Top 10 most popular crowdfunding platforms for attracting investment in your project

Author: Eva Tushenkina

12 November 2020 15:52

Tags: investing on the Internet, kickstarter, crowdfunding projects  

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The collective fundraising site Kickstarter is a place for those who want to realize their creative, scientific and production projects, getting as many people interested in them as possible. The crowdfunding system works like this: a description of the project is posted on the website, the deadline and the minimum amount of funds that need to be raised are indicated. And if people are interested, they become voluntary investors.

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If the project does not raise the required amount by the deadline, the money is returned to the sponsors. Here are 15 unique projects that collected much more than they claimed.

Exploding Kittens Card Game

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Exploding Kittens is a card game created by Alan Lee and launched on Kickstarter with a goal of raising $10,000 for its launch. The idea was supported by more than 200,000 people, and the total amount invested was about $9 million. The description says that this is a “cat” version of Russian roulette. You play cards until someone draws a card with an exploding kitten - and is immediately eliminated from the game. It's probably not surprising that so many people wanted to get such a game to have fun playing exploding kittens at parties and get-togethers with friends.

Board game Dark Souls

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Dark Souls is a board game based on the computer game of the same name in the action/RPG genre. The initiator of the fundraiser was Steamforged Games Ltd. and the amount needed was estimated at £50,000, but in the end £4,000,000 was raised. The game seems to have a lot of fans around the world, and they're eager to be able to jump into the thrilling four-player cardboard board action and enjoy the complex storylines that Dark Souls is so famous for.

Oculus Rift

Probably many people have heard this name. The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset aimed to make virtual reality accessible to the average person. On Kickstarter, the fundraising amount was announced at 250 thousand dollars, but in the end the project collected almost 10 times more, namely 2.4 million dollars. In March 2013, the product already went on sale.

Computer game Pillars of Eternity

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Pillars of Eternity is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and released in 2015. The game takes place in a fictional universe, all the details of the plot and battles are very well worked out. Funds for the creation of the game were raised using Kickstarter: it was necessary to raise $1,100,000, but in the end they raised about 4 million. All investors who supported this endeavor with their hard-earned dollars received their own digital copy of the game.

Computer game Yooka-Laylee

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Yooka-Laylee is a platformer and action-adventure game for various computer platforms and game consoles. It is being developed by the Playtonic Games studio - the same people who previously worked at the Rare studio and released many beloved games (for example, Banjo-Kazooie). The game is expected to be released in early 2020. And again, thanks to Kickstarter, thanks to which we managed to raise more than £2,000,000 instead of the stated 175,000 pounds. All contributors will receive a digital copy of the game and other rewards depending on the size of their contribution.

Planeta (Planet)

https://planeta.ru/

The platform was founded in 2012 and ranks first in popularity among Russian startups. The Planet collects money for the implementation of creative, social and business projects, with the exception of political activities and commercial programs.

A resident of any country who has reached the age of 18 can apply to organize public financing. Planeta is the leader in the number of successful startup options and funds raised: 4,260 business ideas and more than 940,000,000 rubles. This is due to the flexible policy and lack of time restrictions. The author may extend the campaign period at his discretion.

The Russian crowdfunding platform Planeta.ru collects a commission in the form of:

• 5% of the fully collected amount;
• 10% if the author collected more than 50%, but did not reach the stated ceiling;
• Plus 5% for making payments is transferred to payment systems.
• Charitable events are not subject to commission.

Important to remember! A startup placed on the Planeta.ru crowdfunding platform cannot be sold on other Internet platforms.

For donors, the average check is 1,500 rubles; the system of bonuses and rewards is presented on the website, where everything is transparent and accessible.

3D pen 3Doodler

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The 3Doodler is a gadget that has been called the world's first 3D pen-printer and has raised an impressive amount of almost $2.5 million on Kickstarter (although the amount originally announced by project owner WobbleWorks LLC was only $30,000). What kind of device is this? In short, it looks like a glue gun, only for plastic, and with it you can create three-dimensional multi-colored models. Can be used as a toy for teenagers and adults who like to model and create something with their own hands.

