign logistics.
Results & Impact
By the time Karaneko launched on November 4th, 2025, the campaign had already reached 969 followers on Kickstarter. Discord membership grew to 2,000 during the campaign. Funding poured in immediately:
- 20% funded in the first 15 minutes
- 50% funded within 3.5 hours
- Fully funded within 45 hours
- Every stretch goal achieved, including the final goal of $85,000
- High-value pledges included $8,500, $5,000, two $3,000, and nine $1,000 pledges
Press coverage included a variety of indie and gaming outlets, helping generate buzz without relying on any single source. Streamer engagement and giveaways amplified visibility and excitement.
Backers were so engaged that the Discord buzz required a dedicated channel for Kickstarter questions alone. This allowed the community to celebrate milestones, ask questions, and participate in giveaways without overwhelming general discussion.
As Nekoda said, “Your presence honestly kept me calm. I thought we would make around 40–50k, but thanks to your support, we reached something so much bigger.”
And as Mau noted, “Thank you for giving momentum to our campaign. We couldn’t have done it without your guidance and support.”
Lessons Learned / Takeaways
Even before going live, careful planning and community-building make a huge difference. Early engagement, a consistent social media strategy, proactive outreach to press and streamers, and strategic upselling can help a campaign hit the ground running. Focused support helps maintain momentum and ensures the campaign runs smoothly while the team concentrates on development. Small indie teams don’t need to do everything themselves to succeed.
Key Takeaways for Indie Developers
- Engage your community early and consistently
- Prioritize marketing alongside development from day one
- Plan for giveaways and collaborations that generate excitement
- Monitor follower growth and content engagement to guide strategy
- Manage high-value pledges and reward updates strategically
Lessons matter only if you put them into action. Get your community ready, plan your marketing, and watch your next Kickstarter reach new heights. Even minor adjustments or a fresh perspective can make a big difference.