
Brandon Sanderson's crowdfund sets new funding records, and it's not hard to see why. His Cosmere series has captivated readers worldwide, making it a highly sought-after project.
With the help of crowdfunding, Sanderson was able to raise over $6 million, more than doubling the initial goal of $2.8 million. This massive success can be attributed to the dedication of his fans and the excitement surrounding the Cosmere series.
Brandon Sanderson's Crowdfunding Success
Brandon Sanderson has raised over $33 million on Kickstarter, making him one of the most successful crowdfunders in the platform's history. He has also backed 316 other publishing projects on Kickstarter, showing his commitment to supporting fellow authors.
Sanderson's campaigns have shattered records, including the most-funded Kickstarter game ever, with his Cosmere RPG campaign raising over $14.5 million. This campaign was so successful that it catapulted it past the previous most-funded board game, Frosthaven.
Sanderson's fans have been instrumental in his crowdfunding success, with his campaigns often reaching their funding goals in a matter of days. His campaign for four new novels, for example, reached its goal of $1 million in just a single day and eventually topped $41.7 million.
For more insights, see: What Is a Crowdfunding Campaign
Here's a breakdown of Sanderson's most successful crowdfunding campaigns:
Sanderson's crowdfunding success is a testament to his dedication to his fans and his willingness to experiment with new ideas. His campaigns have not only raised millions of dollars but have also created a sense of community among his fans.
Words of Radiance History
Words of Radiance made history by raising a whopping $23,756,818 in funding with the support of 102,089 backers. This campaign closed at the end of March and secured the #2 spot in both the most funded and most engaged backer community categories.
Brandon Sanderson was thrilled with the results, stating "We hit 23 million which is more than I had guessed for this." He had guessed it would be lower, especially since they only had two books this time, compared to four in a previous project.
The project's backer community was incredibly engaged, racking up a total of 10,416 comments, which is 31% more than the previous record holder, Surprise! Four Secret Novels. This achievement earned Words of Radiance the #1 spot for most engaged backer community.
Words of Radiance also broke other records in the crowdfunding industry, making BackerKit history in the process.
Cosmere TTRPG Most-Funded Kickstarter Ever
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere TTRPG is a record-breaker, shattering the previous most-funded Kickstarter game with an astonishing $14,558,854 raised from 52,658 backers. The average pledge was a respectable $276.48 per participant.
The Cosmere RPG campaign has catapulted past Frosthaven, the sequel to Gloomhaven, which raised nearly $13 million in 2020. It's a testament to the dedication of Brandon Sanderson's fans.
The game's success can be attributed to its vast universe, which includes series like Mistborn, The Stormlight Archives, Elantris, Warbreaker, and more. The Cosmere RPG will tackle the world of The Stormlight Archives first, then branch out into Mistborn down the road.
The campaign's popularity has also sparked a decline in Kickstarter's revenue from the tabletop category, which traditionally accounts for a third of the company's overall revenue from crowdfunding.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Crowdfunding Campaign
Brandon Sanderson Backs 316 Projects After Kickstarter Success
Brandon Sanderson has raised over $33 million on Kickstarter, making him one of the most successful crowdfunders on the platform. He's not just stopping at his own projects, though - he's also backing other creators.
Sanderson's team highlighted several specific campaigns in a 31-minute video, showcasing a range of projects from re-issued short stories to poetry collections inspired by Black history. These campaigns are just a few examples of the many projects Sanderson has supported.
The author's goal was to back every active publishing project on Kickstarter, except for those that are "extremely not safe for work" or violate the platform's terms of service. By the time the dust settled, Sanderson had sent contributions to 316 different publishing projects.
Two of these projects were able to reach their funding goals thanks to Sanderson's support. His efforts have been praised for helping lesser-known authors get the recognition they deserve.
The campaign that started it all was Sanderson's own Dragonsteel project, which raised $6 million in just a week and became the most lucrative campaign in Kickstarter history.
For more insights, see: Succesful Crowdfund Campaigns
Impact and Records
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG has shattered the total goal of $250,000 on its first day, raising more than five million dollars.
