How Successful Is Crowdfunding On Kickstarter?

If you visit Kickstarter and click on “About Us” then hit “Stats” you find very impressive statistics, that are updated daily, on all the projects that have been on their platform from the time of their launch through now.

Kickstarter says “Since our launch, on April 28, 2009, 10 million people have backed a project, $2.2 Billion has been pledged, and 100,001 projects have been successfully funded.”

Kickstarter projects are listed in categories, Games, Technology, Design, and Film &Video are among those that have brought in the most funding. The Games category raised $144.4 million dollars in 2015 nearly doubling what was pledged in 2014.

Another interesting fact is that almost a third of the 10 million backers have backed more than one project. Once you have spent some time on the platform looking through all the campaigns you will understand why. Kickstarter is filled with so many original creative projects it’s hard not to want to get involved with them. Here is a link to the stats I referenced https://www.kickstarter.com/help/stats?ref=about_subnav and while you’re there be sure to look around, you won’t be disappointed.

PlantPure Nation Cause-Based Crowdfunding Campaign Is Now 100% Successfully Funded

“The Kickstarter campaign for PlantPure Nation, a new documentary that sheds light onto the subject of how we eat, and the effects that diet can have on our health, has just successfully surpassed its goal of $150,000 with 54 hours to go!! If you have a moment check out their campaign, it’s an extremely important statement about a topic we all need to pay more attention to. Here’s the film synopsis from their website:

The documentary film PlantPure Nation tells the story of three people on a quest to spread the message of one of the most important health breakthroughs of all time. When nutritional scientist and author T. Colin Campbell inspires Kentucky State Representative Tom Riner to propose a pilot program documenting the health benefits of a plant-based diet, they inadvertently set in motion a series of events that expose powerful forces opposed to the diet. When industry lobbyists kill the pilot program, Dr. Campbell’s oldest son Nelson decides to try his own grassroots approach in his hometown of Mebane, North Carolina.

In his groundbreaking 2004 book, The China Study, and in the recent popular documentary film Forks Over Knives, Dr. Campbell detailed the weight of scientific evidence that a whole foods plant-based diet can prevent and even reverse some of the most deadly health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Campbell argues that unlike the statin prescription drugs and invasive surgeries American doctors routinely prescribe, a diet consisting primarily of whole plant-based foods treats the underlying causes of these conditions as well as the symptoms. Patients experience immediate drops in cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and excess body weight. Their energy levels increase, they lose aches and pains, contract fewer illnesses, and enjoy a host of other improved health benefits.

A growing number of celebrities, athletes, TV hosts, and nutrition experts have promoted the plant-based diet in the past few years. Tens of thousands of people have documented their personal success stories since implementing the diet. But as more doctors and public officials become aware of the healing power of plant-based nutrition the question arises: Why don’t they share the information with their patients or the public? Tragically, there have been few official medical or state-sponsored efforts in the nation to support the life sustaining benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet.

On November 15th 2011, doctors T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn took the first step in this direction. They made history as they presented their research to the Kentucky State legislature. With one of the highest levels of childhood obesity in the nation, Kentucky also suffers from high rates of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Moved by what they heard, the representatives unanimously approved a non-binding resolution calling upon Kentucky to “lead the nation in a health and wellness, nutrition-based revolution” by making “plant-based food grown in Kentucky affordable and available to some of the poorest individuals and communities in the Commonwealth.”

Nelson Campbell worked with Rep. Tom Riner to build on this non-binding resolution by developing and introducing House Bill 550, which mandated a pilot program that would document the health benefits of a plant-based diet. But once the bill went into committee, industry lobbyists woke up to the threat posed by the initiative. What followed was one of the most intensive lobby efforts ever in Kentucky. As the bill’s sponsor Rep. Riner put it, HB 550 was watered down to “a shadow of its former self”, turned “from steel to Reynolds Wrap.”

A top-down approach that recognized the powerful healing effects of plant-based nutrition had failed ­ again. But Nelson Campbell suspected there was another way to prove the merits of this idea. After the setback in Kentucky, he resolved to put his hunch to the test in his own North Carolina hometown of Mebane (population 11,562). He also took a documentary film crew with him.

Nelson hoped to demonstrate that a whole foods plant-based diet would lead to significant and measurable health improvements in just 10 days. He also wanted to demonstrate that such a diet would be easy to follow and indefinitely sustainable.

Using an approach consistent with the mainstream values of his hometown, he started small, offering ten-day “jumpstarts” of freshly prepared plant-based meals to 16 local influencers including a business executive, a journalist, two physicians and a local farming couple.

