# Crowdfunding Creative Projects Kickstarter Helps Aspiring Da Vincis Meet Their Mini-Medicis By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-08-25 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kickstarter References: [nytimes](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/technology/start-ups/25kick.html?_r=2&th&emc=th) & [kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/) Creatives don't always have the cash flow to bring their ideas to fruition; [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kickstarter-2025) is an [online marketplace](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shopline) that essentially lets aspiring Da Vincis find their mini-Medicis by way of microfinancing. Just as donors help the efforts of museums and other public organizations, Kickstarter users patronize aspiring artists, musicians and inventors--even if all they have to spare are a few bucks for the cause. Among the artists the [New York Times](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reeses-book-club) profiles is Earl Scioneaux III, who used Kickstart to finance his first album: > Mr. Scioneaux, who ultimately raised $4,100, offered a range of rewards to his supporters: for a $15 payment, patrons received an advance copy of the album; for $30, they got a personal music lesson as well. A payment of $50 or more got both of those, and a seat at Mr. Scioneaux’s dinner table for a bowl of his homemade gumbo and a chance to listen to some of his studio recordings. “I didn’t expect people to be all over that one,” he said, “but it sold out almost immediately.” ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.2/10 - Popularity: 8% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Microfinancing Creative Projects:** Online marketplaces that allow microfinancing of creative projects present disruptive innovation opportunities for financial technology companies. - **Crowdfunding Rewards:** Offering creative and unique rewards for crowdfunding supporters presents disruptive innovation opportunities for marketing and advertising agencies. - **Aspiring Artist Patronage:** Patronage of aspiring artists through crowdfunding presents disruptive innovation opportunities for art-based companies. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Financial Technology:** Financial technology companies can leverage online marketplaces that allow microfinancing of creative projects to offer new financial services. - **Marketing and Advertising:** Marketing and advertising agencies can help creators to develop unique rewards for crowdfunding supporters to increase funding success. - **Art:** Art-based companies can leverage crowdfunding to support aspiring artists and promote their work to a wider audience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Crowdfunding Platform Improvements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kickstarter-2025.md) - [Culture-Focused Crowdfunding Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ntd-international-competitions.md) - [Flavored Dental Picks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dental-picks.md) - [Simple Creator Support Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buy-me-a-beer.md) - [Crowdfunding Feedback Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/feedfund.md) - [Next-Gen Crowdfunding Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indiegogo.md) - [Fan-Powered Concerts Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concertfutures.md) - [Creator-Friendly Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creatorcentric-billboard.md) - [Low-Pressure Donation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donation-apps.md)