These five Kickstarter projects have killed in in the past week, some having passed their funding goals in just the first few days after launching! This list includes projects in product design, video games, hardware, tabletop games, and accessories. My favorite is #2, since I’m an avid coffee drinker!
Check out last week’s trending project list here.
#1. You Are Now EarthBound
Creators: Fangamer
Amount Funded: $140k+
Number of Backers: 800+
Average Pledge per Backer: $174
Duration: Oct 27 2014 – Nov 21 2014 (26 days)
You Are Now Earthbound is a project made for fans of the Earthbound games. The first RPG was released in Japan in 1994 and a year later in North America. It didn’t do well in North America at first, but after a while it grew a dedicated fan base.
The game was re-issued for the Wii U Virtual Console in 2013. This Kickstarter project is raising funds for a handbook (with 90s attitude), a music album by BAD DUDES, a fan zine (with fan art and stories), and a documentary based on the game’s fan culture in the West.
In its first four days this project has raised more than $125k, proving just how strong this game’s following is. These products are being offered in digital, soft cover, and hard cover editions. They also have awesome limited rewards like being featured in the documentary credits! This is also one of the strangest Kickstarter videos I’ve seen to date.
#2. Arist: Brews Coffee Like The Best Baristas Anytime Anywhere
Creators: Arist
Amount Funded: 1,000+
Number of Backers: $390k+
Average Pledge per Backer: $332
Duration: Oct 24 2014 – Nov 3 2014 (31 days)
Arist is making a bold new move in the coffee industry and they are using Kickstarter to bring it to coffee lovers everywhere. Arist is a single serve coffee maker that uses a smartphone app to brew professional barista quality coffee from home! The product comes with six dishwasher safe, waterproof NFC stickers so that you can program Arist to remember what coffee to brew when you use a specific cup!
The app also remembers your preferences, and can suggest recipes based on what you like or what you have. “Traditionally, it’s the job of a barista to accurately brew any given bean into a perfect cup of coffee, but inconsistency is always a huge problem due to human error. Arist is made to brew coffee in a specific, precise, and consistent way,” the creators explain on the Kickstarter page. It also kind of looks like a microscope.
#3. The World of Smog: On Her Majesty’s Service
Creators: CoolMiniOrNot
Amount Funded: $40k+
Number of Backers: 1,000+
Average Pledge per Backer: $47
Duration: Oct 30 2014 – Nov 9 2014 (11 days)
This project’s Kickstarter page encourages backers to “Delve into the magical steampunk World of Smog, puzzling out its labyrinth of rotating gears to recover the precious Artefacts!”
The board game passed its $25k goal in its first 24 hours, is only running for 11 days (I don’t think I’ve ever seen a campaign that short!), and has only two pledge levels. The Game Overview says, “Each player controls a different Gentleman, tasked by Queen Victoria to journey into the Shadow Market and bring her four precious Artefacts.”
Even though this is shorter than the average campaign covered in these posts it has been doing great so far. The art is intriguing and the gameplay seems pretty unique.
#4. Perfect Nails On The Go: INNI for iPhone/Android
Creators: INNI Design
Amount Funded: £23k+
Number of Backers: 300+
Average Pledge per Backer: $308
Duration: Oct 29 2014 – Nov 28 2014 (31 days)
Perfect Nails is offering a new way to do your nails that is fast, easy, and looks professional. Using a smartphone app you can upload pictures to create custom stickers or use their limited edition designs that last up to 14 days!
According to their Kickstarter page, “Each set comes with 13 different sizes and clear instructions for easy application … they neither peel nor chip even in water or under high temperatures.”
These products only use non-toxic ingredients and allow you to match your nails with anything. They offer a lot of different pledge levels to backers, including one that says “Be our ambassador for an entire year! You will get exclusive early bird previews and first production pieces of all new products,” as well as four one year gift subscriptions in the limited edition designs of your choice.
#5. MagSphere & MagBounce Flash Diffusers – by MagMod
Creators: Spencer Boerup
Amount Funded: $100k+
Number of Backers: 900+
Average Pledge per Backer: $122
Duration: Oct 29 2014 – Dec 3 4014 (36 days)
MagMod successfully raised more than $200k for their first Kickstarter project last year, MagMod – Magnetic Speedlite Modifiers for Hot-Shoe Flashes, offering innovative products to photographers. Now they are back with their second project.
“MagSphere & MagBounce are the easiest, softest, simplest, most versatile & efficient flash diffusers ever, compatible only with MagMod,” according to the Kickstarter page. These modifiers are made with soft silicone that is easy to store in small spaces and is damage resistant. The MagSphere also has an integrated gel slot with an add-on option that allows backers to get colored gel sheets that are easily inserted.
Conclusion
New Kickstarter projects are launched every week, and there are always a few that do extremely well early on. It is interesting to take a look at the kinds of things these campaigns are doing – partly because they are innovative and interesting, and also because it can gives clues as to what it takes to be successful in crowdfunding.
I also enjoy seeing how diverse these projects can be; there always seems to be something for everyone to get into, which I’m sure is part of Kickstarter’s charm.
What project is your favorite? Leave any comments or questions below!
