Welcome back to the Funding Insider Top Kickstarter Projects series!

This time, we’ll be taking a look at the hottest projects of the summer and what elements are driving their success.

#1. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium Set

Coming in at #1 with over 2 million dollars raised so far is the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Compendium Set.

 

If you’re familiar with what sells and what doesn’t on Kickstarter, this should come as no real surprise to you.

 

The comic book and tabletop scene is alive and well on Kickstarter, and with a beloved IP like G.I. Joe, this project was bound to blow up.

 

But a powerful IP alone does not make a 2 mil. + Kickstarter project. This campaign also has a long list of stretch goals.

Stretch goals can be quite hit or miss. But when used with a campaign with enough momentum behind it, stretch goals are a great way to push you further and further.

 

#2. Terraria: The Board Game

Coming in at number 2 on our list with over 1.5 million dollars in funding is Terraria: The Board Game.

 

Much like #1, Terraria is a common success story of a popular IP launching a product very much in Kickstarter’s niche.

 

This project also has stretch goals, but have you ever heard of Social Goals?

Much like stretch goals, social goals unlock after reaching a certain amount of likes, follows, or other metric of engagement on social media. 

Using social goals to your advantage can help drive engagement and unlock free marketing for your campaign, so don’t be afraid to try it out!

#3. Micron: A Desktop SLS 3D Printer

Coming in at number 3 with over 1.3 million dollars in funding is Micron: A Desktop SLS 3D Printer.

 

Though not quite as massive a category as tabletop games, Kickstarter also has a sizable 3D printer community. In that sense, Micron is similar to the other projects in the 1 million club this summer for having found the right community.

 

But one thing Micron does exceptionally well is its use of YouTube reviews.

We’ve talked before about how YouTube reviews are a major way to get prospective backers to build faith in your brand.

 

For this project in particular, it’s worth noting that 3D printers are a high-tech industry and expert influencers have a lot of sway. If you’re planning to launch a project in a similar industry, it may be worth spending the extra money on having the best of the best review your product. 

 

#4. Rokin AR Lite, Your First AR Glasses for Spatial Computing

Rokid AR Lite is number 4 on our list with over 20 days left on their campaign and just 100 grand short of reaching the 1 million club.

 

This is a rare case where the project really speaks for itself. It’s been well over a decade since Google Glass was a thing, and now the tech scene has rebounded to a place where not only is this technology cool and innovative, but also actually possible.

 

One thing we like about the Rokid campaign is how they repurposed the product comparison chart. 

With a product like AR glasses, there are powerful competitors with a lot of momentum behind them. So having a stylish chart to indicate just how your product is different can help convince backers to spring for your campaign.

 

#5. MELLO The World’s Sleekest High-Speed Charger 180+ Countries

With over 450,000 dollars in funding, last on our list is MELLO: The World’s Sleekest High-Speed Charger.

 

This mobile charger is for anyone with chargeable electronics—and these days that means everyone! And with a low price point of just 50 dollars, it’s easy to see why this product is so popular.

 

One thing we love about MELLO is its special Father’s Day reward package.

This product is a great gift for all of the dads out there. And with a cleverly named reward package, the buyer is given the slightest push to spend extra money on their backing. It’s a brilliant idea, and judging by how they’ve sold almost all of their Father’s Day Special rewards, it’s obviously worked very well for them.

That’s all for our best Kickstarter projects of Summer 2024! See you soon for the next one!