BY CHRYSTAL LOPEZ
Co-founder of Kickstarter.com Charles Adler gave SCAD students insight into what Kickstarter is all about on Sept. 26 at Arnold Hall. Kickstarter.com was established in 2009 as a new way to fund creative ideas.
Kickstarter allows any person with an idea to advertise themselves and raise money to make that idea happen. Adler started the presentation with a quote by Dave Eggers, “We’ve lost that very simple transaction that’s so pure, where a reader can say, ‘I support what you’re doing, here’s my dollar … ’ it’s just so tidy, and I think so inspiring.”
When they find an idea on Kickstarter, the public has the opportunity to be a “backer” of an idea they want to help make happen. The creator sets a goal, and the video required to put on Kickstarter serves as an essential part of the idea’s advertisement. Adler urged the creators to set up other forms of digital advertisement like a Twitter account, a blog or a webpage.
Unfortunately, creators are not able to collect any funds if the goal is not met. The amount of money isn’t confined to the set goal amount. The public may contribute as much as they would like. The only thing that stops the money from flowing is the 60-day time limit an idea has after being posted on Kickstarter.
But the “backer” doesn’t walk away empty handed if the idea is a success. When advertising an idea on Kickstarter, the creator is required to make an offer for each tier of donated amount. There are 5-7 tiers, and as the tiers’ donations get larger, the rewards they offer become more enticing. The creator chooses what the offers will be, and they usually relate to the proposed project. If the goal is to raise funds for a film, the “backers” of a certain tier might receive a movie poster. A more expensive donation might get a poster signed by the director and cast. This gives backers more incentive to support an idea.
Frank Chimero’s idea for a book titled “The Shape of Design” is one Kickstarter success story. Chimero’s Kickstarter goal was $10,000, but he ended up raising over $100,000 in the 60-day period.
Kickstarter has a success rate of 44 percent and over $90 million has been pledged in the short time since the website’s launch. With an average of about $2 million being pledged per week, the numbers keep rising. Adler said that Kickstarter requires three things from an idea: it must be creative, finite and feel inspirational and grounded.
