Kickstarter
Kickstarter is a global reward-based crowdfunding marketplace where individual creators, hardware startups, and brands launch campaigns across 15 creative categories, with the company earning a 5% commission only on successfully funded projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Kickstarter does
Kickstarter, PBC is a global reward-based crowdfunding platform headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, founded in 2009 by Perry Chen, Charles Adler, and Yancey Strickler. The company operates a web-based marketplace across 15 creative categories (Art, Comics, Crafts, Dance, Design, Fashion, Film & Video, Food, Games, Journalism, Music, Photography, Publishing, Technology, and Theater), where creators set funding goals and time-bound campaigns and backers pledge on an all-or-nothing basis. The platform processes payments through Stripe and Braintree/PayPal, supports multi-currency pledges, and is accessible via iOS and Android mobile apps. The company operates as a fully remote organization of approximately 200-400 U.S. employees on a four-day workweek.
The business model is a transactional take rate: Kickstarter charges a flat 5% commission on successfully funded projects and earns nothing on failed campaigns, while payment processing fees of approximately 3-5% plus $0.20 per pledge are collected separately by the payment processor. Go-to-market is product-led growth: creators self-serve onto the platform, with organic discovery powered by staff-curated 'Projects We Love', category pages, and newsletters. Under CEO Everette Taylor (appointed late 2022), the company added an enterprise/celebrity creator motion, a partnership network (Partner Program with vetted agencies, manufacturers, and 3PLs), a tech-startup accelerator (Next Wave Fund with Google), a physical innovation store in Shenzhen (INNO100 with Go Global), and distribution partnerships (e.g., Tubi).
Kickstarter's primary customers are individual creators, independent artists, hardware and product startups, and an emerging tier of celebrity and major-brand campaigns (e.g., XGIMI raised $18.8M and CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk Trading Card Game raised $15M+). Revenue reportedly grew approximately 50% year-over-year in 2025, with the company capturing an estimated 98% of competitor Indiegogo's market share. The company is privately held, last raised $100M from a16z and Yes VC in December 2021 at a ~$400M valuation (use of funds: a since-reversed blockchain pivot), and has no parent company or public listing.
Kickstarter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kickstarter
- Legal name
- Kickstarter, PBC
- Website
- https://kickstarter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kickstarter is a global reward-based crowdfunding marketplace where individual creators, hardware startups, and brands launch campaigns across 15 creative categories, with the company earning a 5% commission only on successfully funded projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kickstarter industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Crowdfunding Platform
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based) (MPACAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Crowdfunding & Fan-Financing (MPADAAAN)
Keywords
Where Kickstarter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kickstarter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Platform commission on successful campaigns: Kickstarter charges a 5% fee on all successfully funded projects. Payment processing fees (approximately 3-5% + $0.20 per pledge) are charged separately by the payment processor (Stripe). The platform only earns revenue when a project meets its funding goal, aligning incentives with creators and backers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Creator platform access with 5% commission on successful funding |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kickstarter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kickstarter operates a reward-based crowdfunding platform where creators set a funding goal and time limit, and backers pledge money to bring creative projects to life across 15 categories including Art, Comics, Crafts, Design, Fashion, Film & Video, Food, Games, Journalism, Music, Photography, Publishing, Technology, and Theater. The platform only charges its 5% commission when a project meets its funding goal, with payment processing handled separately by Stripe. Supporting offerings include the Partner Program network of vetted service providers and the Google-partnered Next Wave Fund accelerator for early-stage tech startups.
Product overview
Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that serves as a unified marketplace connecting creators with backers to fund creative projects. The core offering is the Kickstarter Crowdfunding Platform itself, which enables project funding across 15 creative categories. Supporting products and features include the Partner Program (a curated network of vetted service providers for campaign support), Next Wave Fund (a Google-partnered accelerator offering $10,000 grants and mentorship for tech startups), Late Pledges (enabling continued backing after campaigns end), Forward Funds (pre-funding for project development), and mobile applications for iOS and Android. The platform also organizes projects through themed Open Calls and Spotlight programs highlighting underrepresented creator communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kickstarter Crowdfunding Platform Global reward-based crowdfunding platform enabling creators to fund creative projects across 15 categories (Art, Comics, Crafts, Dance, Design, Fashion, Film & Video, Food, Games, Journalism, Music, Photography, Publishing, Technology, Theater). Creators set funding goals and deadlines, and backers pledge to support projects; the platform charges a 5% fee only on successfully funded projects.
- Kickstarter Partner Program A curated network of vetted agencies, consultants, studios, and service providers offering creators expertise in campaign strategy, marketing, manufacturing, fulfillment, and product design, including a searchable Partner Directory with verified track records and Premier Partner designations for high-volume providers.
- Next Wave Fund (with Google) A joint accelerator programme with Google that provides $10,000 toward crowdfunding goals plus mentorship, training, and marketing support to early-stage technology startups with fewer than 20 full-time employees in hardware, software, gaming, and connected technologies. Includes access to Google's AI Professional Certificate, Grow with Google workshops, and Kickstarter's entrepreneur community.
- Kickstarter Mobile Apps Native iOS and Android applications (App Store ID 596961385 and Google Play) that enable creators and backers to manage projects, browse campaigns, and pledge on the go.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kickstarter
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kickstarter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kickstarter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- MorphocoreMorpho, a Guangzhou-based manufacturing company with 14 years of experience supporting over 1,000 founders, was formally included in Kickstarter's Partner Program to help other founders navigate the transition from product concept to mass production.
