The app was aimed at users who create and back projects and was the first time Kickstarter had an official mobile presence. On February 14, 2013, Kickstarter released an iOS app called Kickstarter for the iPhone. The company is based at 58 Kent Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, housed in part of the former Eberhard Faber Pencil Factory. Kickstarter reportedly raised $10 million funding from backers including NYC-based venture firm Union Square Ventures and angel investors such as Jack Dorsey, Zach Klein and Caterina Fake. Time named it one of the 'Best Inventions of 2010' and 'Best Websites of 2011'. The New York Times called Kickstarter 'the people's NEA'. Kickstarter launched on April 28, 2009, by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler. This model traces its roots to subscription model of arts patronage, where artists would go directly to their audiences to fund their work. People who back Kickstarter projects are offered tangible rewards or experiences in exchange for their pledges. As of July 2021, Kickstarter has received nearly $6 billion in pledges from 20 million backers to fund 205,000 projects, such as films, music, stage shows, comics, journalism, video games, technology, publishing, and food-related projects. The company's stated mission is to 'help bring creative projects to life'. Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. 140 employees (before May 2020 40% staff reduction) : 1

Kickstart app