craco Inc. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masaki Mizohashi), a consulting firm specializing in crowdfunding, has released its market trend report for January to May 2026, based on proprietary data collected from major domestic crowdfunding platforms.
※ Platforms: CAMPFIRE, Makuake, GREEN FUNDING, READYFOR, kibidango, MotionGallery, ForGood
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◼ Highlights: January–May 2026
・Market Size: Total funding reached approximately ¥17.82 billion. Number of projects: 9,748.
・Platform Trends: Makuake recorded approximately ¥7.87 billion in funding, securing 44.2% of the monetary share and ranking first. In contrast, CAMPFIRE led in project count with a 65.5% share.
・Trends: Strong concentration in “AI gadgets” and “home & lifestyle electronics.” The top categories alone accounted for over 42% of the total market.
◼ Research Background and Objectives
craco Inc. collects and analyzes project data from major domestic crowdfunding platforms on a monthly basis to promote market transparency and contribute to industry growth. This report categorizes projects that concluded between January 1 and May 31, 2026, into proprietary cross-platform categories (※) and presents key metrics such as funding amounts and backer counts in ranking format.
※ Categories: Fashion, Beauty, Food, Gadgets, Home, Hobbies, Kids, Entertainment, Social, Challenge
【Platform Rankings】
◼ Project Count Ranking (Jan–May 2026): CAMPFIRE Dominates as Infrastructure for Creators
The platform rankings by project count from January to May 2026 are as follows:
CAMPFIRE ranked first with 6,380 projects, accounting for 65.5% of the total number of projects (9,748). It has solidified its role as an accessible platform where “anyone can launch a project.” Together with Makuake (2nd place), these two platforms continue to dominate approximately 85% of the market by project volume.
◼ Funding Amount Ranking (Jan–May 2026): Makuake Leads with Consecutive Large-Scale Campaigns
The platform rankings by funding amount from January to May 2026 are as follows:
The total funding amount across all platforms from January to May 2026 reached approximately ¥17.82 billion. Makuake raised approximately ¥7.87 billion, capturing 44.2% of the funding share and leading the market. Throughout this period, AI-powered gadgets and high-functionality home electronics were concentrated as major campaigns.
Notably, GREEN FUNDING stands out. Despite only 107 projects, its average funding per project reached approximately ¥13.69 million—over seven times the market average of ¥1.82 million—establishing a strong position as a premium gadget-focused platform.
◼ Backer Count Ranking (Jan–May 2026)
The platform rankings by number of backers from January to May 2026 are as follows:
In terms of backer count, Makuake ranked first with approximately 463,000 backers (47.8% share), followed by CAMPFIRE with approximately 394,000 backers (40.7% share).
Makuake’s high average number of backers per project indicates its deep penetration among general consumers as a launchpad for new products.
【Category Rankings】
◼ Funding Amount Ranking by Category (Jan–May 2026): Makuake × Gadgets Drives the Market
The category rankings by funding amount from January to May 2026 are as follows:
By category, “Makuake × Gadgets” achieved the largest scale at approximately ¥2.32 billion, ranking first overall. This was followed by “CAMPFIRE × Entertainment (¥1.80 billion),” “Makuake × Home (¥1.79 billion),” and “READYFOR × Social (¥1.71 billion),” with the top four categories alone accounting for approximately 42% of the total market. Makuake appears in four of the top eight categories, clearly demonstrating its dominant position as the go-to platform for first-release new products.
【Project Rankings】
◼ Top 5 Projects by Funding Amount (Jan–May 2026): All Top 5 Projects Exceeded ¥100 Million
The top 5 projects by funding amount that concluded between January and May 2026. This period saw all top five projects surpass ¥100 million in funding.
1st Place 【¥636,736,060】
Offline Translation & Audio-Visual Subtitle Explanation Just by Looking and Listening | Rokid Smart AI Glasses
・Platform: Makuake
・Total Funding: ¥636,736,060
・Number of Backers: 7,413
View project details
2nd Place 【¥325,329,081】
Overwhelming Immersion and Visual Beauty. Ultimate Cinema-Grade Premium Projector | Valerion
・Platform: Makuake
・Total Funding: ¥325,329,081
・Number of Backers: 698
View project details
3rd Place 【¥251,062,877】
Overwhelming Immersion and Visual Beauty. Ultimate Cinema-Grade Premium Projector | Valerion
・Platform: GREEN FUNDING
・Total Funding: ¥251,062,877
・Number of Backers: 6,995
View project details
4th Place 【¥215,524,600】
North American Hit! Live with Your “AI Companion” That Evolves Through Conversation and Memory
・Platform: Makuake
・Total Funding: ¥215,524,600
・Number of Backers: 2,415
View project details
5th Place 【¥187,117,100】
Serious Training for One Person! Next-Gen AI Coach | Tenniix AI Tennis Machine
・Platform: Makuake
・Total Funding: ¥187,117,100
・Number of Backers: 1,654
View project details
From January to May 2026, there was a notable concentration of funding in “AI-powered devices that enhance human capabilities and experiences.”
Top projects included AI glasses, AI companions, AI sports coaches, and smart audio devices—technologies that go beyond mere gadgets to “upgrade human behavior and experiences” received strong support. Particularly, products that use AI to solve everyday challenges such as translation, information access, communication, and sports improvement showed a trend toward large-scale funding.
Moreover, many high-priced projects attracted thousands of backers, reinforcing the original crowdfunding value of “investing in new experiences” over “buying cheaply.” Moving forward, products that leverage AI to enhance experiential value in everyday areas such as lifestyle, hobbies, and health are expected to continue driving the market.
【Other Rankings
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Survey
- Organizations: Makuake / CAMPFIRE / GREEN FUNDING