This week’s rapidly funded Kickstarter projects have a good mix of fun and practicality. They are all high quality products made by passionate individuals, and they have all exceeded their Kickstarter goal within the first few days after launching. It’s obvious that they’re doing something right and with the early attention they’re getting now, these campaigns are bound to raise way more than they expected. Be sure to check out some of the exciting rewards they have to offer backers. My favorites are #3 and #5!
You can check out the previous Kickstarter roundup here.
#1. Thursday Boot Co. – THURSDAY | EVERYDAY
Creators: Nolan Walsh and Connor Wilson
Amount Funded: $83,447
Number of Backers: 381
Average Pledge per Backer: $209
Duration: Oct 1st – Nov 3rd (33 days)
Thursday Boots are a line of men’s boots made in North America through a high-quality production process. The creators explain, “At Thursday, we designed boots with the durability of a work boot and sophistication of a fashion boot to help you stand confidently in any setting.” The boots are made for comfort and come in three different styles and colors. Some of the higher reward levels include a drink with the creators or custom-made boots. Already on the second day of the campaign they have raised over $50,000 and are trending towards almost $2,000,000 according to Kicktraq.
#2. Whiskey Elements: Customize your Whiskey in 24 hours
Creators: Tony Peniche
Amount Funded: $26,730
Number of Backers: 483
Average Pledge per Backer: $63
Duration: Oct 1st – Oct 31st (30 days)
Whiskey Elements are used to customize whiskey in 24 hours, made from same kinds of wood used to traditionally barrel whiskey without the hassle of the barrel! Their proprietary design helps to speed up the aging process to give you great tasting whiskey much faster than other alternatives.
They also have some awesome rewards planned out for backers with a variety of options to choose from. For $250 or more one limited option is: “GENTLEMEN’S SURVIVAL KIT – includes a flask, 6 whiskey elements, 2 scotch elements, Hatchet/Axe, zippo lighter, two LIMITED EDITION engraved whiskey glasses, two LIMITED EDITION engraved shot glasses, and a surprise gift.” Their early success suggests that this product is going to be a hit with whiskey lovers, and would make a great gift.
#3. Your shoes just got insanely easy! Zubits make them magnetic
Creators: Ryan Weins
Amount Funded: $32,903
Number of Backers: 826
Average Pledge per Backer: $40
Duration: Sept 30th – Nov 5th (36 days)
Zubits takes the hassle out of lacing up and untying your shoes, saving time and frustration for many people. Laces can be bulky, come untied, and trying to pull out your foot with the laces on can damage your shoes. Zubits are laced onto your shoes and use magnets to easily slip on and off. They maintain grip in most activities and are great with casual and formal wear.
The highest pledge level, $500, gets you, “10 pairs of Zubits for 10 pairs of shoes. Free shipping. You can make color & size choices later. +PLUS+ a pair of original prototype Zubits and a personal phone call of thanks.” Oh, and the magnets are strong enough that you can use them to stick your shoes to different places!
#4. UpWorks: Ultimate Modular Miniature Castle Building System!
Creators: True Adventures, Ltd.
Amount Funded: $61,602
Number of Backers: 245
Average Pledge per Backer: $251
Duration: Sept 30th – Nov 2nd (33 days)
UpWorks is a modular building system that allows RPG players, gamers, and others to make different castles with easy access to different floors. The pieces are durable: “The non-toxic, very stiff, rubber-like material is infused with ‘Castle Gray’ pigment, so the color never chips or fades. Sample pieces have been thrown off a tower (as well as smashed with a high velocity doll) with no visible damage.” The pieces are made so that they can be easily painted and customized. They have different add-ons and stretch goals available to backers. Now all they need is to maintain momentum after their very successful start.
#5. Darma: Sit smart for a healthy body and mind
Creators: Darma Inc.
Amount Funded: $142,411
Number of Backers: 513
Average Pledge per Backer: $258
Duration: Sep 30th – Nov 14th (45 days)
“Darma is the world’s first smart cushion that monitors your posture, sitting habits, stress level, and coaches you to sit better.” Using sensors, this cushion can help improve your sitting habits and help you develop better habits that will help reduce stress in the workplace. Launched just three days ago, this product has already received a lot of media attention and raised 328% of its original goal! The Early Bird pledge level of $129 is still open, and higher pledging backers also have a chance to meet the creators and receive a custom Darma.
Conclusion
Considering the time and effort that clearly went into these projects and judging from their early success, one could suggest that they are some of Kickstarter’s ‘best and brightest’. Many smaller projects that are successful are awesome, but certain projects like these that apply to larger groups of people often get noticed and meet their goals much earlier than they may have expected. There is still plenty of time to back these projects and check them out if you found them interesting, and keep your eye out for any fun updates they may have coming up!
Question of the day: Which project is your favorite?
