If you’re looking at whether or not your project can be successful via Kickstarter then look no further than this list of 7 most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project. Kickstarter is one of the very first crowdfunding websites which inventors and developers can advertise to get funding from people. The website has been responsible for numerous creations, many of which have found great success thanks to the website’s popularity.
However, there is a dark side to crowdfunding. Some projects have problems within the development that cause the project to fail and the money wasted. Others fail to complete their financial goals and the project discontinues. In recent years, we’ve seen website updates that allow developers to interact better with backers through updates. A great presentation also adds to the legitimacy and trustworthiness of an advertiser. If you want to check out what specific projects have been the most successful, there is a list of the 11 most successful Kickstarter projects.
So how can we determine the most successful categories on Kickstarter? One aspect we need to look into is the frequency of the category among the top-funded projects on the website. The more a certain category is funded, the higher the likelihood that projects of the same type will also fund successfully. Another aspect we need to look into is the highest funded project for each category. The highest amount of money funded gives us an idea of how much a certain project can raise to reach its goals. It gives us a better idea if projects of that category are things that people are interested in investing in.
One essentially gets something out of being a backer, in that you are essentially purchasing the project while helping its development. You’ll often get a copy or version of the finished product along with some freebies depending on how much you contribute. Of course, one also has to take into account that great communication and presentation is needed to convince audiences online. For this list of most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project, we take into account the top 100 most funded projects as ranked by Kickstarter. While it is a small sample size, it is enough to give us a good idea of what the most successful categories are.
Now without any more delays, let us go ahead and rank the 7 most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project.
7. Home Equipment
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 4
Highest Funding: $3.1 million
Based on the projects of the top 100, a lot of people are looking for items that aren’t typically available in malls or stores. One such project is the Nebia Shower, which uses water more efficiently and gives a better shower experience. Thanks to Kickstarter, the project has gotten a lot of exposure. Other items of this category include kitchen equipment, furniture, etc.
6. Toys
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 9
Highest Funding: $5.5 million
The toys that are part of the top 100 aren’t necessarily children’s toys. A lot of them are accessories that can be used to further enhance the experience of hobby games such as board games or tabletop role-playing games (Dungeons & Dragons). One of the most successful Kickstarter projects in this category is the Bones Gaming Miniatures which offer an array of detailed miniatures that can be used in a variety of games. Since custom miniatures are hard to come by, it makes it one of the 7 most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project.
5. Clothing
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 2
Highest Funding: $9.1 million
While there are only two clothing items in the top 100, one of them has the highest funding of the site – $9.1 million. That project is the Baubax Travel Jacket which offers numerous inconspicuous storage compartments best used for traveling. It also comes in several designs and the mix of usefulness and style comes into great effect, making it appealing to a lot of backers. And now, let’s see what else we have in our list of most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project.
4. Accessories
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 5
Highest Funding: $6.5 million
Most of the items that fall into the accessories category are bags, as other accessories are better categorized as technological advancements. A lot of the accessories in the top 100 feature efficient and stylish design mixed with convenient features. One such project is the Everyday Backpack which features numerous compartments in various bag types depending on one’s preference.
3. Video Games
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 22
Highest Funding: $6.3 million
A lot of independent video game developers seeking funding for their projects often go to Kickstarter to help get them started. A lot of highly successful games in recent years started out as Kickstarter projects. Some of the titles that are part of the top 100 are well known to many gamers including Shenmue 3, Elite: Dangerous, and Pillars of Eternity.
2. Hobby Games (Board Games & Card Games)
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 13
Highest Funding: $8.7 million
In recent years, the popularity of hobby games has been increasing exponentially. Hobby game cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants have become a common sight in many cities. Much like video games, most hobby game developers don’t have enough funding to mass produce their project which is why they seek crowdfunding for help. A lot of backers also like the prospect because they essentially get to pre-order the game. Some of the most successful hobby games on the website include Exploding Kittens, Zombicide, and Dark Souls: The Board Game. And now, let’s see the number one in our list of most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project.
1. Technology
Number of Projects in the Top 100: 42
Highest Funding: $20.3 million
With the number of successful and highly funded technology projects on Kickstarter, one can say that crowdfunding websites are one of the best in searching for technology advancements that are not yet available in the mainstream market. A few of the highest funded projects are smartwatches and the site features a lot of unusual ideas such as headphone sunglasses, drones, 3d printers, and much more. With how fast we are innovating and inventing, it’s not hard to see why technology is at the top of the 7 most successful Kickstarter categories to fund your project.