What Is a Kickstarter and How to Launch a Successful Project

A Kickstarter is a platform where creators can raise funds for their projects by offering rewards to backers in exchange for their support. It's a crowdfunding model that has been used by thousands of projects over the years.

Kickstarter was founded in 2009 by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler, and it has since become one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms in the world.

The minimum funding goal for a Kickstarter project is $1, and it's a fixed amount that the creator must reach within a specified time frame, usually 30 days.

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects by collecting small amounts of money from a large number of people.

It was founded in 2009 by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler, and has since become one of the most popular crowdfunding platforms in the world.

Kickstarter is not a place to raise money for personal expenses, but rather for creative projects such as films, games, art, and technology.

In order to use Kickstarter, creators must first create a project page that includes a detailed description of their project, a budget, and a funding goal.

The funding goal is the amount of money the creator is trying to raise, and backers can pledge money to support the project in exchange for rewards.

Kickstarter takes a 5% fee of the total amount pledged, and payment processing fees can range from 3% to 5%.

Backers can pledge money anonymously, but creators can also offer rewards to backers in exchange for their support.

For example, a filmmaker might offer a DVD copy of their movie to backers who pledge $20 or more.

Kickstarter projects can be funded in as little as 24 hours, or they can take several weeks or even months to reach their funding goal.

If a project is successfully funded, the creator receives the pledged amount, minus Kickstarter's fees and payment processing fees.

If a project is not funded, backers are not charged and the creator does not receive any money.

Project Planning is a crucial step in creating a successful Kickstarter campaign. To start, you need to review the Kickstarter Project Guidelines, which are reviewed by about 80 percent of submitted projects.

To increase your chances of getting approved, make sure to create something that can be shared with others and be honest and clearly present your project. You should also avoid fundraising for charity, offering equity, or involving prohibited items.

Before launching your campaign, set a realistic starting point that covers your project costs. A good rule of thumb is to begin with a funding goal that realistically covers your project costs. Calculate the minimum funds needed to execute your idea successfully.

Here are some essential tasks to include in your project planning timeline:

By breaking down your project into manageable tasks and creating a timeline, you'll be better equipped to handle the workload and make it more likely that backers will contribute to your campaign.

Starting a project requires careful planning and preparation. To ensure success, it's essential to review Kickstarter's Project Guidelines before submitting a project.

Kickstarter accepts about 80 percent of submitted projects, but the remaining 20 percent are turned away due to non-compliance with the guidelines.

Before launching a Kickstarter campaign, creators should build an audience for their project by reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues, and connecting with media outlets that can help spread the word.

A well-designed landing page can create a buzz before the product launch, and using social media platforms can help reach a wider audience.

To set a realistic starting point, creators should calculate the minimum funds needed to execute their idea successfully. This will make it easier to plan out the necessary actions required to reach their goal.

Here are some key aspects to consider when starting a project:

Kickstarter's all-or-nothing funding model means that creators must reach their goal within a set number of days, and funds are only collected if the goal is met.

Know how long it takes to get things done, and add a week or two to that period, just in case something goes wrong.

Many levels of quality control and testing must be done before a project is ready for release, so be prepared for delays.

It's better to set multiple deadlines for different stages of development, so backers can still get their rewards at some point even if there is a delay.

Promising too much too soon is a common mistake that can lead to project failure, especially if you're not prepared for feedback or orders.

A week or two of extra time can make all the difference in avoiding delays and keeping your project on track.

Creating a video is a crucial step in project planning, and it's essential to get it right. A great video is essential for capturing the attention of potential backers and getting their support.

Kickstarter relies heavily on visuals to draw in users, so a well-made video can give potential backers an idea of what they can expect from your project. It also shows them that you've put in the time and effort to create a comprehensive presentation.

Conducting research is the first step to creating a successful Kickstarter video. Take some time to research other projects similar to yours and observe how those campaigns used their videos to get a sense of what works and what doesn't.

A short video is a great way to give potential backers an idea of what they can expect if they pledge money towards your project. It shows them that you've taken the time and effort to put together a comprehensive presentation that will tell them everything they need to know about your idea.

Kickstarter projects have a 37.45% success rate, meaning one-third of projects successfully reach their funding goal.

Featured projects on Kickstarter's homepage have a whopping 89% chance of success, compared to just 30% without the feature.

Increasing a project's goal size is negatively associated with success, so it's essential to set a realistic target.

A 30-day project has a 35% chance of success, while a 60-day project has a 29% chance, so timing is crucial.

Most Kickstarter projects raise between $1,000 and $9,999, with the median amount for Design, Games, and Technology categories remaining in the four-figure range.

Over two-thirds of completed dance projects have been successful, while fewer than 30% of completed fashion projects have reached their goal, highlighting the importance of choosing the right category.

One of the major risks of using Kickstarter to fund projects is the potential for failure. This can be especially true if there is limited visibility or awareness of the project, or if potential backers are unfamiliar with the team behind it.

If a project gets off to a slow start and fails to build momentum, it may not generate enough funding to reach its goal.

Entrepreneurs must be realistic in their goals, as overestimating how much money their campaign needs can lead to disappointment when it doesn’t reach its target.

Kickstarter is a highly competitive space, with over 175,000 projects funded to date, making it difficult to stand out.

Only around 35% of all Kickstarter projects reach their goal, so you'll need to have an engaging story and excellent presentation skills to get people interested in your idea.

You'll also need to research other similar projects that have been successful on Kickstarter to identify what elements made them successful and incorporate those into your project.

