Next Wave Fund: Google and Kickstarter launch a new program to power the next generation of tech innovation

Today, Google and Kickstarter are launching Next Wave Fund, a joint initiative designed to give early-stage tech startups the funding, business tools, and guidance they need to launch and grow.

The program is open to tech startup founders and small business owners who are building innovative products in hardware, software, gaming, or connected technology.

Selected applicants will be guided through the same journey many successful entrepreneurs have taken before them: leveraging crowdfunding to launch, fund and build a community around their ideas and then using Google’s tools to grow and scale their businesses.

Each recipient of the Next Wave Fund will receive a support package that includes:

• Hands-on guidance from Kickstarter’s Design & Technology team to prepare for a successful crowdfunding campaign — from strategy and positioning to launch execution and community engagement.
• A $10,000 pledge toward their funding goal when their project goes live on Kickstarter.
• No-cost access to training designed and taught by experts at Google, such as the Google AI Professional Certificate and workshops led by Grow with Google Coaches. 
• Access to Kickstarter’s community forum for entrepreneurs in the design and technology spaces.
• Opportunities for marketing exposure and promotion throughout the program, including promotion of their crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter’s newsletter and social channels.
• Opportunity to apply to join Google Accelerators as their business grows and scales.

More details about eligibility and the selection process can be found here.

Courtney Brown Warren, Kickstarter’s Chief Marketing Officer, added,

“This partnership reflects a shared belief: by helping entrepreneurs bring new ideas into the world and giving them the tools they need to be successful, we’ll strengthen the creative and economic fabric around all of us. We can’t wait to see what these entrepreneurs build with the support of platforms and communities that believe in them. We’re thrilled to partner with Google on this.”

There are more than 150 million startups in the world today, and small businesses make up more than 90% of all businesses globally. These companies are the backbone of our economies and communities, and for years, they have turned to Google and Kickstarter to access the resources and communities they need to grow. The Next Wave Fund builds on that foundation, bringing Kickstarter and Google’s ecosystems together in support of entrepreneurship.

The Next Wave Fund is the latest addition to Kickstarter’s Forward Funds program, an effort that invites foundations, nonprofits, and organizations to back Kickstarter projects aligned with their visions and missions.

Interested in applying but want to learn more about what it takes to run a successful Kickstarter campaign? Join our webinar on June 2 to hear from Kickstarter’s Design & Technology team on what it takes to create a successful crowdfunding campaign — a great starting point for anyone considering applying to the Next Wave Fund.