A manufacturing services firm called Dragon Innovation has launched a specialized crowdfunding site that allows select makers of consumer hardware to "pre-sell" their inventions online, including in large, wholesale volumes.

Unlike general crowdfunding platforms IndieGogo and Kickstarter, DragonInnovation.com runs strict due diligence research before allowing any entrepreneur to post a campaign and helps approved hardware makers refine their designs, determine the real costs of making their products in big batches,...