Let’s say you’re working on a project that can loosely be defined as something creative. Maybe you want to shoot a film. Maybe you want to develop unique software. Or maybe your project deals with food or even video games. But you’re stuck. You don’t have the money to either launch or complete the project. What do you do? Well now you can turn to Kickstarter.com.
Kickerstarter is a web site where you can post your project. If people like it…and like you…they can make small donations towards your project. In return, you give them some type of freebie (related to your project) back. Get enough people to make enough small donations and you can get the funding needed for your project.
It’s a lot like a PBS fundraiser where people make donations and in return they receive a coffee mug or whatever. Except it’s all done over the Internet.
Of course there are some rules. You have to specify an exact deadline for your project and the exact amount of money you need. If you don’t get enough pledges or you don’t meet your deadline, you get none of the money. If you do meet those things, the money is yours (minus a 5% fee that Kickstarter takes).
Long and short, it’s a very interesting way to get certain projects funded…based entirely on the generosity of people you don’t even know. To learn more about Kickstarter and how it works…along with seeing live projects seeking and receiving donations, click here.