How would these rural people, many of whom were raised on southern comfort foods such as meat, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, handle a plant-based diet? Would they lose weight and get healthier? Would their families and friends accept their diet and lifestyle change? Could this be the spark of something even bigger? Can a nationwide health revolution actually begin in a town as rural and small as Mebane?

Beyond Mebane, PlantPure Nation explores the topical issues of the small family farmer, food deserts, modern medicine and the challenges of getting plant-based nutrition included in the political process.

Nelson’s campaign also has the unintended benefit of bringing him and his father closer together, as Dr. Campbell shares memories of his personal “journey”, when his son faces some of the same obstacles he faced over the years. As Nelson is launching a movement in the most unlikely of places, his close friend in Kentucky, Rep. Tom Riner, continues his efforts to educate his legislative colleagues – eventually giving away over 300 copies of Dr. Campbell’s groundbreaking book “The China Study.”

Their success in both places motivates them to join hands in an effort to right what is surely one of the greatest wrongs of our modern age. Together, Nelson and Rep. Riner launch a plan to expose the forces that stand in the way of a wider recognition of the healings powers of a plant-based diet.

Featuring music from the band Driftwood, PlantPure Nation was filmed across the USA and includes world-renowned experts, doctors and authors. The Production team includes Director Nelson Campbell, and Producer John Corry & Writer Lee Fulkerson from the acclaimed documentary film Forks Over Knives.

The film is scheduled for completion by Spring 2015.  A 23 city national tour will take place between April 4 and June 10 with Dr. T. Colin Campbell and his son Nelson as they show an advance version of the film.   The film is scheduled to open in limited release in over 100 cities, beginning with the first 23 cities on the tour during the week of July 4th.”

Their campaign has 2 more days left, so if you haven’t yet paid their Kickstarter page a visit yet, you can check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1524723963/plantpure-nation-a-documentary-with-dr-t-colin-cam?ref=category

Also here’s a link to their website: http://plantpurenation.com

De La Soul Are Crowdfunding Their New Album On Kickstarter Already Fully Funded With 19 Days To – Guests Include David Byrne – 2 Chainz – Little Dragon – Damon Alburn (Gorillaz/Blur)

One of my favorite 80’s, 90’s and now 00’s hip-hop groups just destroyed their goal on Kickstarter, De La Soul has launched their latest album via the crowdfunding platform March 30th and the next day March 31st their new album was 100% funded!!! This is extremely exciting news for fans of the group and hip-hop, their seminal albums 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead and Stakes Is High are some of the most influential for hip-hop and modern electronic music. Here’s what they have to say about why they’ve decided to crowdfund their new album:

“For the last decade, we’ve been independent artists, free of a record label interfering in our creative process. This will be our first De La Soul studio album in eleven years. We’re excited and ready to create. It’s been essential that we find ways to fund, record and release new music. Typically the fans have been the ones who support and appreciate our vision, so using Kickstarter and giving our fans the opportunity to be a part of the process just feels right. We see Kickstarter as a home for creative minds and a wonderful platform; where people who believe, respect and see the vision, can support an idea and make it a reality.

True to our Hip-Hop roots, we make music without limits. This new album will incorporate elements of Jazz, Funk, Rock, Country Western and anything else we’re feeling in the moment. To us, music is the influence of sounds, sounds in all vibrations and sizes, telling a story or pointing a direction. Some of these sounds we call samples, samples we use to make songs.”

“Over the last three years, we’ve collaborated with some of LA’s finest studio musicians and recorded them in free-styled, unrehearsed, jam sessions. They played everything from banjo to upright bass, sometimes up to a dozen musicians at once; simply allowing sounds to integrate. We did 90% of these recordings in one of LA’s most classic studios, Vox. We chose Vox because we wanted our recordings to have that creamy analog warm mixing board sound that the old records our parent’s once played had. With over 200 hours of sounds, and vibes, equal to about 250 to 300 full-length vinyl LPs, it’s time that we get to the work.

Here’s the interesting part. We are now in the process of going back to that 200+ hours of music, listening, enjoying and discovering those special moments where, musically, something magical happens, where interesting sounds and layers were forgotten, where new sounds can be sampled, looped, chopped, filtered and arranged, freely, without the intrusive presence of publishing politics and the infamous “sample police.” What we’ve done is created our own crates of records; album upon albums to mine and sample from. In our world, what we’ve created is freedom, freedom to make the art you believe in without having to compromise your vision. That’s what we’ve always wanted most, that’s what we’ve always believed in, that’s what we’ve fought for, and that’s why we’re doing this Kickstarter with you.”

