Top 12 Entrepreneurial Campaigns of 2012

December 21, 2012 · Behind The Scenes

Top 12 Entrepreneurial Campaigns of 2012

Indiegogo would like to celebrate the following campaigns in our Entrepreneurial category, which includes Food, Small Business, Sports, and Technology. The great ideas and solid execution of these campaigns have earned them a spot in the top 12 Entrepreneurial campaigns of 2012:

Who Gives A Crap – toilet paper that builds toilets

Location: Melbourne, Australia

This campaign centered on an incredible, viral idea: The campaigner said he was going to sit on the toilet (and live stream it) until his campaign raised $50,000. 50 hilarious (for us at least) and sleepless hours later, the campaign hit its goal, and Simon could get off his throne.

Uwingu – A New Way to Fund Space Exploration, Research, and Education

Location: Boulder, Colorado

With cost cutting occurring across most government programs, NASA’s budget is threatened more than ever. The team behind Uwingu decided to launch a campaign to begin a movement to create alternative funding resources for our future in space.

Yellow Jacket iPhone stun gun case

Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The name of this campaign says it all. Now, instead of getting your iPhone stolen, you could use it for self-defense.

MUSE: The Brain-Sensing Headband

Location: Toronto, Canada

Ever wonder what’s really on your mind? The Muse headband allows you to monitor your brain’s activity — and has limitless applications in gaming, appliances, and more.

GOOD SPREAD PEANUT BUTTER

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

The combination of peanut butter, a great pitch video, and an awesome cause behind the business model made this campaign a knockout success. Now, you just need to find some jelly.

Fanado Goes Mobile

Location: Los Angeles, California

Margaret Atwood led this campaign to create an app that connects fans directly with the talented artists they love. They sailed past their goal, and someone claimed a $10,000 perk that will earn themselves a spot in one of Atwood’s upcoming novels!

Let’s Build a Goddamn Tesla Museum

Location: Shoreham, New York

The Oatmeal’s Matthew Inman returned to Indiegogo for his second campaign — this time to raise money to help purchase Nikola Tesla’s old laboratory. Not only did he secure a matching loan from the State of New York for $850,00, but he also set an Indiegogo record of $1,370,461 in total funding.

BRIGHT Solar Lamp & Phone Charger

Location: Oslo, Norway

This groundbreaking product was designed to give people in developing communities a sustainable light and energy source — while also providing wider appeal to everyone from campers to college students. $54,583 raised from 344 contributors means that this campaigner can start bringing light to the world!

Landwerk – Wie heisst dein Landwirt?

Location: Berlin, Germany

This campaign looks to connect small farmers and consumers via the Internet. Think of it like an online farmers market! As one of our Gründer-Garage campaigns, this campaign received a EUR 10,000 matching fund contribution from Google. On the campaign page, scroll down for the English translation of the pitch!

ELIOOO. Grow Your Food

Location: Zurich, Switzerland

This campaigner wants to show you how to turn your house into a garden by creating hydroponics systems out of everyday IKEA parts!

EXP Restaurant & Bar – Hub for the Gaming Community

Location: Vancouver, Canada

Knowing that the gaming community is growing and in need of a place to play besides living rooms, this team in Vancouver made a plan to open a gaming bar. The local community reacted enthusiastically, and the campaign to get it started went $11,000 beyond it’s goal of $50,000.

eMAKER Huxley 3D printer kits

Location: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

This campaign led a number of successful 3D printer projects on Indiegogo that allow you to print objects. Their creative power is a pretty good metaphor for crowdfunding itself!