1. Pebble: E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android
Created by: Pebble Technology
Amount Funded: $10,266,845
Number of Backers: 68,929
Duration: April 11th to May 18th (38 days)
Pebble, the most funded Kickstarter project to date, is a watch that allows you to run a range of apps and connects with Bluetooth to your Android or iPhone. Among the first products of its kind, Pebble allows you to get notifications from your phone, comes in different colors, and included open source capability so that programmers could make their own apps for the device.
2. OUYA: A New Kind of Video Game Console
Created by: OUYA
Amount Funded: $8,596,474
Number of Backers: 63,416
Duration: July 10th to August 9th (30 days)
OUYA is an open-sourced gaming console made for television use. This project was launched by a passionate group of individuals with history in the design of products for open use. It is built to be inexpensive, compete with existing consoles, support a wide variety of games, and ultimately disrupt the industry.
3. Pono Music – Where Your Soul Rediscovers Music
Created by: the PonoMusic Team
Amount Funded: $6,225,354
Number of Backers: 18,220
Duration: March 11th to April 15th (35 days)
Pono is a device that allows you to listen to music in much better sound quality than your average digital copies these days. This project, the third highest funded Kickstarter project ever, is associated with Neil Young and endorsed by many musicians and producers. This device is meant to bring quality and expertise back to music lovers everywhere.
4. The Veronica Mars Movie Project
Created by: Rob Thomas
Amount Funded: $5,702,153
Number of Backers: 91,585
Duration: March 13th to April 12th (31 days)
The Veronica Mars Movie Project was a project that fans wanted for a long time but that Warner Bros. initially refused to fund. The project launched on Kickstarter and raised well over its goal in a matter of days – thanks to a dedicated fan base, cool rewards (including a brief speaking role in the film), and strong social media presence.
5. Torment: Tides of Numenera
Created by: inXile entertainment
Amount Funded: $4,188,927
Number of Backers: 74,405
Duration: March 6th to April 5th (31 days)
Torment: Tides of Numenera is a CRPG made by the creators of Wasteland, and another game that takes its motivation from the interactive nature of Kickstarter as well as its creative freedom. This game has a talented team of writers and artists behind it, and has a deep story with complex themes.
6. Bring Reading Rainbow Back for Every Child, Everywhere.
Created by: LeVar Burton & Reading Rainbow
Amount Funded: $3,993,339
Number of Backers: 83,425
Duration: May 28th to July 2nd (36 days – 7 to go)
The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter project is a rebirth of Reading Rainbow that aims to bring the program to different platforms to allow access to children and classrooms everywhere. As part of the incentive to back this project, the Reading Rainbow Team is allowing the public to give pledges to bring the program to in need. This project offers a wide range of rewards for backers with a variety of interests; allowing everyone to find something to love about this campaign.
7. Project Eternity
Created by: Obsidian Entertainment
Amount Funded: $3,986,929
Number of Backers: 73,986
Duration: September 14th to October 16th (33 days)
Project Eternity is a fantasy RPG made by experienced individuals in the gaming industry, including those that brought us the Fallout series. This game embraced the interactive nature of Kickstarter that is attractive to game producers and the team explains how excited they are to be able to explore more of the themes they have touched on in previous games with more depth.
8. Mighty No. 9
Created by: comcept USA, LLC
Amount Funded: $3,845,170
Number of Backers: 67,226
Duration: August 31st to October 1st (31 days)
Mighty No. 9 is a modern take on classic Japanese side-scrolling action games, whose creator was involved in the making of games such as Mega Man and Dead Rising. With an experienced team behind this project and an attitude that embraces the interactive elements of Kickstarter, Might No. 9 looks like a video game project that has many people excited.
9. Reaper Miniatures Bones: An Evolution Of Gaming Miniatures
Created by: Reaper Miniatures
Amount Funded: $3,429,235
Number of Backers: 17,744
Duration: July 23rd to August 25th (33 days)
This project aimed to expand a line of popular gaming miniatures, and did very well! Reaper Miniatures, the project’s creators came to Kickstarter to get help to fund molds and to improve production for their miniatures. Their page offered rewards that included different models (some limited edition and exclusive to Kickstarter) as well as stretch goals that allowed them to expand the collection.
10. The Micro: The First Truly Consumer 3D Printer
Created by: M3D LLC
Amount Funded: $3,401,361
Number of Backers: 11,855
Duration: April 7th to May 7th (30 days)
The Micro is a 3D printer that is designed with everyone in mind; this team’s goal is to market 3D printers to a wide range of consumers at an affordable cost, and hopes that this will help the technology develop. It is designed to be easy to use, and suitable for all skill levels.
Last Updated: June 25 2014
Conclusion
Two interesting things to note are that each of these projects hit their goal within the first or first three days of launching. In addition, almost all of these projects saw a small uptake in pledges towards the end of the campaign and a bit of a lull during the middle of the campaign. If you spot any other commonalities, be sure to leave a comment below!
