Building Communities, Not Just Campaigns, Drives Crowdfunding Success

The Aebli Group CEO Justin Starbird Shares Insights on Mission-Driven Marketing for Crowdfunding

We’re grateful when the work we do sparks a bigger conversation, especially one centered on authenticity, community, and mission-driven growth. Devin Thorpe recently sat down with our CEO, Justin Starbird, on Superpowers for Good to explore why successful crowdfunding isn’t just about raising capital, but about building real communities around meaningful missions.

We’re honored to share Devin’s thoughtful recap and insights from the conversation below.

Success in crowdfunding isn’t just about having a great product or service; it’s about building a community that rallies behind your mission.

This idea was central to my conversation with Justin Starbird, CEO of The Aebli Group, in today’s episode. Justin highlighted that the real “silver bullet” for a successful crowdfunding campaign is the strength of an engaged community.

“From our experience, a lot of times that secret weapon…is the community that they have amassed around their mission,” Justin explained. He emphasized that mission-driven companies often have an edge because their stories resonate deeply with their supporters, creating a foundation for passionate engagement.

Justin shared how his team works with companies to authentically communicate their vision and values in ways that connect with people. “It’s really important to be able to tell a story that’s compelling, that’s authentic, that’s true to who they are,” he said.

Through storytelling, community engagement, and a focus on authenticity, Justin and his team enable mission-driven companies to thrive.

“At the end of the day, it’s still the mission, the vision, the goal of the company, and their authenticity,” he said.

By building campaigns that connect with communities, Justin and The Aebli Group are transforming crowdfunding into a powerful tool for both raising capital and creating meaningful change.

tl;dr:

• Today’s episode explores how mission-driven storytelling creates community engagement for crowdfunding success.
• Guest Justin Starbird shares insights on building authentic marketing campaigns that resonate with investors.
• Justin describes working with Organic Transit to revive its solar-electric bicycle, the ELF 3.0.
• The Aebli Group uses authenticity to help startups foster trust and build meaningful connections.
  Justin’s superpower, authenticity, is key to creating campaigns that leave lasting impacts.
  
  
   

How to Develop Authenticity As a Superpower

Justin’s superpower is authenticity. He described it as being unafraid to share hard truths with clients and always striving to leave things better than he found them.

“What I try to do is…bring that authenticity to our clients in everything that we do,” he explained. Justin emphasized that authenticity fosters trust, builds communities, and ensures long-term success for businesses.

Justin shared a personal analogy to explain his approach to authenticity. He recalled hiring a yard-cleaning service and finding a Coke can left in the brush after they finished. Though small, the oversight eroded his confidence in the team’s attention to detail. That lesson shaped Justin’s ethos at The Aebli Group: always go the extra mile. By doing the “small things” right, like addressing potential blind spots, his team ensures their campaigns resonate with clients and communities.

Tips for Developing Authenticity as a Strength:

• Be Vulnerable: Acknowledge weaknesses and lean into them to foster genuine connections.
• Address Blind Spots: Identify potential risks or challenges and confront them openly.
• Focus on Community: Build trust by staying true to your values and mission.
• Always Go the Extra Mile: Pay attention to small details that demonstrate care and commitment.

By following Justin’s example and advice, you can make authenticity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Justin Starbird
CEO and Founder, The Aebli Group (pronounced ABE-Lee)

About The Aebli Group:

At The Aebli Group (TAG), we help innovators, founders, and established companies plan, execute, and optimize crowdfunding campaigns that build community, humanize your brand, and drive sustainable growth. Crowdfunding campaigns require a unique blend of strategy, storytelling, and platform knowledge. Companies choose us because we:

• Have deep experience navigating crowdfunding platforms and have led multiple successful campaigns by understanding how to leverage each platform’s unique audience and dynamics
• Combine marketing strategy with human-centered engagement
• Help clients avoid pitfalls while maximizing funding potential
• Turn campaigns into long-term growth engines, not just one-off events
  
  

Our clients have successfully raised millions of dollars, validated new products, generated media coverage, and built lasting communities.

Biographical Information:

Justin Starbird is the CEO and Founder of The Aebli Group (pronounced Abe-Lee), a full-service marketing agency focused on assisting founders in the crowdfunding space. Additionally, TAG is an experienced B2B marketing agency that specializes in the medical device, medical technology, and manufacturing industries. He has built his company into an industry leader by focusing on the details that help push clients to the next level. Most recently, Justin and the TAG Team launched the TAG Awards. The inaugural TAG Awards will spotlight the MedTech and Healthcare sectors, underscoring The Aebli Group’s long-standing commitment to driving success in these essential industries. With advancements in medical technology and healthcare delivery shaping the future of patient care, this focused awards program aims to honor the companies, products, and leaders redefining the standards of excellence in these fields.

Justin is also dedicated to his community and has been recognized with the prestigious “Spirit of America” and “Local Hero” awards for his volunteerism and philanthropy. Today, Justin lives in Maine with his loving wife, two beautiful daughters, and two dogs.

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