Our list of fast funded Kickstarter projects this week includes a few games (which seem to be popular at this time of the year). It also has two projects that are 15 and 13 days long. Even though these are shorter than the average 30+ day campaign they have already reached their goals with time left to spare. Another interesting fact about this group is that all of these creators have launched projects on Kickstarter before. My favorite is #2!
Read our last roundup of rapidly funded Kickstarter projects here.
#1. The Grisaia Trilogy: Three Huge Visual Novels for PC
Creators: sekaiproject
Amount Funded: $247K+
Number of Backers: 1,626+
Average Pledge per Backer: $153
Duration: Dec 16 2014 – Feb 1 2015 (47 days)
In just three days on Kickstarter, this campaign has already raised over $247K! The goal of this project is to adapt Frontwing’s Grisaia Trilogy – a series of visual novels – for Windows PC. The team behind this project wants to take its Japanese version and translate it for the West. On their Kickstarter page they say, “Our goal covers the costs of a high-quality translation, licensing royalties, voices for the entire series, and other development / production costs.”
Rewards include digital and physical copies of the stories, soundtracks, posters, other exciting merchandise, and even hand drawn characters of your choice! This team has had two successful Kickstarter projects in the past and is currently running another, CLANNAD, which has raised over $305K.
#2. Shadows of Esteren – A Medieval Horror RPG: Occultism
Creators: Jim Searcy
Amount Funded: $43K+
Number of Backers: 431+
Average Pledge per Backer: $100
Duration: Dec 18 2014 – Jan 21 2015 (35 days)
This is Jim Searcy’s fourth Kickstarter project for the Shadows of Esteren tabletop RPG series. These medieval horror roleplaying games have earned themselves a dedicated fan base and have even been awarded “three ENnies in 2013: Best Art (Gold), Best Production Value (Gold), and Product of the Year (Silver).”
Their newest campaign for the supplement “Occultism” has raised over $43K at it’s only their second day on Kickstarter! The team is offering rewards to suit both new and old fans, with previous versions of the game available with some pledge levels.
#3. ZNA
Creators: Funforge LLC
Amount Funded: $113K+
Number of Backers: 975+
Average Pledge per Backer: $116
Duration: Dec 17 2014 – Jan 16 2015 (30 days)
ZNA is a new cooperative survival board game set in Boston in 2025. Funforge LLC’s last Kickstarter project, Tokaido, raised over $668K! The game’s description says that, “Together, you will progress across the modular game board, searching for equipment, swapping objects with one another, looting chemical storage facilities in order to mix up concoctions for various uses, and most of all, fight the Fog and the mutants it created.”
The game is available in English and French and will also include a ZNA app that allows you to scan game tiles, see them displayed in augmented reality, get access to stories, and more!
#4. PLAYBULB rainbow – Stylish Smart Color LED Light Bulb
Creators: MIPOW USA
Amount Funded: $34K+
Number of Backers: 484+
Average Pledge per Backer: $71
Duration: Dec 16 2014 – Dec 31 2014 (15 days)
PLAYBULB rainbow is MIPOW USA’s third successful Kickstarter campaign. The previous two were PLAYBULB candle, which raised over $266K and PLAYBULB color, which raised over $85K.
Their lights use LED bulbs and are controlled by an app for i0S and Android. PLAYBULB rainbow is energy efficient and lasts longer than traditional light bulbs. With PLAYBULB rainbow you have color change and brightness control and can use four different lighting effects (rainbow fade, flashing, rainbow, and pulsing).
You can also use Bluetooth to control groups of PLAYBULBs at the same time and set timers! Reward prices for one PLAYBULB now start at $26 and go up to $227 for 10. Rewards are limited and there are only 12 days left to go so check them out quick if you’re interested!
#5. The Rising: 1916
Creators: Kevin McCann
Amount Funded: €20K+
Number of Backers: 84+
Average Pledge per Backer: €249
Duration: Dec 17 2014 – Dec 30 2014 (13 days)
The Rising: 1916 is a thriller based on the last Irish revolution and focuses on one of its leaders, Seán MacDiarmada. This film is being produced by Kevin McCann, who has been promoting and raising funds for the film since 2012, and stars Colin Morgan (Merlin) as MacDiarmada.
The project launched earlier this month but failed to raise its higher goal of €73K. McCann launched again determined to finish this project and saw that there was a strong desire to see it completed, “This is not just an Irish story; it is an underdog story. A human story about fighting for freedom from oppression that will resonate with people worldwide.”
A digital download of the movie is available to backers for €25, and there are many other great rewards from signed scripts to tickets to the Irish or North American premiers.
Conclusion
These 5 projects have all reached their goals very quickly. The fact that the teams behind these projects have experienced Kickstarter before means 1) that they have had time to learn the ins and outs of crowdfunding, and 2) have gained supporters from their previous projects which helped them pass their goals this time.
Having such overwhelming success on Kickstarter takes a lot of know-how and experience, but taking a look at what these projects are doing can give you an idea of what it takes for your project to really get noticed!
