Hey, Backerjack readers! We’ve been covering the best — and some of the less-than-best — in crowdfunded and preorder gadgets since the beginning of last year. Now, we’d like to ask for a bit of feedback to understand you a bit better. We’ve got four quick questions following the break. We’re not asking for a dime, but the only reward tier we’re offering is a better experience, so please help build a better Backerjack by clicking through to the post. Thanks!
Category: Announcements
It’s no surprise that the record for most-funded Kickstarter project was set — twice — by Pebble, a pioneer in smartwatches. After all, wearables require a level of imagination, attention to personal style and leading-edge tech that have been the hallmark of crowdfunded projects.
Part of the Product Innovation Pipeline Report series produced by Reticle Research, the latest Wearables report includes complete campaign data and profiles for all wearables featured on Backerjack in the fourth quarter of 2014. Those 45 curated projects, which include smartwatches, child locators, video glasses, pet finders, and stress management products, are essential to understanding innovation happening in the red-hot field of wearables.
For over a year, Backerjack has been the only editorial Web site devoted exclusively to covering the world of crowdfunded product innovation. The campaigns that we’ve focused on include cutting-edge ideas in many different product categories. But retailers, manufacturers, and investors who want to track these products need more to tap fully into the promise of open innovation.
Introducing the Product Innovation Pipeline Reports. PIPR reports cut through the clutter to curate the most innovative physical products in specific categories along with detailed data that provide clues about consumer demand before products are even available. Consistent across Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other platforms, this data includes:
- total funds raised
- total number of backers
- campaign creator and location
- product pricing
- whether the campaign was successful
In addition, each report includes independent profiles of products with links back to the original campaign and company Web site. PIPR reports reveal what could unlock the next product opportunity to drive hundreds of millions of dollars.
The first two reports cover digital imaging — an area of keen interest for any professionals selling or investing in smartphones or digital SLRs and their accessories — for the first two quarters of 2014. The Q3 report will be available soon, and the Q4 report later by March. Many of these products that were funded in the first half of 2014 are just coming into production now and are seeking distribution,
Stay tuned for many more reports launching in the coming months.
As 2014 winds down, we’re excited to announce a new initiative that we’re going to carry into 2015 and hopefully beyond. Co-hosted by Ross Rubin and TUAW editor Steve Sande, the first episode of the Backerjack podcast includes discussion of five recent projects featured on the site:
- BeOn smart lighting system
- SoundRacer VX engine effects creator
- Blossom smart sprinkler system
- Nudge notification wearable
- Piconizer iPhone photo backup device
There’s a bit of audio weirdness that we plan to clean up in the next episode. And, of course, we’ll be submitting it to iTunes soon. But for now, feel free to enjoy the podcast below!
We can’t wait to hear what you think. Also, remember to follow Backerjack on Twitter and Facebook as well as at our new homes on Pinterest and LinkedIn.
Update: The product search submission period has now ended.
Backerjack is a leading source for people to learn about the latest products being brought to market through crowdfunding and pre-orders. Unfortunately, though, many product ideas don’t make it to market because the inventors lack the expertise, funds or other resources to see them through. Sometimes, products don’t win enough support from the community. And sometimes, even successfully crowdfunded products hit roadblocks that prevent them from ever coming to market.