Kickstarter DACH Launch

In 2015, Kickstarter, world’s first crowdfunding platform for creative projects, made a strategic move to expand beyond the U.S., starting with one of Europe’s most creative and diverse markets: Germany. As a former Kickstarter creator myself, I found myself in a unique position – someone who had firsthand experience with the platform, understood its inner workings, and spoke the language of local creators.

What began as a six-week sprint with a two-person team quickly became a one-woman mission to introduce Kickstarter to the German-speaking creative world and support a whole ecosystem of artists, makers, cultural producers, and early-stage founders.

At the core of my work was the belief that access to capital shouldn’t be reserved for those who can navigate state grants or traditional gatekeepers. Kickstarter offered an alternative – community-powered and independent – and I made it my job to help people tap into that.

Project Overview

Client: Kickstarter PBC

My role: Community Lead DACH

Timeline: April 2015 – June 2017

My Focus Areas

  • Communication Strategy

  • Talent scouting for early-stage creators ready to crowdfund

  • Strategic partnerships with universities, accelerators & community hubs

  • Event hosting – from grassroots meetups to high-end super backer evenings

  • Campaign coaching – helping creators shape compelling, successful campaigns

  • Content and localization – reviewing the German site translation, co-creating resources, and recording webinars

Key Accomplishments

  • 113 projects launched within the first 19 hours after Kickstarter went live in Germany

  • Delivered 80+ talks and workshops across Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Denmark

  • Helped shift the narrative away from just tech and gaming, and amplified artists, cultural creators, and activists

  • Established lasting partnerships with creative universities and coworking spaces to provide long-term support

  • Kickstarted a network of community builders in second-tier cities like Bielefeld, Leipzig, and Osnabrück – where enthusiasm was unmatched and often underserved by major international brands

  • Crafted strategic entry points for new creators, even years after leaving my role

My Takeaways

Helping hundreds of creators bring their projects to life was one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. It taught me a lot about what resonates in communication, how to design meaningful events, and what people need to feel confident enough to launch.

But it also revealed some hard truths – travel-heavy work takes a toll, and I eventually burned out. That experience has deeply shaped the way I work today: slower, more intentional, and always aligned with my values.

Sustainability Impact

Traditional funding is often exclusive, complex, and classist. Kickstarter opened the door to more equitable access to capital, making it possible for creators without institutional backing to bring their ideas into the world – with the support of their communities (SDG10).