Space simulator Star Citizen

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Star Citizen is another computer game in development, this time in the space simulator genre, very powerful and never seen before. The project is being developed by Cloud Imperium Games Corporation. Funds for development were collected through a crowdfunding scheme both on the official website of the game and on Kickstarter, where they managed to collect more than 2 million instead of the stated $500,000.

Kinetic art table

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But not just games! There are also very interesting art projects on Kickstarter - for example, an art project by Bruce Shapiro called “Sisyphus, or the Kinetic Art Table”. The hero of ancient Greek mythology, Sisyphus, had to roll a heavy stone up a mountain, which rolled down every time. In Shapiro's project, Sisyphus is a kinetic sculpture consisting of sand and a ball that rolls on the sand, creating and erasing intricate patterns. The spectacle is very beautiful and bewitching. It was supposed to raise $50,000 to launch this project, but about 2 million were collected, which made it possible to quickly breathe life into Sisyphus.

Floating Record Vertical Turntable

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Floating Record Vertical Turntable is a vertical record player for true fans who want to enjoy not only the music, but also the appearance of their rarities right during playback. The idea of ​​the project is contained in its name, so there is nothing more to add here. The initial goal of this project to raise $50,000 for the launch was a complete success, with more than half a million dollars raised.

Card game Million Dollars, But...

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Even today, in the modern world of technology, there are still people who like to play cards while sitting at a table, and Kickstarter gives them the opportunity to bring new ideas for card games to life. The game called Million Dollars, But... develops imagination and touches on moral issues, because the main question in this game is “What would you do if you had a million dollars?” The launch of the game required $10,000, but they managed to raise as much as $1.5 million. This is such an interesting game.

Electric Bicycle Wheel Geo Orbital Wheel

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Technology does not stand still and manufacturing companies are always looking for ways to modernize outdated technologies. And although the bike can hardly be called outdated, some things about it can certainly be changed and improved. American startup GeoOrbital has done just that, proposing to create an electric wheel, the GeoOrbital Wheel, which will turn a regular bicycle into an electric bike (you just need to replace the front wheel with it). Such an electric bike has many advantages - especially for those who do not know how to drive or do not yet feel the need to switch to a motorcycle. And this project has already been implemented thanks to fundraising on Kickstarter: instead of the minimum stated $75,000, about 1.3 million was collected.

TOP 10 Crowdfunding projects October 2020

• Bevan 2.0

  2 990
  2 691 ₽

  Buy

• Laptop backpack up to 14 inches XD Design Bobby Compact

  8 490 ₽
  Buy

• Business backpack XD Design Bobby Bizz

  9 990 ₽
  Buy

• Backpack XD Design Bobby

  6 990 ₽
  Pre-order

• DJI Spark quadcopter

  42 390 ₽
  Pre-order

• DJI Spark Fly More Combo Quadcopter

  55 090 ₽
  Pre-order

• Feiy backpack for DJI Spark quadcopter

  1 990 ₽
  Pre-order

October is over, and with it, so are many crowdfunding campaigns. It's time to sum them up! What new Kickstarter and Indiegogo products have won the hearts of backers and become the pride of the platforms? Read our new monthly column.

Most successful: PowerUp Dart

The PowerUp line of controllable paper airplane “drones” is well known to Kickstarter regulars. In fact, this particular gadget is not a whole drone, but a tiny motor on a frame with a Bluetooth module. The motor is installed on a regular toy plane, which the user himself folds out of a thick sheet of paper. The resulting drone is controlled from a smartphone. PowerUp Dart has become the third model, and its “trick” is to perform aerobatic stunts: Immelmann, hammerhead, barrel roll, corkscrew, and so on. To lighten the weight of the model, it does not have a camera, but the engine accelerates the plane to 40 km/h and is not at all afraid of a hard landing. If the thin wings are wrinkled, it doesn’t matter; the module is removed and installed on a newly folded aircraft.

