I think you are. To secure production + a timeslot with a manufacturer a campaign starter has to set up a minimum production run, let's say something about at least 4.000-5.000 units. Agreements probably conclude that this production run + timeslot is secured if the crowdfunding campaign meets its financial goals. Not really sure what happens if it doesn't other than both will be available to another client of the manufacturing company. Also keep in mind that crowdfunding campaign starters are a rather unusual type of client for, let's say a chinese/taiwanese manufacturing company. The vast majority will be commercial customers.

I assume that his personal/his company's investment is defined by the minimum production run required, not the other way round. In other words: You have to put a certain minimum amount of money in to start things going. My guess is he secured a deal with 5.000 units. Now if you take a look at the units ordered so far we may land by 1.500 units at the end of the campaign. So that would mean roughly 3.500 units left for testing/reviews, warranty cases + the lion's share for after-campaign sales as indicated by Michael Du (Indiegogo campaign starter). That means assessing the demand BEFORE the campaign launch. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't expect to sell 5.000 units during the campaign. IF orders boost miraculously Chen could initiate a second production run but this makes no sense whatsoever before the first batch is sold out.

I trust that Chen + his team did a thorough analysis of the potential of this project beforehand. They won't gamble + they are much more professional + aware of the financial side than the people at Jolla ever were. On a sidenote: it was Marc Dillon who won me over when I saw one video of this incredible energetic young man. Despite his crippled arm he was so vibrant, full of energy that i instantly decided to order my Jolla Phone. Note: I had no intention do so before i saw that vid. Consequently, I had lost all hope in Jolla when he went offboard.

How could he? Success has been in no way guaranteed: Too many people could have been put off by Jolla's handling of their Tablet project. It was in no way guaranteed that his street credibility would be sufficient to counter that. I, for one, have never heard of him before this campaign ever (although I think he might be somehow related to Mrs. Chen/Cybette, the former PR spokeswoman/community manager of Jolla...) But his persistence begins to bear fruit; also there are many testimonials of the good quality of work he delivered so far.

Now to the second point: This could backfire. If as a campaign starter I have to meet a certain goal I would not neccessarily communicate every detail to the crowd. You can do that if you've at least reached 50% (better 75%) of your funding goal. If you do that right from the start you might kill off your own campaign. No more epic fail than that, don't you think? Imagine for a moment that after 10 days of the campaign Chen would have been at 25% of his funding goal. This alone would have killed the campaign off. Who in his right mind would believe he could raise 75% of the amount in the remaining 5 days? Only hardcore supporters would chip in at the last moment. Secondly, if backers became aware that he would have to reach 5.000 units to be ordered they would believe he could never make it. Thirdly, as a fixed funding campaign - all or nothing - it would have been dead once more. Three-fold death, project ended, basta, rien ne vas plus.

Note that the second point (minimum units production run) has got nothing to do with the crowdfunding campaign itself. But if backers misunderstand that point it can seriously backfire up to the point where an otherwise successful project is killed off just because of misunderstandings + false assumptions of uninformed supporters who often share their subjective views and are mostly unaware of the consequences.

Sorry for that epic long post. But I want good projects like this to succeeed and sensibilize you folks a bit to give constructive criticism insted of rumours. You might not be aware of it but you have your own share of responsibility if you want your project to succeed. Okay, thanks for your time, guys.