Indiegogo

Indiegogo is an American crowdfunding website founded in 2008 by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell. The platform is headquartered in San Francisco, California. Indiegogo facilitates online fundraising for a wide array of creative, entrepreneurial, and cause-related projects.

Founders

Danae Ringelmann

Danae Ringelmann is one of the co-founders of Indiegogo. She has been an advocate for democratizing the fundraising process, allowing entrepreneurs and creators from all walks of life to bring their ideas to fruition. Ringelmann's vision for Indiegogo was driven by her experiences in the finance industry, where she witnessed numerous promising projects fail to secure funding through traditional means.

Slava Rubin

Slava Rubin is another co-founder of Indiegogo and played a crucial role in shaping the platform's growth and strategy. Rubin's expertise in entrepreneurship and marketing helped Indiegogo stand out in the competitive crowdfunding market. He has been a vocal advocate for the potential of crowdfunding to disrupt traditional venture capital and financing models.

Eric Schell

Eric Schell, the third co-founder of Indiegogo, brought his expertise in technology and platform development to the table. Schell's contributions were pivotal in building a user-friendly and scalable platform that could handle the diverse needs of campaigners and backers alike.

Platform Features

Funding Models

Indiegogo offers two main types of funding models:

Fixed Funding: This model allows campaigners to set a specific fundraising goal. If the goal is not met, the funds are returned to the backers.
Flexible Funding: In this model, campaigners can keep any funds raised even if the target goal is not achieved. This option is useful for projects that can proceed with partial funding.

InDemand

One of Indiegogo's unique features is InDemand, which allows successful campaigners to continue raising funds even after their initial campaign has ended. This feature is particularly popular among tech startups and creators who need ongoing support.

Perks

Campaigners on Indiegogo often offer "perks" to their backers. These can range from simple thank-you notes to exclusive products and experiences related to the project. The perk system helps incentivize backers to contribute more to the campaign.

Impact and Notable Campaigns

Indiegogo has been instrumental in bringing several high-profile projects to life. Some notable campaigns include:

Bug-A-Salt: A product designed to eliminate insects using table salt, which gained significant popularity through its Indiegogo campaign.
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night: An independent film that gained critical acclaim and was partially funded through Indiegogo.
GPD Win: A handheld gaming PC that garnered substantial backing from tech enthusiasts.

Challenges and Controversies

While Indiegogo has been a platform for numerous success stories, it has also faced challenges. Some campaigns have failed to deliver on their promises, leading to dissatisfaction among backers. The platform has made efforts to mitigate these risks by offering more transparent project guidelines and introducing guaranteed delivery options.