- InterFulfillmentcoreInterFulfillment, a Canadian third-party logistics provider founded in 2010, was officially designated as a Kickstarter Expert Partner for order fulfillment in the Canadian market. The partnership provides crowdfunding creators with verified access to domestic warehousing and last-mile delivery infrastructure through facilities in Toronto and Vancouver.
- GoogleflagshipKickstarter and Google jointly launched the Next Wave Fund 2026, a technology startup accelerator offering $10,000 toward crowdfunding goals plus mentorship, training, and marketing support to early-stage tech startups in hardware, software, gaming, and connected technologies. Selected participants gain access to Google AI Professional Certificate, Grow with Google workshops, Kickstarter's entrepreneur community, and potential eligibility for Google Accelerator programs.
- Creator CampcoreKickstarter and Creator Camp partnered to support the wide theatrical release of 'Two Sleepy People,' a feature film made outside the traditional studio system. Kickstarter's sponsorship supported the film's expansion into wide theatrical release, representing a shared commitment to champion a new model of independent filmmaking.
- TubiflagshipKickstarter announced a new partnership with Tubi to give crowdfunded filmmakers direct distribution access to Tubi's platform of over 100 million monthly active viewers, expanding reach beyond traditional theatrical distribution.
- Go GlobalcoreKickstarter co-launched INNO100, a global innovation flagship store at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Square in Nanshan, Shenzhen. The space integrates technology and design, hosting innovation-themed events and featuring personalized manufacturing tools and cross-border products from sellers including Anker Innovations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kickstarter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Indiegogo: Indiegogo is Kickstarter's closest direct competitor — a reward-based crowdfunding marketplace for creative and product projects. The two compete head-to-head on categories like tech, gaming, and design, and Kickstarter's 98% market-share capture claim is explicitly framed against Indiegogo.
- GoFundMe: GoFundMe is the largest donation-based crowdfunding platform globally. While its category focus differs (personal causes, charity, emergencies), it competes for share-of-wallet in online crowdfunding and demonstrates the addressable scale of community-driven fundraise platforms.
- Patreon: Patreon is a recurring membership platform enabling creators to be funded by fans on an ongoing basis. It overlaps with Kickstarter's creator monetization mission across music, video, podcasts, and art, and is a key substitute for creators deciding how to monetize audiences.
- Republic: Republic is a multi-platform investment and crowdfunding ecosystem (Republic Crowdfunding, Republic Crypto, Republic Angels) supporting both community rewards and regulated investment raises. It overlaps with Kickstarter on startup funding, particularly for crypto and tech ventures.
- WeFunder: WeFunder is a US equity crowdfunding platform allowing startups to raise from retail investors under Regulation Crowdfunding. It is a substitute for Kickstarter's hardware/startup segment where creators want capital plus community ownership.
- Fundable: Fundable is a crowdfunding platform for US small businesses that supports both rewards-based and equity raises. It competes directly with Kickstarter in the product/startup category while offering an equity alternative for capital-seeking founders.
- Mightycause (formerly Razoo): Mightycause is a US donation-based crowdfunding platform for nonprofits, individuals, and community causes. Adjacent to Kickstarter's marketplace model and serves as a substitute for non-commercial/cause-driven creators.
Regional players
- Crowdcube: Crowdcube is a leading UK/EU equity crowdfunding platform for startups and growth companies. It overlaps with Kickstarter's hardware/startup segment but operates an equity-based model in European markets where Kickstarter has limited equity-fundraise capabilities.
- Seedrs: Seedrs is a UK-based equity crowdfunding and private-investment platform that enables startups to raise capital from a crowd of retail and accredited investors. Comparable to Kickstarter for funding early-stage ventures but operating under equity rather than reward-based mechanics.
Others
- BackerKit: BackerKit is a post-campaign management, pledge management, and fulfillment platform purpose-built for Kickstarter (and now Indiegogo) creators. It is a directly adjacent ecosystem enabler — strengthening the same creator workflow Kickstarter services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kickstarter social profiles
Digital presenceKickstarter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kickstarter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Kickstarter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kickstarter M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments31 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kickstarter
What does Kickstarter do?
Kickstarter operates a reward-based crowdfunding platform where creators set a funding goal and time limit, and backers pledge money to bring creative projects to life across 15 categories including Art, Comics, Crafts, Design, Fashion, Film & Video, Food, Games, Journalism, Music, Photography, Publishing, Technology, and Theater. The platform only charges its 5% commission when a project meets its funding goal, with payment processing handled separately by Stripe. Supporting offerings include the Partner Program network of vetted service providers and the Google-partnered Next Wave Fund accelerator for early-stage tech startups.
Is Kickstarter a public or private company?
Kickstarter is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Kickstarter founded?
Kickstarter was founded in 2009. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kickstarter based?
Kickstarter is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kickstarter make money?
One revenue line is on record: platform commission on successful campaigns.
Who are Kickstarter's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Indiegogo, GoFundMe, Patreon, Republic, WeFunder, Fundable and Mightycause (formerly Razoo). Regional players are Crowdcube and Seedrs. BackerKit is listed as an others.
Does Kickstarter have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kickstarter.
What industry is Kickstarter in?
Kickstarter's product category is Crowdfunding Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAFAJ, Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based), with a secondary code of MPADAAAN, Crowdfunding & Fan-Financing.