Kickstarter

Kickstarter
source
Name	Perry Chen and Yancey Strickler's Kickstarter
Type	Crowdfunding platform
Founded	April 28, 2009
Founders	Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler
Location	New York City, New York, United States

Kickstarter is a prominent crowdfunding platform that has been instrumental in helping entrepreneurs, artists, and designers bring their innovative ideas to life, with the support of backers from around the world, including Silicon Valley, London, and Tokyo. Founded by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler in 2009, Kickstarter has become a leading platform for project creators to raise funds, gain visibility, and build a community around their projects, often with the help of influencers like Neil Gaiman and Seth Godin. With its headquarters in New York City, Kickstarter has been compared to other crowdfunding platforms like Indiegogo and GoFundMe, and has been recognized by Forbes, The New York Times, and Wired for its impact on entrepreneurship and innovation. Kickstarter has also been studied by Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management to understand its business model and growth strategy.

● History of

Kickstarter The concept of Kickstarter was first conceived by Perry Chen in 2001, while he was working on a music festival in New Orleans, where he met Trent Reznor and David Byrne. However, it wasn't until 2009 that Kickstarter was officially launched, with the help of Yancey Strickler and Charles Adler, who were inspired by the crowdfunding model of Sellaband and Kiva. In its early days, Kickstarter faced significant challenges, including competition from Indiegogo and GoFundMe, but it managed to gain traction with the help of early adopters like Amanda Palmer and Louis C.K.. As Kickstarter grew, it expanded its team, hiring Aziz Ansari and Jill Sobule as advisors, and partnering with organizations like TED and SXSW to promote its platform. Kickstarter has also been recognized by awards like the Webby Award and the South by Southwest Interactive Award.

● How

Kickstarter Works Kickstarter allows project creators to launch a campaign to raise funds for their project, with the goal of reaching a specific funding goal within a set timeframe, often with the help of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Backers can pledge money to support a project, and in return, they receive rewards or perks offered by the project creator, such as exclusive content or early access to the project, similar to Patreon and Twitch. Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing funding model, where projects must reach their funding goal in order to receive any funds, a model that has been studied by experts like Clay Shirky and Chris Anderson. This approach helps to ensure that project creators are committed to their project and that backers are protected in case the project is not successful, a protection that is also offered by consumer protection laws like the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Kickstarter also offers a range of tools and resources to help project creators manage their campaign and engage with their backers, including analytics and customer support, similar to Google Analytics and Zendesk.

● Notable Projects

Kickstarter has been the platform of choice for many notable projects, including Pebble Watch, Oculus Rift, and Exploding Kittens, which have all gone on to achieve significant success and recognition, with the help of influencers like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Other notable projects include Veronica Mars and Reading Rainbow, which were both successfully funded on Kickstarter and have since been recognized by awards like the Emmy Award and the Grammy Award. Kickstarter has also been used by well-known creators like Neil Gaiman, Seth Godin, and Amanda Palmer to fund their projects, and has been recognized by organizations like the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additionally, Kickstarter has been used to fund projects related to social impact, such as charity: water and DonorsChoose.org, which have both been recognized by awards like the Skoll Award and the Ashoka Fellowship.

● Statistics and Trends

Since its launch, Kickstarter has seen significant growth and success, with over $4 billion in pledges and more than 150,000 successful projects, according to statistics from Statista and CB Insights. The platform has also expanded to include new categories, such as games and technology, and has seen a significant increase in international projects, with projects from countries like Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. Kickstarter has also been recognized for its impact on entrepreneurship and innovation, with studies from Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management highlighting its role in promoting startups and small businesses, similar to Y Combinator and 500 Startups. Additionally, Kickstarter has been recognized for its diversity and inclusion efforts, with initiatives like Kickstarter's Diversity and Inclusion Report and partnerships with organizations like Code2040 and Girls Who Code.

● Controversies and Criticisms

Despite its success, Kickstarter has faced several controversies and criticisms, including concerns over project accountability and backer protection, similar to issues faced by GoFundMe and Indiegogo. Some project creators have been accused of misusing funds or failing to deliver on their promises, leading to backer dissatisfaction and negative publicity, as reported by The New York Times and Wired. Kickstarter has also faced criticism for its fees and policies, with some project creators arguing that the platform takes too large a percentage of the funds raised, a criticism that has also been leveled at Patreon and Twitch. Additionally, Kickstarter has faced challenges related to intellectual property and copyright infringement, with some project creators facing lawsuits and disputes over ownership and rights, similar to issues faced by YouTube and SoundCloud.

● Impact on Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Kickstarter has had a significant impact on entrepreneurship and innovation, providing a platform for startups and small businesses to raise funds and bring their ideas to life, similar to Y Combinator and 500 Startups. The platform has also helped to promote crowdfunding as a viable alternative to traditional venture capital and angel investing, with experts like Clay Shirky and Chris Anderson highlighting its potential to disrupt traditional funding models. Additionally, Kickstarter has been recognized for its role in promoting social impact and sustainability, with projects like charity: water and DonorsChoose.org using the platform to raise funds and awareness for their causes, similar to organizations like Ashoka and Skoll Foundation. Overall, Kickstarter has played a significant role in shaping the entrepreneurship and innovation landscape, and its impact will likely be felt for years to come, as recognized by institutions like Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Category:Entrepreneurship