There is a lot of buzz about crowdfunding scientific projects, but how successful are these campaigns? This is not an easy question, since scientists have numerous different crowdfunding platforms to choose from.
When browsing through the latest state-of-the-art scientific projects that are gathering funds through crowdfunding, several of them caught my attention. Despite the fact that there is a lot of excellent campaigns out there I have decided to have a closer look at five of them. These are still ongoing campaigns and they have exceeded their primary financial goal. This means that stretch goals have been set, which are additional goals added by creators of the campaign.
Besides their financial success, I also took into account the campaign's recognition by the media and of course the overall idea of the project.
Crowdfunding site: Kickstarter
Due date: 10th of December 2015
Goal: $100,000
Raised: 345%
The Grove Ecosystem is a bookshelf-size indoor garden that makes it possible to grow fresh food year round. It uses fish, plants, and beneficial microbes to reliably grow vegetables, herbs, and small fruits. You can control and automate the Ecosystem through the mobile app and Grove OS.
Crowdfunding site: Kickstarter
Due date: 19th of December 2015
Goal: $50,000
Raised: 286%
Based on over 15 years of scientific research from Harvard Medical School, NASA, and the NIH, Ario delivers lighting optimized for your health. Ario is a WiFi connected lamp and lighting system that mimics the light of the sun to keep your body clock in sync and improve health. Ario uses advanced LED technology and cloud connectivity.
Crowdfunding site: Experiment
Due date: 19th of December 2015
Goal: $6,000
Raised: 274%
A team of biohackers is developing the first open source protocol to produce insulin simply and economically. Their work may serve as a basis for generic production of this life-saving drug and provide a firmer foundation for continued research into improved versions of insulin.
Crowdfunding site: Kickstarter
Due date: 19th of December 2015
Goal: $80,000
Raised: 144%
OpenBCI is an open-source platform of hardware and software tools that makes it possible to measure, analyze, and utilize the human body’s electrical signals. The OpenBCI system can measure brain data (EEG), muscle data (EMG), heart activity (ECG), etc. The campaign is featuring two new OpenBCI Products, the OpenBCI Ganglion Board & the Ultracortex Mark IV. The OpenBCI Ganglion Board is perfect for novice biohackers, students, neurofeedback, and low-cost research. The Ultracortex Mark IV is the next edition of the Ultracortex—a comfortable, adjustable, and 3D-printable EEG headset, compatible with all of the OpenBCI boards.
Crowdfunding site: Indiegogo
Due date: 23rd of December 2015
Goal: $100,000
Raised: 135%
HomeBiogas is a family-sized affordable biogas system. It converts any organic waste into clean cooking gas and a high quality liquid fertilizer for the garden. Your kitchen leftovers can turn into 3 hours of cooking per day.
In most cases just having a great idea is not enough to achieve your goal. You need to build a community way before the campaign has been launched. It is impossible to succeed without the substantial effort that is put into promotion during the campaign. But at the end you get to know amazing people that support your idea and when you look back you know it has been worth all the effort. Congratulations to everyone who succeeded! We hope that our Open Source Scientific Notebook – sciNote will join the list of successfully funded projects as well.
Are you also thinking about crowdfunding your next scientific project?
Blazka Orel, MSc
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