The record figure on the platform for a board game was previously $1,150,566, achieved by Avatar Legends on its opening day.
Backer Benefits and Options
Backers of Brandon Sanderson's campaign had a wide range of pledge levels to choose from, with 8 different options available, including one for $10 and another for $650.
The campaign also offered a selection of over 30 add-ons, giving backers the ability to customize their pledge and choose the rewards that best fit their interests.
Pay Over Time was a popular option for backers who pledged $150 or more, with 16% of those eligible choosing to spread their payments across several months.
Brandon Sanderson and BackerKit: A Partnership
Brandon Sanderson and BackerKit have a long history together. Brandon Sanderson ran his first crowdfunding project in 2020, and since then, he's had a great relationship with BackerKit, using their Pledge Manager to fulfill his last two campaigns.
BackerKit has a proven track record of success, having fulfilled over 200k pledges across those two massive projects and raising millions in additional funding through post-campaign add-ons. Brandon Sanderson's team praised BackerKit's software, saying it's the best they've encountered and made their lives much easier.
Consider reading: Brandon Mena
Brandon Sanderson's experience with BackerKit is a testament to their streamlined process and innovative platform. He's moved to BackerKit for his latest campaign because of how much easier their software makes the process, especially when shipping out tens-of-thousands of books.
BackerKit's commitment to innovation and problem-solving is evident in their approach to product development. They work closely with creators like Brandon Sanderson to test and refine their platform in real-world campaign environments.
Check this out: How to Start a Crowdfunding Platform
Pay Over Time Offers Choice and Flexibility
Pay Over Time gives backers the flexibility to pledge at any level they choose, with Words of Radiance offering 8 different pledge levels ranging from $10 to $650.
Backers also had the option to add on from 30+ different selections, allowing them to customize their pledge to fit their needs.
This flexibility is especially helpful for highly anticipated campaigns, where backers may be eager to pledge at higher levels.
16% of Words of Radiance backers who pledged $150+ chose to use Pay Over Time, showing its popularity among eligible backers.
Pay Over Time is still in beta, but it will soon be available for all BackerKit creators to use for their next project.
Brandon Sanderson's Crowdfunding Experience
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG has already shattered its fundraising goal, raising over five million dollars in just one day. That's a staggering amount, especially considering the initial goal was a mere $250,000.
This figure is more than 20 times the initial goal, and it's a record for the platform. The previous record was held by Avatar Legends, which raised $1,150,566 on its opening day.
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG is aiming to cover the vast universe created by the author, starting with 'The Stormlight Archive' and a future expansion based on 'Mistborn'. This ambitious project is a testament to the author's dedication to his fans.
The game will be available for free, with a document and introductory adventure available on Kickstarter. This is a great opportunity for fans to try out the game before committing to a purchase.
Discover more: List of Video Game Crowdfunding Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter raise?
Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG campaign raised over $14.7 million from 52,658 backers, with an average pledge of $276.48. The campaign continues to accept late pledges, exceeding initial expectations.
What is Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter?
Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter is a campaign to fund an original tabletop RPG set in the Cosmere universe, which includes The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn series. With over 55,000 backers and $15 million pledged, this project is bringing the Cosmere to life in a new and exciting way.
How rich is Brandon Sanderson?
Brandon Sanderson's net worth is estimated to be around $6 million. His financial success is a result of his immense popularity and vast fictional universe.
Sources
- https://www.backerkit.com/blog/brandon-sanderson-2-most-funded-crowdfunding-project/
- https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/446320/sanderson-cosmere-ttrpg-breaks-record-most-funded-game-kickstarter
- https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/03/25/brandon-sanderson-backs-every-publishing-kickstarter-crowdfunding-campaign/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/31/authors-record-breaking-kickstarter-campaign-closes-at-41point7-million.html
- https://en.as.com/meristation/news/brandon-sandersons-cosmere-tabletop-rpg-is-now-kickstarters-second-fastest-funded-project-n/
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