If you’re not already familiar with it, Kickstarter is a website through which you can crowd-source initial funding for a business idea or concept. Anyone can contribute a small investment in your idea, and receive something in return – the more you contribute, the better the reward is.
If a project meets the total investment target set, it goes ahead. If not, everyone gets their money back. People have different opinions about whether Kickstarter is a good idea. Earlier this year, Frank Chimero generated over $100,000 in funding for his new book – something that sparked a discussion about whether Kickstarter is appropriate for creative projects such as this.
Personally, I think it’s a fantastic idea. But why bring Kickstarter up in the context of AppStorm? Read on to find out…
Introducing Dialoggs
Dialoggs is a new social network concept – coupled with a beautiful app – that is currently looking for funding over on Kickstarter. Drew Wilson, the creator, is aiming for an investment of $15,000 and currently has over $3,000 pledged at the time of writing.
It’s certainly an interesting concept, aiming to fill the gap between Twitter, iChat, and Tumblr. It’s “more than just status updates, and it’s much more than a static blog with comments”. Dialoggs aims to offer realtime communication that is permanently stored and (optionally) publicly available.
Dialoggs is a beautiful-looking app
I’ll let you head over to the site and watch the video for a full explanation of what Drew is aiming to do. He has some lofty goals, but the general idea is certainly an interesting one. I’d love to give Dialoggs a try if it ever comes to be!
Other Apps & Products on Kickstarter
Although Dialoggs caught my eye recently, it certainly isn’t the only product you might be interested in checking out on Kickstarter. Here are a few others to pique your interest:
- Taposé – Taposé brings the once hyped Microsoft Courier functionality to the iPad. It’s a fun-looking app!
- “Full Metal Jacket Diary” – iPad App – An effort to turn the Full Metal Jacket Diary into an immersive experience on the iPad.
- Bendi – An iPad Stand Exactly Where You Want – Bendi allows you to position your iPad however you want, using a strong suction system. Flexible!
- iPad 2 Smart Shell: A Case Compatible w/ Apple Smart Covers – A sleek looking protector for the rear of your iPad 2, designed to work in conjunction with a smart cover.
Would You Back an App?
Using Kickstarter to fund the development of an app is an interesting concept. Embarking on a software development project isn’t something to be taken lightly – it takes time, money, and lots of expertise. Not to mention the risk that demand may not reach your expectations after you unveil your creation.
I’m all in favour of developers using platforms such as Kickstarter to get a head start on a new project. It gives them a chance to test the market demand for their app, receive initial feedback from potential users, and fund the time and expense require to embark on the development journey.
But would you back an application before a single line of code has been written? Obviously there’s an inherent risk that the software may never see the light of day, or that it may not live up to your expectations.
Of course every individual project should be judged on its own merit, but I’d say that this is a worthwhile risk on the whole – especially if you’re only pledging a few dollars. The chance to support a developer embarking on a new application is an exciting one, and something definitely worth considering!
Would this be something you’d think about doing? If so, why/why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.