Kickstarter Is Totally Disrupting Consumer Electronics, Probably By Mistake

Seems like Kickstarter is also disrupting the game development process, allowing game studios to produce games without being beholden to publishers.<p>Examples:<p>* Double Fine Adventure - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/66710809/double-fine-adventure" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/66710809/double-fine-adv...</a><p>* The Banner Saga - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga</a><p>* Wasteland 2 - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2</a><p>* Shadowrun Returns - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-returns" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1613260297/shadowrun-ret...</a><p>Even smaller games are getting funding this way:<p>* Valdis Story - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/460275866/valdis-story-abyssal-city" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/460275866/valdis-story-a...</a><p>* Echoes of Eternia - <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-eternia-a-modern-take-on-a-classic-desig" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465600975/echoes-of-ete...</a>

For me it was surprising at first that Kickstarter even worked. It pulled out a better part of people that I really didn't hope that it exists on such a level. People are basically paying for stuff without the 100% guarantee that they'll get it, without previous reviews and opinions about those products, and while knowingly being the first batch of users which will collide head-first with all first bugs and issues.<p>And most importantly, people are doing this all with an open heart, actually being happy to encourage and assist innovation and creation of new products. I would say that kickstarter is one of the coolest and world-changing website (more than a website.. product, idea) of this decade.<p>Consumer electronics is just one of the areas KS is disrupting. Software and games are another one. But there are basically no limits! I wholeheartedly believe that once KS is popular enough if someone came with a project to send a video camera to the moon (on which you can buy video time to simply rotate it and look around) it would get funded right away.

I wondered the other day if Kickstarter might be the next big Internet company (following Google, Facebook and Twitter). The business model has so much disruptive potential, and they've already overcome the chicken and egg problem. I wish it were possible to invest in them. :-)

I wonder if KickStarter and similar projects could disrupt YC and TechStars.<p>For example, I could see DropBox raising a sizable seed round on KickStarter if it was an option when they launched. (Free 250gb plan for a year with a donation of $50.)

Where disrupting means tiny, tiny, tiny niche with a disproportionate amount of hype.<p>Games are another example eridius pointed out, showing 6 successful projects out of the 10000s of games that will be produced outside of Kickstarter this year! What's happening is in some cases awesome but it's not disruption.

&#62; <i>Consumer electronics are among the most well-funded projects on Kickstarter, (...) which (...) means that consumer electronics as a market has been ripe for disruption all along</i><p>So true. Kickstarter is Wordpress for gadgets; anyone with an idea and some talent and experience can make something without first needing to get pre-approved by some self-appointed authority.<p>I think anywhere where someone says "you can't do that" is ripe for this kind of disruption. So what's next?

Is there a place that lists the projects that ended up being a failure? I'm curious what the failure rate of Kickstarter is, and if fraud artists are attempting to rip people off via it. Also, if the failure rate starts increasing, would that jeopardize the entire business model, if people lose confidence that the projects will see the light of day?

FWIW, I use Kickstarter solely as a way to fund art projects, a sort of modern art patronage system if you will.<p>I've never even considered that the consumer electronics projects are art in their own right.

I diagree with the thesis.<p>An art project like the one mentioned is relatively small. CE projects, which want to ship millions of units is an entirely different affair, usually costing millions of dollars and large teams composed of many different specialities.<p>Even if you did raise $5 million USD you still need a design team and manufacturing. And there's no guarantee of success either. I just don't see Kickstarter helping much.

Uh... crowdfunding sounds like the PERFECT model for consumer electronics!<p>It's a business that requires high startup capital, and where uncertainty comes with much greater costs than software. You're going to be making thousands of units of whatever it is you're making if you want it to be even remotely cost effective.<p>So, a method of funding where customers vote with their wallets before you face the biggest headache in consumer electronics--turning a design/prototype into something mass produced--sounds like a great fit.

I'd like to see a graphical Dwarf Fortress funded through Kickstarter.

Funny; I only discovered that there are non-tech projects there quite recently. I found out about Kickstarter via HN, so most of the projects I saw were hardware and software ones, and guess what... I think it's what was needed.<p>There's lot of creativity to be unleashed in building new technology, tools and practical gadgets (as opposed to what typical commercial gadget is). And Kickstarter tech projects are definitely awesome-first, money-next type of projects - maybe because people involved are often building them for themselves? I hope to see more such projects, I will be happy to back them.

The big consumer electronics companies should be really scared right now. Hardware startups are coming. Wouldn't be surprised if some hardware incubators start popping up too

" Consumer electronics are among the most well-funded projects on Kickstarter despite the fact that it’s dubious whether they should even be included in the scope of fundable projects. "<p>Why would it be dubious to have them be included as a fundable project? Am I missing something?

I would disagree with the post. Kickstarter doesnt change the field of consumer electronics at all. The products created would usually not have been made but for the pre-sale funding available.<p>I would also disagree that these items can even be considered consumer electronics, they are widgets at best and really destined for a large consumer market.<p>Kickstarter is a great platform but like the instagram sale recieves too much hype whenever something big goes up.

Kickstarter ay have started as a growd funding plattform for art projects. But by doing that, they lay ground to a new way of funding, well, virtually everything. And since funding can be a major pain in the ass, Kickstarter has a opened up opportunities nobody would have ever dreamed of.<p>When they now get a banking license or an other type of SEC "enter random monetary regulating body" blessing, the finacial industry should worry! ;-O)

Does anyone know how to do a consumer electronics startup? Can you contract out the design to someone knowledgeable? How do you find such a person? How do you get it manufactured?<p>Are there a lot of regulations to be aware of?

Where do people selling consumer electronics on Kickstarter find manufacturers and supplies? (My first guess would have been Alibaba, but is that feasible for someone really starting from zero?)

I think, instead, that this is teaching us something about the distinction between consumer electronics and other goods requiring some creative genesis.

Is anyone else bothered by the use of the word "mistake"? It seems "unintentional" is a more descriptive term.