The Elevation Dock was among the initial projects on Kickstarter to surpass one million dollars and is now featured on the new crowdfunding platform Outgrow.me. Y Combinator, a premier incubator for startups, recently hosted its latest demo day, where crowdfunding emerged as a prominent theme amongst participating companies. Several new platforms targeting specific niches have been launched: Microryza focuses on funding scientific research grants, Teespring offers a marketplace similar to Threadless, and Watsi is applying the crowdfunding model to assist developing regions.
While some startups aim to compete with Kickstarter, others prefer to enhance its ecosystem. BackerKit seeks to streamline the project management experience for creators, while Swish adds an element of enjoyment to project discovery. Although Kickstarter has introduced several tools to facilitate project management, a diverse market of supporting services is rapidly emerging around it.
Kickstarter remains the leading force in crowdfunding, yet the overall landscape extends far beyond its boundaries. Here are twelve valuable tools to help boost your campaign’s success and potentially maximize your earnings.
Overview:
Functionality: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software tailored for Kickstarter projects
Created by one of the original founders of Diaspora, BackerKit aims to alleviate the burden on project creators while also improving their financial returns. Starting at $99 per month, the platform allows creators to track rewards owed to backers and manage customer relations by monitoring both domestic and international supporters. Its standout feature is the capability to help raise additional funds after a campaign concludes.
For example, if you wish to support a project at a higher tier and receive better rewards, traditionally, once the campaign ends, the opportunity is lost. However, with BackerKit, you can contribute more and access additional rewards without involving Kickstarter or Amazon in the payment process. This clever, albeit somewhat controversial, feature could significantly enhance the funding potential for project creators.
Images: Top photo: Elevation Lab; Lower image: BackerKit