A solid marketing plan and social media presence are crucial for getting noticed, and you'll need to advertise your campaign relentlessly throughout its run time to have any chance at success.

Many backers are willing to make only small pledges, which can make it difficult to hit your goal even if there's overall interest generated by smaller donors.

One of the major risks of using Kickstarter to fund projects is the potential for failure. There's no guarantee that a project will be successful, especially if there's limited visibility or awareness of the project.

If a project gets off to a slow start and fails to build momentum, it may not generate enough funding to reach its goal. This can happen even if there's overall interest generated by smaller donors.

Having too many expectations placed on the success of a project can also increase the risk of failure. Entrepreneurs should be realistic in their goals, as overestimating how much money their campaign needs can lead to disappointment.

Successfully funded projects may still have unforeseen production challenges or other roadblocks that can delay completion or lead to unexpected costs.

Here are some statistics on the success rate of Kickstarter projects:

It's worth noting that even if a project is successful, it may not be able to hit its goal if few enough people back it with large amounts of money.

Project funding on Kickstarter is a straightforward process. Select the green "Back this Project" button on any project page you choose.

You can pledge money to a project with ease, selecting a donation amount and a reward. Amazon's checkout system processes your information, and credit cards aren't charged until after the project deadline passes.

If the project doesn't reach its funding goal, your credit card is never charged. This gives you peace of mind when backing a project.

Access to capital is a major benefit of crowdfunding through Kickstarter. This platform provides funding for product development, which can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs who have struggled to secure loans or venture capital.

Kickstarter's all-or-nothing funding model requires a set number of days to reach your goal, which can be a challenge but also helps to ensure that you're committed to your project. The platform charges 5% for the funds collected, plus a 3-5% payment processing fee.

Developing a product often requires significant upfront costs, but Kickstarter allows you to raise funds from a large number of people, which can be a more manageable and less risky approach than seeking funding from a single investor.

Kickstarter's All or Nothing Rule is designed to minimize risk for creators and backers alike. This means that if a project doesn't reach its funding goal by the deadline, no money changes hands.

The rule is in place to protect both parties from potential losses. Creators can collect their funds only if they reach their funding goal in time.

If a project falls below its funding goal, backers' credit cards aren't charged, and pledges that can't be collected are dropped after seven days.

Rewarding your backers is a crucial part of a successful project. It's what sets your project apart and makes people excited to support it.

To create a sense of appreciation and recognition, offer unique rewards at various levels of support. This could be a thank-you video or some other form of recognition for the amount of money they've pledged.

Make sure each reward is appealing enough to make people want to spend more than they initially planned on your project. You can also offer something special as an "early-bird" award to encourage people to pledge early and help get the word out about your campaign.

Don't make the same mistake of offering the same reward no matter how much someone donates, as this can make people feel like they're wasting their money if they only contribute a small amount.

To launch a successful Kickstarter campaign, start off slow by building an audience for your project. Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues to let them know about the project. Connect with media outlets that can help spread the word about your campaign. Create an email list of potential backers for when the campaign goes live.

Kickstarter-funded projects number in the hundreds of thousands, and project creators work in a variety of different fields from tech and design to illustration and comics. A project's success depends on creativity, like a supernatural western horror story or a multifunctional timer that reached and exceeded its fundraising goals.

Setting up reward packages for backers is a great way to incentivize contributors and encourage people to become part of a more passionate and engaged audience. This can help increase visibility and reach large numbers of people who you may otherwise not have access to.

Kickstarter has funded a wide range of creative projects, including films, documentaries, art projects, and more. The Glowing Plant project was the first and only synthetic biology campaign on Kickstarter.

Many successful Kickstarter campaigns have gone on to receive critical acclaim and accolades, such as the documentary shorts "Sun Come Up" and "Incident in New Baghdad", which were both nominated for Academy Awards. The Pebble smartwatch raised over $10 million on the platform, largely due to its catchy video and key features.

The Exploding Kittens card game raised over $8 million in just one month, thanks to strategic rewards, marketing with influencers, and social media. Pebble Time smartwatch creators used video content to effectively showcase their product and explain why backers should believe in it.

Kickstarter-funded projects have also gained nationwide distribution, such as the GoldieBlox toy, which gained nationwide distribution in 2013. Cards Against Humanity originated with a $4,000 Kickstarter campaign in 2010.

Some successful Kickstarter campaigns include the Veronica Mars movie, which became one of the top-funded film projects on Kickstarter, and the Flow Hive beekeeping system, which raised over $13 million. The Oculus Rift began as a 2012 Kickstarter project and became one of the most funded projects at the time.

Here are some successful Kickstarter projects across various domains:

These examples demonstrate that a successful Kickstarter campaign is achievable with the right strategy and execution.

Setting a realistic funding goal is crucial for a successful Kickstarter campaign. According to Kickstarter, a compelling campaign begins with setting realistic funding goals and deadlines, ensuring that the project's financial needs are covered.

To determine your funding goal, calculate the minimum funds needed to execute your idea successfully. This will help you set a realistic starting point for your campaign.

Choosing the right channels for your campaign promotion is also essential. Social media platforms are effective in reaching a wider audience, so consider leveraging them for your campaign.

You can offer creative rewards to backers, such as exclusive merchandise, early access, or personalized experiences. However, be aware of Kickstarter's restrictions on offering financial returns, equity, or business loans.

To build anticipation for your campaign, create a well-designed landing page before your product launch. This will help you create a buzz and generate excitement among potential backers.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when deciding on your Kickstarter project: