We have to take a moment to appreciate all of the creative genius that comes out of Kickstarter. Home to some of the most inventive minds on the planet, the crowdsourced platform helps projects that will make our lives better, more fun, or more beautiful come into being. Think of all the inspired design projects, truly dope clothing brands, and amazing video games that would never have gotten the legs to be developed without Kickstarter funding from random backers across the Internet. No other platform shows off the power of the people so well.
That’s not to say that every Kickstarter project will ultimately change the world. There are plenty of reasons why we’re not donating to your Kickstarter, whether you’re jumping on the Internet bandwagon or you’re literally funding the impossible. And let us not forget the guy who somehow raised $55,000 to make a potato salad. (Yes, that really happened.) Like most social platforms, Kickstarter breeds idiocy alongside genius, sometimes to hilarious results.
For every #struggle project on Kickstarter, however, there are impressive proposals that truly shine above the rest and actually deserve funding. Kickstarter even labels some of their favorites in each category to help you find the best of the best. After the potato-salad incident, Kickstarter seems to have tightened up its submission process, and that’s created an even higher bar for projects — which we’re not complaining about. Instead, we go to Kickstarter for inspiration or to see what the future might bring. Check out our list of some of the Coolest Tech on Kickstarter, and if you feel inspired, break out that credit card and become an early backer yourself. Hey, maybe someday you’ll tap into your creative genius and start a successful Kickstarter project of your own.
PITTA - Transformative Autonomous 4K Selfie Drone
ARC: The Ultimate Minimal, Dimmable LED Bulb
The Swedish design team behind FLYTE previously created a levitating lightbulb, and for their new project on Kickstarter, they actually flew an LED bulb 100,000 feet into space with a weather balloon to see if it would survive. It did. Needless to say, the team has rethought LED lights to make them more desirable, affordable, and durable — this is one bulb virtually anyone could use.
EVO Planner: The World's First Personalized Flow System
Everyone from celebrity bloggers to struggle influencers seem to recommend journaling as a key to success, but the EVO team has created an app-integrated and personalized planner that lets you achieve individual success based on what makes you happy. Using a personality test and your daily routine, this app helps you feel like you’re achieving even if you’re not crammed with work. Jury’s out on whether it works or not, but the concept is a lot smarter than working yourself to the grave.
The Sound Reactive LED Mask
View this video on YouTube
We’re calling it — this is what everyone will be wearing at Coachella 2020. No matter how you feel about music festival trends, this LED mask from Outline Montreal is undeniably cool (and also kind of creepy in a really good way). The mask reacts to the music, with neon-colored lights that dance to the beat. It definitely beats flower crowns.
Fund it on Kickstarter here.
FITT360 - The First 360° Neckband Wearable Camera
Linkflow Inc. has come up with a new way to capture 360 video that doesn’t even involve using your hands. This clever device is worn around your neck, and it captures 360 degrees of wherever you are. It’s perfect for action sports or just a hands-free insight into your daily world.
Belle: AI Doorbell That Talks to and Handle Your Visitors
Waiting 45 mins for your Seamless order to arrive can cause real doorbell anxiety, and the Netvue team might have been inspired by waiting for takeout when they came up with this device. This A.I. doorbell talks to your visitors, can let in scheduled arrivals for you, and also allows you to FaceTime people on your doorstep through your phone. Now you don’t even have to get off the couch to get your food.
