Yancey Strickler, the co-founder of Kickstarter, on what advertising can’t buy
Jun 17, 2020
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Yancey Strickler, co-founder of Kickstarter, discusses the platform's success through community support and creativity. Topics include Bentoism philosophy, redefining value beyond financial gain, and the shift towards authentic online content creation in micro-communities.
Kickstarter thrives on community and creativity, embracing value beyond financial gains.
Yancey Strickler introduces Bentoism, emphasizing a more holistic view of value creation.
Deep dives
Kickstarter: A Platform for Independent Creators
Kickstarter emerged during the Great Recession as a platform for artists like Allison Weiss to raise funds for creative projects. By sidestepping traditional funding avenues, artists could turn to their communities for support, exemplified by Weiss meeting her funding goal through 205 backers. Kickstarter's impact extended beyond project completion, fostering a new economy built on communal generosity and creating a unique space for creators to thrive.
Origins of Kickstarter and Crowdfunding Concept
Kickstarter's inception stemmed from Perry Chen's 2001 idea, aiming to crowdfund a concert. Co-founders Perry, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler honed this concept into Kickstarter, connecting artistic visionaries directly with backers. The platform's launch after eight years evolved crowdfunding into a mechanism for empowering independent artists, diverging from conventional profit-driven models.
Evolution of Kickstarter's Business Model
Kickstarter's differentiation in the startup world emerged through its public benefit corporation status, prioritizing societal impact alongside financial gains. This ethos revolutionized the constraints of profit-maximization, signaling a shift towards a more holistic view of value creation. By challenging the notion of shareholder primacy, Kickstarter highlighted the potential for business to serve broader community interests.
The Dark Forest of the Internet and Vulnerability
The internet's shift towards private micro-communities reflects a 'dark forest' effect, where users retreat from public platforms due to fears of vulnerability and exploitation. Yancey Strickler's metaphor highlights the challenges of authentic self-expression online, contrasting the past allure of digital openness with current apprehensions. Embracing vulnerability in an increasingly judgmental digital landscape poses a complex societal conundrum, prompting critical reflections on the evolving nature of online interactions.
Damian chats to Yancey Strickler, co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter, about how the notorious crowdfunding platform thrives on what money can’t buy: community, word of mouth and creating for creation’s sake. The pair discuss metamodernist philosophy, what it means to have “value” and Yancey introduces us to Bentoism – which features in his book This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World.