Technical Platform Update (Dec ‘20)

A summary of the most significant platform development update for Pledgecamp in 2020.

As a challenging 2020 draws to a close, we wish everyone in our community good health and good fortune. Despite numerous hurdles during this unprecedented year, we are happy to close out the year with the most significant technical update of the year since the initial launch of the platform.

Before proceeding to the technical update, let’s look back at the company news for 2020 as a whole.

Crowdfunding Update

After the first charitable project to raise PPE for medical workers launched earlier in the year, our first commercial project hosted was Dryad Cookery and their titanium spatula (https://pledgecamp.com/project/dryad-cookery--titanium-tools-for-cast-iron-cooking).

The project was 101% funded and the creator announced he would complete shipping all rewards before the end of the year, making it the first complete success story on the platform.

The second project was launched shortly after by Skyborne, making smart travel accessories (https://pledgecamp.com/project/skyborne-smart-carry-goods-designed-to-streamline-your-life).

Despite launching a product in a challenging product category, considering the worldwide travel shutdowns due to COVID-19, the project was 128% funded.

Moving Forward

We are actively accepting new product submissions for crowdfunding. If you or anyone you know has a product they would like to crowdfund, please email hello@pledgecamp.com and we will take care of you. Currently, launching a project must be done after review and approval although we plan to open up self-review and launch functionality in the future.

Historically, November through January comprise the slowest crowdfunding months of the year. This is simply due to the holiday season, where disposable income is spent more on gifts that are received right away. Combined with the effects of COVID-19, we expect the slow season to continue until crowdfunding activity on Pledgecamp picks up again in February 2021.

Technical Update

Finally we get to the technical update. Regardless of the projects listing on the platform, significant updates are being made behind the scenes every week. We have added new members to our development team and improved workflows to increase efficiency as we mature as a platform.

Launching the first projects this year has allowed us to discover bugs and user pain points in live scenarios so that we can address them before we run into problems later at scale. In addition to technical fixes, we are constantly implementing new features from our roadmap to increase value to our users.

Here is a list of technical updates representing the past couple months of work:

Backend: Improvements to API validation and security to prepare for opening project creation to the public for self-launch.

• Implemented translations for projects. (Offering the project page in multiple languages in one easy interface is a significant feature that’s unique to Pledgecamp. It will allow creators to access larger, global audiences in order to raise more funds.)
• Improved daily funding analytics dashboard for creators.
• Created master admin interface to add, edit, and delete project categories.
• Implemented validation and error messages for rewards, milestones, and project data.
• Prepared for contract releases (store PLG/CS wallet balances, transaction history, etc).
• Implemented logic for option reward delivery times.
• Improved comment sorting and functionality.
• Improved stability and error messages for login/registration/2fa.
• Improved features regarding saved shipping addresses.
• Implemented user deletion.

Frontend: Improved testing to avoid regressions and bugs in the critical paths (login/register, project setup, checkout).

• Added delivery date support for rewards.
• Added multiple currency support.
• Implemented UI for project bonuses.
• UI updates to user profile, project tab bar.
• Implemented Youtube thumbnails for project videos.
• Implemented email confirmation for a few types of actions.
• Clarified requirements and options for project/reward images.
• Fixed navigation issue handling when the user’s session expires, or they’re not permitted to access a page.
• Improved the UI for creator tools.
• More straightforward error messages.
• Fixed edge cases around “Add Reward”.
• Fixed social media sharing text/images for projects.

Contracts and blockchain

• Improved project moderation workflow.
• More efficient setup of initial project backers for backer insurance.
• Made CampShare updatable.
• Added more static code analysis to catch bugs.
• Split code for blockchain access/transactions into a separate project, with intention to eventually open source.
• Updated to Solidity 0.7
• Improved documentation.

Token bridge:

• Improved stability, will be relaunched shortly

Connect with us:
Questions/Comments: hello@pledgecamp.com
Media: media@pledgecamp.com
Partnerships: eddie@pledgecamp.com
Wholesale (hospitals, government, NGOs): j@pledgecamp.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/pledgecamp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pledgecamp
Instagram: https://instagram.com/pledgecamp

For more details about the Pledgecamp platform, refer to our white paper accessible at https://pledgecamp.com/whitepaper.

This post may contain forward-looking statements about the future functionality of the platform. The platform is currently in development, and we reserve the right to make changes to the design, names, or functionality of features in the interests of making the platform successful. For full risk factors, see white paper.