The PowerUp Dart campaign launched on September 12th on Kickstarter with a goal of just $25,000. The collections closed on October 18, with the figure stopping at $1,678,290. Backers will receive their planes already during the winter holidays.

Yarra SDX

Engineers at the serious tech startup Comhear have been working long and hard on surround sound. The result of their work is the Yarra 3DX soundbar, which they themselves call “the world’s first affordable sound projector.” The gadget replaces a large speaker system: instead of many speakers placed in all corners of the room, it is enough to place a long and narrow (53.3 x 8 x 8 cm) soundbar under the TV. The device generates high-quality surround sound for three listeners at once. To do this, hidden inside the Yarra are 12 speakers and a Quad Core 500 MIPS microprocessor that controls them. In addition, a small separate subwoofer (20.3 x 20.3 x 25.4 cm) is included in the package.

Fundraising for the production of the innovative column took place from September 12 to October 27. As a result, instead of the planned $50,000, Comhear managed to raise $738,184.

Cubibot

3D printers arguably dominate Kickstarter today. Every new startup first tries to sell backers exactly what it is - the most compact, most convenient, simplest and at the same time complex 3D printer. The microwave-like Cubibot is just such a typical gadget, with the help of which 3D printing beginners can print fun things from an extensive library, and professionals can print their own thoughtful models. Its working volume is 12.7 x 12.7 x 12.7 centimeters, the platform is heated, and the printing resolution is 50 to 300 microns at a speed of 80 millimeters per second. What really sets it apart is its built-in filter ventilation and low price of $149 for backers.

The creators of Cubibot launched a Kickstarter campaign on September 26 with the goal of raising $50,000. By the last day, October 26, they received an amount of $648,312.

4.Luna Display

It’s hard to believe, but for modern people, one display is no longer enough, even if it is huge and wide. This is especially problematic for designers and laptop users. Therefore, Astro HQ came up with the Luna Display gadget, which turns the iPad into a full-fledged additional wireless touch screen for the MacBook. The small module plugs into USB-C or Mini Display Port and connects to the tablet via Wi-Fi. According to the developers, this method is much better than software solutions, since hardware acceleration becomes available and there are no delays.

Luna Display caused slight excitement among fans of Apple products (and anger - some immediately began to accuse the developers of dishonesty). The device campaign ran from August 22 to October 19, and the $30,000 requested was raised in one day. The final amount was $645,393.

Embr Wave

Each specific human body reacts differently to environmental temperature, depending on gender, genetic characteristics or, say, age and disease. The Embr Wave wearable gadget is the first personal device that “hacks” perception and makes its wearer feel comfortable in any conditions. The gadget resembles a smart watch that does not have a display or dial. Inside the device is a thermoelectric element that heats or cools the aluminum housing. Because Embr Wave is worn on the wrist, where the skin is very sensitive, the sensation spreads throughout the body. To prevent the body from getting used to it, heating and cooling occur in waves, which is where the name Wave comes from. The battery will last for 2-3 days of use, or 25-50 heating and cooling sessions.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who invented the device, campaigned in its support from September 27 to October 27 on Kickstarter. Instead of the required $100,000, they managed to raise six times more funds, $629,856.

• Bevan 2.0

  2 990
  2 691 ₽

  Buy

• Laptop backpack up to 14 inches XD Design Bobby Compact

  8 490 ₽
  Buy

• Business backpack XD Design Bobby Bizz

  9 990 ₽
  Buy

• Backpack XD Design Bobby

  6 990 ₽
  Pre-order

• DJI Spark quadcopter

  42 390 ₽
  Pre-order

• DJI Spark Fly More Combo Quadcopter

  55 090 ₽
  Pre-order

• Feiy backpack for DJI Spark quadcopter

  1 990 ₽
  Pre-order

Zippelin

The Swiss company Freitag recycles truck covers and turns them into durable bags and bags. But the Europeans came to Kickstarter not with a boring messenger bag, but with a real inflatable suitcase called Zippelin. It is also made from durable and water-resistant recycled material, and is inflated to reduce the overall weight of the structure. The suitcase has straps, handles, wheels, and the internal volume reaches 85 liters. The most important thing: all Zeppelins look different and unique, since they are cut from different parts of the awnings.