“We have a fantastic cast of artist we’re collaborating with. So far Damon Albarn (of Blur/Gorillaz), 2 Chainz, Little Dragon, and David Byrne (of Talking Heads) have blessed us with their talents; and we’ll have more announcements of collabs to come, right here on Kickstarter.”

There’s still time to get some really amazing perks from the crowdfunding campaign exclusives, there’s 19 days left as of today. Check out their crowdfunding campaign here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1519102394/de-la-souls-new-album

Crowdfunding Industry Set To Double In Size Again to $34 Billion In 2015

The growth of crowdfunding is unprecedented, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Social causes had an incredibly strong showing having raised $3.06 billion in 2014. But the real surprise was the incredible grow that has been seen in the Asian and European markets.

“The strong growth in 2014 was due in part to the rise of Asia as a major crowdfunding region. Asian crowdfunding volumes grew by 320 percent, to $3.4 billion raised. That puts the region slightly ahead of Europe ($3.26 billion) as the second-biggest region by crowdfunding volume. North America continued to lead the world in crowdfunding volumes, growing by 145 percent and raising a total of $9.46 billion.

The research team collected information on 1250 active crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) across the world, including high-quality data submitted by 463 CFPs to the Crowdfunding Industry Survey, before undertaking significant further research and analysis in order to reach its results.

While rewards- and equity-based campaigns typically get the most headlines, it’s lending-based crowdfunding that dominates the industry: in 2014, it raised $11.08 billion dollars.

Part of that, according to Massolution founder and CEO Carl Esposti, is explained by the strong growth of crowd-based lending in Asia: “Surprises materializing from this year’s research included the astounding growth in the P2P and P2B lending market in Asia, stemming largely from the Chinese market.”

This is the second major report Massolution, Crowdsourcing.org’s sister firm, released this month: just a few weeks ago, it published its 2015CF – RE Crowdfunding for Real Estate Report, which takes a close look at one of the hottest sectors of crowdfunding.”

As this new way to fund projects continues to evolve we are seeing incredible creativity, and more diversity in every channel this new technology has been applied.

Check out the full story here at: http://crowdfundbeat.com/2015/03/28/report-global-crowdfunding-market-to-reach-34-4b-in-2015/

Purchase Massolutions full 2015 Crowdfunding Report Here: http://reports.crowdsourcing.org/?route=product/product&product_id=52

 

What it takes to launch an Indie Game on Kickstarter

This is a great article on what it takes to launch an Indie Game on Kickstarter, the resources of time and skill sets necessary are much more than many anticipate. They really give you a full explanation of every step they take, and describe 2 people devoted working full-time alone on their crowdfunding project to pull it off. This campaign is one of the more straight-forward I’ve seen, as well, there are many other elements that come into play depending on the circumstances of your crowdfunding campaign. If your thinking of launching a crowdfunding campaign with your team pay close attention to their tips for success:

“Alert Your Community Early – When we ran our first KickStarter, we were surprised to hear feedback to the tune of “I wish you had told me earlier.”  It wasn’t something we had expected, but it was a response that many of our core fan base was giving when they heard about the KickStarter.

There are many good reasons for alerting the community early, but one of the most important is to give time for interested backers to prepare their pledge. If you have high dollar rewards that offer truly compelling value, your community will want to jump on them. But, many of your backers are not going to be able to suddenly find $200 or $1,000 to pledge to your campaign. These backers who were wishing they had been warned are very important — they would back at a higher level, but they didn’t have time to prepare their family budgets to make space for your project. Warn them! Help them make space.

For our second KickStarter, we started making rumblings that our KickStarter :launching at the end of the summer” almost five months in advance. One month before lift-off, we made a formal announcement, blasted the mailing list and starting sharing the exciting news everywhere.  For me, a month’s formal notice seemed like a good balance between going too early and waiting till it was too late. But, we still heard from members of our community that they wanted more time. ”

“KickStarter is a Full Time Job

If you want to run a good KickStarter, make sure someone on your team can treat it as a full-time job with copious overtime. The more you can put into a KickStarter, the more you can get out. Do not understaff your KickStarter – if you can, put two team members on it full time. ”

“Running Your Campaign – Get some really good sleep the week before the campaign starts. Stock up on coffee. Make sure all the ducks are standing nicely in a row, and consider acting on our advice about preparation.  Then push the great big green button and you’re off!”

“If you want success, be willing to work for it. For an indie studio, those hours spent on your KickStarter may be some of the best paid hours you ever clock — if you succeed.”

Check out their full article here, it’s an excellent and entertaining read:

http://gamasutra.com/blogs/AndrewTrese/20141114/229801/Crowdfunding_an_Indie_Game_Star_Traders_2_RPG.php