Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that operates a global crowdfunding platform aimed at helping creative projects come to life.

Founded in 2009 by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler, Kickstarter connects independent creators with a community of backers who fund their visions. The platform uses an all-or-nothing funding model, where projects must meet their funding goals within a set timeframe to receive any money. Kickstarter supports a wide range of creative categories, including comics, design, film, music, games, technology, and food-related projects. It enables creators to post project descriptions, funding goals, and timelines, while backers can pledge funds in exchange for rewards such as products or exclusive experiences. As of April 2025, Kickstarter has facilitated over $8.71 billion in pledges from more than 24.1 million backers, funding 277,302 projects. The company employs around 349 people and operates with a fully virtual workforce.