Fundraising for the suitcase took place from September 11 to October 12. The required amount of €100,000 was collected quickly, and in the end Zippelin received €489,019. According to its creators, they were not looking for money, but for approval of the idea, since they did not want to translate recycled material in vain.

CrossHelmet

The smart motorcycle helmet CrossHelmet was born from the bowels of the Tokyo company Borderless as a response to the stagnation in the development of protective devices. Firstly, the helmet gives its owner a 360-degree view. For this purpose, the visor of the helmet contains a display that vaguely resembles a car rear-view mirror - the image from the built-in camera is transmitted to it. Secondly, the helmet has built-in speakers, a microphone, and a noise reduction system, so it serves as a safe headset for a smartphone. The touch panel on the surface of the gadget supports gestures. In addition, CrossHelmer monitors the rider's position via GPS.

The Japanese smart helmet raised funds on Kickstarter from September 12 to October 12. The target was set at $100,000, and the campaign ultimately raised $344,336.

Moment Drone

The wave of selfie drone startups has slowed down markedly since DJI's heavyweight Spark drone entered the arena. However, the quest for the best flying camera continues: the Moment Drone is one of them. This is a foldable mini quadcopter designed and manufactured in China, its dimensions are 215 x 263 x 47 millimeters, and its weight is 415 grams. The copter is equipped with a 13-megapixel camera and shoots 4K video, and the gadget stays in the air for 15 minutes.

Like many other Chinese companies, drone developers have opted for the more liberal Indiegogo platform. The campaign ran from September 20 to October 31, initially asking for $50,000 for production, but ultimately raising more than $320,000.

Aircon Watch

It’s interesting, but in addition to the Embr Watch that captured all the attention of the press, another wearable thermostat appeared on Kickstarter in the fall. Hong Kong startup Airconwatch has unveiled a full-fledged watch with a digital dial that cools or heats the wearer's wrist. The thermoelectric element plate is located on the back of the Aircon Watch bracelet, where it is pressed closer to the skin. The principle of operation is completely similar to the American device. However, the developers should not be blamed for copying; they used the results of a Stanford University study published in 2012 and launched their campaign a week earlier than their competitors.

Fundraising for the production of Aircon Watch began on September 12 and ended on October 12. Instead of a modest target of $5,000, the wearable thermostat received around $300,000.

The Side Winder by Fuse

Rounding out our October top ten is an accessory for the MacBook called The Side Winder. The gadget provides convenient storage, transportation and use of the MagSafe 2 power adapter, which is placed in a kind of “case” with a reel for winding the cord. Using a handle on the lid, both ends are wound at once - both the one with the plug and the one connecting to the laptop. When charging the device, just unwind the desired length, and then simply wind the wire back. This way the fragile accessory does not break or deteriorate. Considering that official Apple adapters cost a fortune, a simple cable organizer saves money and hassle.

The Side Winder campaign ran from September 19 to October 19. The required amount was only $20,000, but backers, grateful for salvation from the user-unfriendly design of Apple adapters, quickly raised $290,211.

Cooler of the 21st century: Coolest Cooler

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Sometimes it's very interesting to see how people take an existing idea and improve on it, creating something new. This Kickstarter campaign was started by a man named Ryan Grepper. He promised to create the Coolest Cooler, a cooler for the 21st century that combines everything from an ice blender to a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. After all, there is nothing wrong with improving what already exists. The minimum amount to launch the project was $50,000, and they managed to raise almost $14 million for the coolest cooler.

