What Happened to Kickstarter?

Kickstarter, PBC, launched on April 28, 2009, by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler, revolutionized how creative projects secure funding by connecting creators directly with backers. Operating on an 'all-or-nothing' model, projects must reach their funding goal within a set timeframe to receive any money, otherwise, no funds are collected. In 2015, Kickstarter solidified its commitment to social responsibility by becoming a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), legally requiring it to balance profit with social good.

After a period of significant growth, marked by successful campaigns like the Pebble smartwatch, Kickstarter faced increasing competition and a decline in revenue, which was down 20% year-over-year by late 2022. The company appointed Everette Taylor as CEO in late 2022, who spearheaded a turnaround strategy. Under his leadership, Kickstarter experienced its 'biggest year in history' in 2025, both in terms of revenue and dollars spent on the platform. This resurgence has been partly attributed to a surge in AI-powered projects, with Taylor anticipating a continued 'explosion' in this area for 2026.

Kickstarter has also been a pioneer in workplace practices. In 2020, its employees formed Kickstarter United, becoming the first modern tech company in the United States to unionize. The union ratified its first collective bargaining agreement in 2022. The company also implemented a four-day workweek as a pilot in April 2022, which CEO Taylor credited in March 2026 for driving productivity, increasing employee engagement by 50%, and improving objective achievement from 70% to 90%.

However, labor relations remained contentious. In late 2025, unionized employees went on a 42-day strike over stalled negotiations for their latest contract, seeking to codify the four-day workweek and establish a higher salary floor tied to the cost of living. The strike concluded in November 2025 with the union ratifying a historic contract that included these demands, along with strong protections against AI replacing workers. Despite this victory, in February 2026, Kickstarter management announced the termination of four union members and forced several others out of the bargaining unit, which the union claimed was retaliation for the strike. Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges were subsequently filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Strategically, Kickstarter announced plans in December 2021 to support the development of a decentralized crowdfunding protocol on the Celo blockchain, aiming to enable projects to be launched anywhere on the web. This announcement faced significant user backlash due to environmental and ethical concerns associated with cryptocurrency. By June 2023, Kickstarter had pulled back on its full commitment to moving to the blockchain, though it stated it would continue exploring the technology's potential. As of May 2026, Kickstarter remains a vital platform for creative funding, with categories like games, design, and technology consistently performing strongly. The video games category, in particular, has seen a robust start to 2026, with several campaigns raising significant funds, including the 'Official Cyberpunk Trading Card Game' becoming the most funded tabletop game in crowdfunding history.