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Crowdfunding has grown significantly over the last year or two, and given the degree of competition on Google Play currently, I’m certain a few developers have looked at it as a potential revenue model. We’ve already seen Kickstarter pledges help Teknision raise $66,804 for their Chameleon launcher for tablets.
I’m still a bit skeptical about crowdfunding, since I’ve had a couple of bad experiences. However, I’d love to know the general perception about it. Would you take part in crowdfunding an Android app? Put in your votes, and give us your more detailed responses in the comments.
[polldaddy poll=6373245]
It would have to be unique yet useful. Something that uses new tech. Not a simple game. Something that really shows the Android benefits.
^ This right here.
I’d be happy to fund an app as long as it’s unique and shows Android’s true power.
Chameleon “I’m a backer”, Same as @twitter-325781321:disqus it has to be useful which hopefully Chameleon will be if not eh $5 down the drain spent that on worse things.
I funded chameleon on kick starter. I wanted it for my nexus 7 :P I’ve actually funded tons of projects on kick starter that aren’t android related.
Crowd-funding all depends on the perspective of the one looking for funding. You can use it legitimately, or you can use it like some projects that are obviously abusing the system. The point of needing funds is to marginalize your growth by splitting start-up costs, production costs, operations cost, and enough left to gain sustainability. Certain projects on kick-starter gain huge notoriety for multiple projects, and simply use it as a page where they can sell things that they can already probably make without help, and are simply doubling their money. And its great because you can’t get too far with it because there’s a limit and you can’t really lose either because you guarantee yourself profits. Its all a scam based on how you use it. Look at the admirable projects from Cesar Harada and Kuha’o Case. And in contrast, look at the easily questionable projects by Chadwick Parker and Joe Huang, and others who simply ask for money for the most benign things. In the end, even though there will always be abusers, I think it all comes down to how well you can convince people of the value of what your talking about, and if you can do that, while of course being level headed, then you’ll pocket a good amount of money. Too bad people aren’t smart enough.
But I definitely funded Chameleon, basically I’m getting a head start on an app for the same price, with little to lose, so why not.
Raveesh, when have you not had a bad experience?
On Craigslist (my phone and tablet were both bought there), on eBay (I’ve bought most of my golfing equipment over there). Most places, in fact. I bought the PadPivot from Kickstarter, which never worked as advertised, and an iPhone-to-Android headset converter from another site that had started in the field (don’t remember the name). There was one more that I can’t remember, will add as soon as I do.
I guess I have an additional issue of location. If something goes wrong, getting it fixed is a much bigger problem for someone in India. That probably turns me away from Kickstarter more than anything.
For example, I’d have loved to buy the Pebble smartwatch, but having to wait quite a few months and then having no guarantee that it’s going to be as seamless as they claim. I’m conservative in that respect, never been an early adopter, and would rather just wait, see reviews and then put in my money.
If I’m going to invest in an app, I want some kind of return on my investment. If you need $50k and I give you $1k, I want to own 2% of it.
I’m not going to give you $20 so that you can build an app that you later sell to me for $5 (or even give to me).
The biggest issue with that is, 50K isn’t the development cost. I’m assuming you are referring to chameleon? Let’s say they had 4 developers, working 1.5 years at the poverty line (lets assume 3 people in the house), that’s $120K dev cost, and conservative at that. Add cost of test devices, call it $125K at poverty level with only saleries and test units to pay for (unlikely). At $20 investment, you own 0.00017%. You can see why they don’t bother with that.
If I had extra money I would.
I’ve Kickstarted plenty of things and no misfires yet.
The big key is to be harsh going in. You can’t just say ‘does this sound cool?’, because most of them do.
Look at what they’re promising, consider whether it’s feasible, look at what they have to offer already, look at their past record, consider whether they can deliver what they’re promising. Most things fail that, so I don’t fund. But so far 100% success with those criteria. Of course I’ve got some still in the pipe (like Wasteland 2) that could fail, but I don’t think they will.
I check out KickStarter almost everyday. I also have one up now. A Technology Magazine called “Tech Together” http://kck.st/LSjwZr (back me now!) I also have a tech website on the way with the success of this project. The only bad part of these websites is that it is super subjective. I’ve tried to start a desktop application compatible with Android and Google much like iTunes and DoubleTwist but it was turned down 2 days later. The only reason ever given to me is that it doesn’t follow the guidelines and they are really broard. I asked and emailed but no specific reason given. The reason I like the site is because you put pride in a product that you create just for some company to own “no” you want to keep your hard work!
I regularly participate in crowd funding.
I really like kickstarter. I’ve backed quite a few things up, and only ever been worried about being burned once (and wasn’t). I think a lot of people think they are being burned by long wait times when they don’t realize that things take a while to do. The actual cases of people being burned are relatively few and far between.
for the right app yes, but ‘knowing its the right app’ would generally follow after its been made.
in general, its got to have a lot of functionality/use to bother with crowdsourcing. how are you going to get people to donate more than $5/10+ unless its crazy awesome.
MAYBE an iOS port, but theyve got to convince me they cant build it without the money first.
crowdsourcing should be one the last ways you finance the app.
and FWIW, ive backed two projects
una bobine and limbal, they are both USB charging devices with reinforced cables that allow you to orient your phone in any direction off a usb port.
Crowd-funding only if crowd-revenue-sharing.
I’m willing to help crowdfunding apps if the idea is solid.