This week’s lineup of rapidly funded Kickstarter projects includes a lot of different and interesting campaigns that have passed their goal within their first week (or few days) of launching. The categories are Tabletop Games, Food/Vegan, Accessories, and Hardware.
Four out of five of these projects contain an element of giving back in some way. By planting trees, making it easier to grow our own healthy food, donating to health care in developing countries, and supporting artists, these campaigns are participating in a growing trend on Kickstarter towards environmentally friendly and socially responsible startups. My favorites are 2 and 4!
You can find last week’s roundup here.
#1. Mighty Wild – Gluten-Free, Vegan ACORN Crackers
Creators: MIGHTY WILD
Amount Funded: $32k+
Number of Backers: 221+
Average Pledge per Backer: $147
Duration: Nov 5 2014 – Dec 5 2014 (30 days)
This startup was founded by two sisters who are passionate about starting a mission-driven business and bringing people great food. This Kickstarter project for Gluten-Free, Vegan ACORN Crackers reached its $25,000 goal in less than 24 hours and is already looking at reaching their stretch goals. A percentage of their sales will go towards planting trees in backers’ communities, as their way of giving back. Their first line of very healthy acorn products comes in three flavors: Original, Rosemary & Caramelized Onion, and Spicy Chipotle.
#2. The New Garden Tower – Powering a Fresh Food Revolution
Creators: Garden Tower Project
Amount Funded: $105k+
Number of Backers: 335+
Average Pledge per Backer: $315
Duration: Nov 4 2014 – Dec 8 2014 (34 days)
This is Garden Tower Project’s second successful Kickstarter campaign. The first raised over $88,000 in funds in March 2013 for the original Garden Tower. This new and improved version will be easier to use, last longer, and function better – and they’re available now at a special Kickstarter price.
The group behind this project is passionate about addressing issues like food scarcity, and not knowing enough about what we are eating (where it is produced, what is added to it). Their unique system is compact (great for small spaces like balconies or patios), and uses compost for organic, healthy food that grows even in hot zones or urban areas! The New Garden Tower is built to retain moisture and insulate plant roots for great results.
#3. Paperwallet – A super thin tyvek wallet designed by artists
Creators: Elad Burko
Amount Funded: $21k+
Number of Backers: 727+
Average Pledge per Backer: $29
Duration: Nov 4 2014 – Dec 4 2014 (31 days)
This project follows a long legacy of wallet projects on Kickstarter, but with a twist. Previously only sold in boutiques and in top art museums, Elad Burko and his team are bringing their Paperwallet to Kickstarter.
These wallets feature art from artists all around the world, as part of the team’s goal of using innovative design as a platform to help artists make a living from their work. Their wallets use Tyvek, an eco-friendly product that is durable and water resistant. The wallets are ultra-thin and but expand with use. For this Kickstarter campaign the wallets are being offered in twelve different designs.
#4. Open qPCR: DNA Diagnostics for Everyone
Creators: Chai Biotechnologies
Amount Funded: $90k+
Number of Backers: 250+
Average Pledge per Backer: $365
Duration: Nov 4 2014 – Dec 4 2014 (31 days)
DNA testing has existed for 21 years, but was so expensive it wasn’t affordable to the general public. Chai Biotechnologies’ new machine not only copies DNA but also turns it into data. The project is open sourced so that users can take it apart, customize it, and learn how the machine gets the data for themselves!
This machine is easy to use and some of the pledge levels allow backers to donate the Open qPCR to countries in need, like a clinic fighting Ebola in Western Africa. The Open qPCR allows you to do genotyping, assess food and safety, research, and can be used for health care applications.
#5. The Dracula Dossier
Creators: Pelgrane Press
Amount Funded: £39k+
Number of Backers: 584+
Average Pledge per Backer: £68
Duration: Nov 3 2014 – Dec 3 2014 (31 days)
This Kickstarter campaign is raising funds for two books – a novel, Dracula Unredacted, which fills in the blanks of Bram Stoker’s original account, and The Director’s Handbook.
Dracula Unredacted, “brings you all the weirdness that Stoker was forced to conceal from the public … We’ll also include marginal annotations from three generations of intelligence analysts that describe Edom’s three subsequent espionage operations involving Dracula.” The Director’s Handbook together with the novel, “comprise The Dracula Dossier — an epic improvised, collaborative campaign for Night’s Black Agents, our award-winning vampire spy thriller RPG.”
Conclusion
I think each of these projects is very cool in their own way. They are doing great so far and clearly appeal to a wide variety of people. While a few of these campaigns are adaptations of old ideas, some offer things that are pretty new and exciting. Each of these projects has already reached its goals with plenty of time to go.If any interested you check out their pages to access limited rewards and check out their stretch goals!
What project is your favorite? Leave any questions or comments below!
