Dive Brief:

• Etsy Inc. Tuesday began piloting a crowdfunding feature similar to Kickstarter to help its sellers raise money to expand their businesses.

• The vintage-and-maker marketplace would take its 3.5% per transaction per usual, plus a $.20 posting fee.

• Crowdfunding has boomed as a way for artists and small businesses to fund projects or expansions, although the practice has recently drawn regulatory scrutiny due to some abuses.

Dive Insight:

This move makes a whole lot of sense for Etsy, which, for all its troubles of late, does have a strong track record of support for its legitimate sellers of vintage collectibles and hand-made goods. 

The program would help makers obtain necessary software and hardware tools for expansion. As noted by the White House last week, many "crafty" entrepreneurs use technology like design software and 3-D printers in their businesses — items that can be pricey for small and micro-businesses like those found on Etsy.