Kickstarter

Perhaps the most famous crowdfunding platform in the world. It was the development of Kickstarter.com that gave impetus to the emergence of similar projects. Moreover, the resource is one of the thousand most frequently visited sites in the world. It is important to note that funds on this resource are collected to implement a specific idea, and not to finance existing programs. If it so happens that the required amount was not collected, then all contributions are returned to investors. Kikcstarter specializes in electronic gadgets, home gadgets, etc. Probably the most successful and profitable project of the site was the Peblle smart watch. The idea itself was to display information about calls and messages on the dial. The project ultimately raised $10 million.

Relaunch of the Reading Rainbow educational program for children

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Reading Rainbow is a series of educational children's TV programs that aired in the United States from the mid-80s to the mid-2000s. Due to a lack of funding, the program was closed, but its creators did not give up and in 2012 launched the Reading Rainbow educational application for iPad and after 36 hours it rose to first place in its segment. In 2014, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funding to update materials for the project and launch it free of charge in schools across the country. The goal of $1 million was reached within a day; on the second day the amount doubled. In total, about $5.5 million was collected.

Boomstarter

https://boomstarter.ru/

The platform appeared in Russia in 2012 and quickly took a leading position. This resource searches for money to finance various categories of startups; creative ideas have an advantage. Projects with a charitable purpose and options offering a share in a business or a percentage of profits are not allowed for consideration.

It is important to note! The “all or nothing” operating principle guarantees investors the safety of their invested funds; the minimum amount for participation in the project is from 500 rubles. Donors interested in supporting startups in the arts, publishing, fashion, and new technology categories choose Boomstarter for its reliability and visibility.

For crowdfunders, Boomstarter offers two packages: “All or nothing” and “To the goal.” In the first case, the duration of the campaign is limited to 60 days, the amount is paid upon full collection. This option is used to sell tickets to events and creative startup ideas.

Read also:

Fundraising and crowdfunding: what is the difference, features and nuances

The “To the Goal” package has no time limits and is used to obtain funding for scientific ideas, non-profit organizations, social projects, when the final amount matters. A 3.5% commission is retained upon successful completion of the funding campaign.

A startup wishing to use the services of this Russian crowdfunding platform must meet the following requirements:

1. Have Russian citizenship;
2. Age 18 years and older;
3. Have an open bank account.

During its existence, the platform has organized financing for 1,825 startups in Russia, collecting more than 400,000,000 rubles.

Movie "Veronica Mars"

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Veronica Mars is a television series about a teenage girl who helps her detective father solve crimes. This series has its fans, so when screenwriter Rob Thomas launched a Kickstarter call to raise funds for the filming of a feature-length film about Veronica Mars, many responded. It was necessary to raise at least 2 million dollars - they raised almost 6 million. And the film was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from critics.

Most popular platforms

In the selection we have combined both Russian and foreign sites. With their help, you can implement musical projects, start developing applications or mobile devices, publish your book and much more.

Kickstarter

When we hear crowdfunding, the name of this platform immediately pops up. The site was one of the first to appear and has been afloat since 2009. The most diverse projects are implemented here: films, video games, comics, music albums, gadgets. It was here that the creators of the Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses raised the first money for a promising invention.

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Indiegogo

It is distinguished by a wide range of things for which funds are raised. The site looks more like a charity site. Here they add up not only for future products, but also, for example, for helping bankrupt people.

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Rockethub

The main advantages of the site are the availability of programs for communication between users. You can get to know the developers or contributors better and discuss the intricacies of the product being created.

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Crowdrise

A charity website created to help people facing financial problems.

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AngelList

The platform is intended for entrepreneurs who already have a start-up budget and a well-developed detailed business plan.

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Appbackr

The site occupies a narrower niche than those described above. Here users donate money to mobile application developers. If you are a talented programmer and want to create something new for iOS or Android, this platform is the best option to start with. A significant plus is that due to the specific topic, only developers gather here. Therefore, Appbackr is not only an opportunity to receive an initial amount for production, but also an excellent option for finding like-minded people and workers for the team.

