Sponsor's Guide
Support the builders behind the ideas you believe in — and join their acceleration team.
What is Sponsorship / Patronage?
Sponsorship lets you back a startup idea with a small monthly contribution or a one-time boost. You become part of the builder's acceleration team, unlock members-only updates, and help the idea move from concept to reality.
Two ways to support:
Monthly Tier
Recurring monthly support (Spark, Accelerator, or Co-pilot). Perks renew every billing cycle. Cancel anytime.
One-time Boost
A single contribution (€5 / €15 / €50 presets). No recurring charge — a quick show of support.
Read this first — what sponsorship is NOT
This is support for the idea, not an investment. You do not receive ownership, equity, shares, dividends, or any financial return. Sponsors get perks, recognition, and behind-the-scenes access — never a stake in the company or its revenue.
The Tiers
Each author sets their own prices within fixed bands. Higher tiers unlock more access.
Spark — €5 to €15 / month
- Spark badge on the idea page
- Your name in the sponsors list
- Access to the members-only updates feed
Accelerator — €15 to €49 / month
- Everything in Spark
- Early access to build updates and prototypes
- Vote on what the author builds next
Co-pilot — €49 to €149 / month
- Everything in Accelerator
- Monthly 20-minute call slot with the builder
- Small logo on the idea page Co-pilot Hall of Fame
One-time Boost — €5 / €15 / €50
- A single contribution — no recurring charge
- Your name appears in the sponsors list
- Helps the idea hit its funding goal faster
How to Become a Sponsor
Step 1: Find an idea
Browse the Marketplace and open any idea with the "Accelerate this idea" block enabled.
Step 2: Pick a tier or boost
Choose Spark, Accelerator, or Co-pilot for monthly support — or a one-time Boost amount.
Step 3: Secure checkout
You'll be redirected to Stripe. Pay by card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. IdeaMart never sees your card details.
Step 4: You're on the team 🎉
Your sponsor badge unlocks instantly. Members-only updates and the vote widget appear on the idea page.
14-day withdrawal: You have 14 days to cancel a new sponsorship for a full refund. After that, you can cancel future renewals anytime — perks remain until the end of the current period.
Member Perks
Members-only updates feed
Authors post private build updates visible only to active sponsors. Non-sponsors see a locked teaser.
Vote on the next sprint
Accelerator and Co-pilot sponsors can vote on what the author should build next ("New features", "Better design", "Performance", "Integrations").
Co-pilot Hall of Fame
Co-pilot sponsors get their small logo displayed on the idea page — public recognition of your support.
Acceleration progress bar
Watch the idea's funding goal fill up in real time as the community supports it.
Managing Your Sponsorship
My Sponsorships page
Find all your active and past sponsorships under Account → My Sponsorships. See your tier, amount, next billing date, and status.
Cancel in two clicks
Open a sponsorship, click "Cancel" — future renewals stop immediately. Your perks remain active until the end of the current paid period.
Change tier
Monthly sponsors can switch between Spark, Accelerator, and Co-pilot anytime. The new price applies to your next billing cycle; your current period keeps its original price.
Refunds
Within 14 days of a new subscription: full refund on request. One-time boosts and renewals after the withdrawal window are non-refundable.
🔔 In-app notifications (new)
The header bell now alerts you in real time when an author posts a members-only update or your sponsorship changes status. Click a notification to jump straight to the idea page — no need to refresh or watch your inbox.
Are You an Author?
If you've published an idea, you can enable sponsorship from your Dashboard → Sponsorship tab:
- Set a funding goal and label (e.g. "First sprint — €1,000")
- Set tier prices within the fixed bands (Spark €5–15, Accelerator €15–49, Co-pilot €49–149)
- Toggle Stripe Tax if needed
- Post members-only updates at least every 7 days to keep signups open
Weekly cadence: If no update is posted for 14 days, new sponsor signups are automatically paused until you post an update. This keeps sponsors engaged and informed.
Author payouts: Each sponsorship nets you the amount minus a 12% platform fee and Stripe processing fees. Balances are tracked in a payout-pending ledger and paid out by the IdeaMart team.
Tips for Sponsors
- Sponsor ideas you'd use: Your support helps builders ship things you care about.
- Start with Spark: Try a month at the lowest tier before committing to Accelerator or Co-pilot.
- Engage with updates: Authors post weekly — your votes and feedback shape the build.
- Remember it's support, not investment: Sponsor because you want the idea to exist, not for financial return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I own part of the company?
No. Sponsorship is support, not investment. You receive perks and access — never equity, shares, or financial return.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel in two clicks from My Sponsorships. Future renewals stop immediately; perks remain until the end of the current paid period.
Can I change my tier?
Monthly sponsors can switch tiers anytime. The new price applies to the next billing cycle; the current period keeps its original price.
What happens if the author stops posting updates?
If an author misses 14 days, new signups are automatically paused. Existing sponsors keep their perks and can cancel if they wish.
Are boosts refundable?
One-time boosts are non-refundable. New monthly subscriptions can be refunded within 14 days; renewals after that window are non-refundable.
How is the author paid?
The author receives the sponsorship amount minus a 12% platform fee and Stripe processing fees, tracked in a payout ledger and paid out by the IdeaMart team.
Questions? Email us at info@ideamart.eu