Help Kickstart A Project

I don’t remember where I first heard about Kickstarter. It was probably a link from another site back in 2012. The project seeking funding sounded intriguing. Yes, I want one of those, I thought. I will gamble for a few bucks. My credit card isn’t charged until the project meets the funding goal. And so I was off. Since then, I have helped fund several projects.

Kickstarter is a way to fund creative projects. Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing — projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. All-or-nothing funding might seem scary, but it’s amazingly effective in creating momentum and rallying people around an idea. To date, an impressive 44% of projects have reached their funding goals. [Kickstarter]

Here are items I helped get off the ground. All the projects I have backed, have been funded.

• Smarter Stand for iPad (received)
• Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory
  This award winning documentary shows how music brings persons with dementia alive with their own playlists and iPod shuffles. It is now available on Netflix. It is a tear jerker so be prepared.
• myType Pocketable Bluetooth Keyboard (received)
• Touchfire Keyboard & Case for iPad mini (received) Yes,  two keyboards. I use my fingers the most.
• RooSport 2.0 Wallet: World’s First Magnetic Wallet/Pocket (January 2015)
• BIBLIOTHECA (March 2015)
• The Zen Habits Book (March 2015)

I also used IndieGoGo for the HealBe GoBe. The inventors wanted $100,000 to go into production but ended up with $1,000,000. As you can see from the list, I am still waiting for some items. That is part of the fun for me. The inventor typically sends out updates detailing what they are doing and if  there  will be a delay. For some of the inventors, they find out that production goes a little slower than they anticipated.

This way of helping dreamers, inventors, and folks with passion and an idea is inspiring to me. My dad was an inventor. He had the support of the 3M Company as he did his research. This is my way to help someone fulfill  their dream.  Maybe you have an idea that can get “kickstarted.” It can be a movie, book, comic, anything.