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Boomstarter

The main crowdfunding site in Russia. Most of the projects being implemented are board games and multimedia (films, books, video games and mobile applications). It was here that the inflatable sofa “Bevan” and the popular mobile game “Empire” thundered at one time. In fact, it is the domestic analogue of Kickstarter - entertainment projects are launched more often.

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Planet

There are a lot of categories of projects mixed here - both multimedia and from the field of science, gadgets, and sports. Planeta is distinguished by the high social activity of our citizens - funds are regularly raised for the restoration/installation of monuments, improvement of city infrastructure, and restoration of old buildings.

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Quirky

The site is aimed at creating and improving inventions. A community of scientists and engineers has formed around him. Communication with professionals helps improve the product and find new team members.

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PeerBackers

The site has no restrictions in terms of topics. You can raise money for anything. However, a financial limit is set for everyone - the maximum you can get is $25,000.

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Boomerang

It has some similarities with the domestic “Planet”. Here they raise money for socially significant projects. Moreover, they collect much more than on Kickstarter. The site is aimed at caring people who want to improve the urban environment and invest in cultural and social development.

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GoFundMe

An easy-to-use website that allows you to collect amounts for three categories of goals: personal, charity and fundraising for a project (if the required amount is not accumulated within a certain period, the money is returned to the investors).

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FundRazr

The platform is exclusively charitable. People help those who are in trouble, have defaulted on their loans, or have lost their homes.

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Circles

Russian site that finances exclusively creative creative projects: books, music albums, videos. The principle of operation is simple - everyone allocates the amount they consider necessary for help.

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From the world by thread

With the world on a thread. One of the first sites in the field of collective fundraising in Russia. The main directions are creative products and education.

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Ulule

The platform comes from France and is popular among the indigenous population. Multimedia, political and social projects are the main categories for attracting money.

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Kiva

Another charity site. Lenders can provide for people in poor countries. A significant advantage of the site is the absence of commission. All allocated money reaches the recipient.

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PledgeMusic

As the name suggests, the site is dedicated to sponsoring music artists. Users can help with the release of the album, as well as personally communicate with the artists, get an autograph or branding.

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Tilt

An interesting feature of the site is the financing of collective projects. For example, joint holidays, trips, trips.

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Wireless Smart Headphones

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The Dash are “smart” wireless headphones, the fundraising campaign for the development of which was successfully completed on Kickstarter. The owner of the project is Bragi LLC. The goal is to raise $260,000. Almost $4 million raised. Still, people really hope to someday get truly comfortable headphones with high-quality sound reproduction.

Kroogi (Circles)

https://crowd-directory.kroogi.com/?locale=ru

The online resource was founded in 2008 as a platform for offering creative content. At the initial stage of its existence, the Circles community helped musicians, writers, poets realize their plans, and everyone who wanted to purchase photo and video materials at an affordable price. The resource worked according to the rule - everyone pays as much as they can.

Read also:

Crowdfunding in Russia: features and advantages of financing startups

Since 2013, with the development of crowdfunding in Russia, Kroogi has been introducing fundraising to support a creative startup: recording music discs, organizing tours and tours, premiering a new film or printing a book.

The basic principle of the site is that the startuper receives money only when the entire amount is reached (all or nothing). This financing system saves investors’ funds and increases confidence in the platform in Russia. As bonuses, the authors offer free tickets and gift copies of their works. The success of the campaign depends on the number and size of incentives, so the bonus list is compiled taking into account the possible requirements of investors.

It is important to know! For placing a project and its successful financing, Kroogi takes a commission of 15% of the collected amount. This payment is made from the start-up’s funds and is used to maintain the activity of the resource. When posting an idea on Kroogi, the author launches a large-scale advertising campaign on social networks, and the platform guarantees support and assistance in obtaining monetary support.

The reliability of the resource is confirmed by its ten-year activity in Russia - this is one of the first platforms for organizing public financing that appeared on the domestic Internet space.