Invest in Dude.Box
The low-friction marketplace connecting skilled craftsmen with customers who value quality. We're democratizing e-commerce for independent makers.
Independent Makers Are Underserved
Skilled craftsmen—woodworkers, metalworkers, leather artisans—create exceptional products but lack the technical expertise to build and maintain an online storefront. Existing platforms either charge excessive fees or provide inadequate branding and autonomy.
Plus 3% payment processing + $0.20 per listing. Makers lose ~10% of every sale.
Plus payment processing, apps, themes. Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
Etsy provides listings. Shopify requires coding. Neither offers low-cost branded subdomains.
The Simplest Path from Craft to Commerce
Dude.Box provides makers with a professional, branded storefront at their own subdomain (e.g., johnsworkshop.dude.box) with zero technical setup. Apply, get approved, add products, start selling—all in under 10 minutes.
Branded Storefronts
Each maker gets a dedicated subdomain with customizable colors, logo, and product listings. Not a marketplace "listing"—a full store.
- ✓ Custom subdomain (storename.dude.box)
- ✓ Personalized branding and colors
- ✓ Product management dashboard
Zero Technical Setup
No coding, no hosting, no payment gateway configuration. Makers connect their Stripe account and start selling immediately.
- ✓ One-click Stripe Connect onboarding
- ✓ Automatic tax and payment handling
- ✓ Mobile-friendly admin dashboard
Keep 99% of Sales
We charge just 1% per transaction—the lowest in the industry. Payments go directly to makers' bank accounts. We never hold funds.
- ✓ 1% platform fee (vs. Etsy's 6.5%)
- ✓ $5/month subscription (vs. Shopify's $39)
- ✓ Direct deposits via Stripe Connect
You Ship, We Handle the Rest
Makers fulfill orders directly—no inventory pooling, no warehouse logistics. They maintain full control over product quality and customer experience.
- ✓ Order management dashboard
- ✓ Automatic customer notifications
- ✓ Shipping label integrations (optional)
How We Compare to Existing Platforms
| Feature | Dude.Box | Etsy | Shopify | Square Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transaction Fee | 1% | 6.5% | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Monthly Cost | $5 | $0 (listings $0.20 each) | $39+ | $29+ |
| Setup Time | < 10 min | ~30 min | 2-4 hours | 1-2 hours |
| Branded Subdomain | ✓ | ✗ | $ (custom domain extra) | $ (custom domain extra) |
| Technical Skills Required | None | Minimal | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| Brand Control | Full | Limited | Full | Full |
Dual Revenue Streams with Low Customer Acquisition Cost
Revenue Streams
Scales with gross merchandise value. Conservative est: $1K/vendor/month GMV = $10/vendor in fees.
Predictable recurring revenue. Pure margin after infrastructure costs (~$0.50/vendor).
Covers onboarding costs and filters non-serious applicants.
Cost Structure
Serverless architecture scales automatically. No fixed infrastructure costs.
Vendors pay Stripe fees directly (2.9% + 30¢). Not included in our 1%.
Organic + paid. Lifetime value (LTV) = 24+ months × $15 = $360+. LTV:CAC > 12:1.
Projected Revenue at Scale
Subscriptions only. Transaction fees add ~2x at conservative $1K GMV/vendor/month estimate.
$26 Billion TAM, Growing 12% Annually
The handmade and artisan goods market in the U.S. is valued at over $26 billion and growing. Etsy alone facilitates $13B in annual GMV with 7.5M active sellers. We're targeting independent makers who want more control and lower fees.
Growth Strategy
Pilot Phase
Launch with 20-50 curated makers. Validate unit economics, iterate on product, gather testimonials. Target: Month 0-3.
Scale Acquisition
Launch paid acquisition (Google, Meta, maker forums). Target 100+ vendors by Month 6. Begin affiliate program for early adopters.
Optimize & Expand
Add premium features (custom domains, advanced analytics). Expand to international markets. Target 1,000+ vendors by Month 18.
Seeking $150K Seed Round
We're raising a seed round to fund vendor acquisition, product development, and operational infrastructure for the first 18 months.
Use of Funds
18-Month Milestones
Investment Structure
We're offering equity or convertible note terms. Open to discussing SAFEs, revenue sharing, or other structures that align with investor preferences.
Request Full Investor DeckInvestor Inquiry
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