Have you heard that Kickstarter’s Tech and Design team is looking for projects to help?
“You probably know that at Kickstarter we love to celebrate great creators and great projects. But you may not know that we also put a lot of effort into finding great creators and helping them launch those projects,” said Julio Terra in a recent blog post.
“That’s the main role of our Design & Technology outreach team, which I lead. And as part of our endless quest for projects, we’ve decided to try something new. Inspired in part by Y Combinator’s requests for startups, we’re going public with a list of the things we’d love to see more of on Kickstarter. We hope this inspires creators who are working in these areas to get in touch. If your project fits the bill, we can help make it shine and spotlight it for our community of 13 million backers.”
Feeling inspired yet?
If not, keep reading for some truly awesome Kickstarter projects that have knocked the socks off thousands of Kickstarter backers this month. If you’re thinking of launching a campaign or are just a fan of all things crowdfunded, these are great examples of how to successfully raise money for a project on Kickstarter.
April has been a great month for Kickstarter creators raising money for a variety of projects, from tabletop games and art books to tech and design campaigns.
For those who love to back Kickstarter projects, there’s still plenty of time left to support most of these!
1. The World’s Smartest Doorbell: VIEU
Creator(s): Eques
Amount Funded: $87K+
Number of Backers: 530+
Average Pledge per Backer: $159
Duration: April 17 – May 17
Eques is a Silicon Valley-based company that wants to help backers make their homes smarter and safer. Their smart doorbell features a 720P camera with a 180-degree view and night vision. It comes with a five-inch LCD touchscreen monitor and a free app with a two-way mic, live video and activity alerts.
This smart doorbell is available on Kickstarter starting at $149 for early adopters.
2. Lemore Business Travel Backpack Mixing Business with Pleasure
Creator(s): Lemore
Amount Funded: $54K+
Number of Backers: 120+
Average Pledge per Backer: $474
Duration: April 17 – June 1
Lemore has designed a minimalist backpack specially designed to make business travel more convenient. The unique design includes a quick attach pocket for important items like your passport and travel documents, and separate compartments for shoes, a suit, your laptop, work items, and personal items.
This durable, waterproof bag is currently available to Kickstarter backers starting at $160.
3. Brass ~ An Industrial Revolution
Creator(s): Gavan Brown of Roxley Games
Amount Funded: $549K+ CAD
Number of Backers: 4.4K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $123
Duration: April 17 – May 11
Brass is a popular tabletop game based on the Industrial Revolution created by the same team who brought us Eminent Domain, Super Motherload, and Santorini. The new game being funded during this campaign is Brass Birmingham, the sequel to Brass Lancashire. These games simulate economic strategy as players put themselves in the shoes of the ambitious entrepreneurs from this era.
Kickstarter backers can get either game for as little as $60 or both for games $100.
4. Sentinels of Earth Prime
Creator(s): Chris Pramas of Green Ronin Publishing
Amount Funded: $68K+
Number of Backers: 1.4K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $46
Duration: April 17 – May 17
Sentinels of Earth Prime is a cooperative card game for fans of fast-paced superhero comics. This game is compatible with other Sentinels of the Multiverse games and follows the same rules. The settings and characters are based on the popular RPG Mutants and Masterminds.
The full game is available for $40 and backers can also access the Mutants and Masterminds core rulebook and the Atlas of Earth-Prime sourcebook.
5. Meet LOU: The Real Electric Skateboard. She’s a Sure Thing.
Creator(s): SoFlow
Amount Funded: CHF $90K+
Number of Backers: 170+
Average Pledge per Backer: $538
Duration: April 13 – May 28
SoFlow, a company based out of Switzerland, has created the ultimate electric skateboard. It is water resistant, light, portable, and the battery is neatly hidden in the skateboard deck. The skateboard’s body is built to last and riders can get 15 kilometers out of a two-hour charge.
Backers can get their own LOU in black, red, blue, or purple for CHF $299 on Kickstarter.
6. Spark Camera Remote
Creator(s): Kris Cheng
Amount Funded: $144K+
Number of Backers: 2.6K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $53
Duration: April 13 – May 20
Spark is a versatile camera remote that you can control by an infrared receiver, wired trigger, or smartphone app. The controller allows you to take great, sharp pictures without moving your camera while taking the shot. It also makes great selfies and group photos a breeze. Spark uses a standard watch battery that gives it over 2,000 hours of battery time and is compatible with hundreds of cameras.
Backers can get their own on Kickstarter starting at $44.
7. Questionable Content Volume 6
Creator(s): Jeph Jacques
Amount Funded: $76K+
Number of Backers: 1.7K+
Average Pledge per Backer: $44
Duration: April 12 – May 12
Jacques has been working on this cartoon full-time since 2003 and has come to Kickstarter for help funding and sharing his 6th volume.
This campaign offers fans 300 strips along with bonus commentary and other fun perks. Questionable Content is set in modern day Western Massachusetts, following the lives of twenty-somethings in a college town. In this version of reality AI, or artificial intelligence, is already common.
Backers can get a print copy of Volume 6 for $20.
8. PROVIDENCE – The Art Book and Complete Slipcase Set
Creator(s): Avatar Press
Amount Funded: $81K+
Number of Backers: 460+
Average Pledge per Backer: $175
Duration: April 13 – April 28
PROVIDENCE is a horror series by Alan Moore based on the work of HP Lovecraft. The series features art by Jacen Burrows. It is his talent that they want to commemorate with a special art book they are funding during this Kickstarter campaign. The Slipcase Set includes five volumes: Neonomicon, Providence Act 1, Providence Act 2, Providence Act 3, and Dreadful Beauty: The Art of Providence.
This special, limited edition complete set is available in hardcover for $129 on Kickstarter.
Conclusion
All the Kickstarter campaigns featured here reached their funding goals in a matter of days, putting these projects in motion. Kickstarter, and other platforms like it, are helping thousands of creators, artists, startups, musicians, families, and more, realize their dreams and bring their creative projects to light.
Backers love crowdfunding because it is a way to get early access to some great products and projects of all kinds.
Creators can learn more about what it takes to launch a winning Kickstarter campaign by joining our new free course on how to get in the media and smash your Kickstarter goal!
Leave a comment below telling us which Kickstarter project was your favorite!
