Kickstarter is a great site for crowdfunding, but it's also a wonderful way to support people who are creating awesome tech. Find out more about the crowdfunding site, as well as our top tech picks from Kickstarter this month.
What is Kickstarter?
Kickstarter is a well-established crowdfunding website, where individuals and businesses can post their ideas and products to a huge community of people, in the hopes that they’ll pledge money to make their ideas happen.
Project creators post thousands of new and original ideas on Kickstarter each day, hoping to get enough pledges from people to reach their funding goal. If the project reaches its funding goal, then the backers get charged and the project creator gets to work. If it doesn’t reach the goal, then the backers don’t get charged a penny.
Kickstarter is a great way to crowdfund your next project or idea; we wrote an article all about it. But it’s also a great way to fund the latest and greatest technology out there, and even get new tech at a fraction of the price. A lot of project creators offer rewards to the people who back their projects, and often these rewards include their products at a discounted price.
So what can I back on Kickstarter?
There’s a huge range of projects that you can back on Kickstarter; everything from books, pet toys, household products to classes, services and events. Remember, you aren’t charged unless the project hits its funding target, but it’s still worth looking at the project carefully and ensuring you feel confident in the creator before you pledge.
Our top picks on Kickstarter in February
Plug&Play Smart Solar Panel - Fully Funded, Kickstarter ends on February 15th
Project creator Craftstrom states that The Smart Solar Panel is, ‘the first true plug and play solar panel’. They state that this solar panel, which includes smart energy storage can be plugged into standard power outlets and provide you with renewable energy without any permission or electrician needed.
According to Craftstrom, ‘As you produce solar electricity, it enters your home through the standard power outlet and is split up between any appliances using power and the home battery. You control how much is used immediately and how much is saved for later, using the CraftStrom App. Use your power when you need it!’.
NadPen - Part funded, Kickstarter ends on February 16th
NadPen is a stylus adapted for multiple grips, with an interchangeable tip for different mobile devices. Project creator Lydia Dawley created the NadPen in 2009, as due to her Mixed Cerebral Palsy she was unable to use any of the styluses that were available.
According to Lydia, ‘The reason why I wanted to share my stylus is I want other people who might have fine motor issues to have an easier time to get access to technology because I know the struggle of not being able to push a button with my fingers.’
iC-R-A True Smart Motorcycle Helmet - Part funded, Kickstarter ends on February 14th
iC-R-A True Smart Motorcycle Helmet is a motorcycle helmet which, 'eliminates blind spots' for riders. According to their Kickstarter, Intelligent Cranium Helmets (ICH) ' solved this problem by integrating custom and currently available technologies into a motorcycle helmet that alerts and allows the rider to see danger before it’s too late.'
The helmets also feature bluetooth connectivity, an Emergency Services Alert System (ESAS) and a Heads Up Display (HUD) so you can see the speed you're travelling at easily, without looking away from the road.
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