The Creative Download: The Trends Shaping Creativity, Innovation & Crowdfunding

Since 2009, Kickstarter has seen a lot of big numbers: More than 654,000 crowdfunding campaigns launched. More than $8.5 billion pledged. More than 23 million backers putting their dollars behind ideas they believe in.

But the real story isn’t just in the numbers—it’s in what they tell us about where creativity is thriving, how independent funding is evolving, and what’s next for creators and backers. That’s why we created The Creative Download—Kickstarter’s annual report that breaks down the biggest trends, ideas, and movements shaping creative crowdfunding.

The second edition of The Creative Download, launching today, looks back at the 35,512 projects that came to life on Kickstarter in 2024—more than any other creative crowdfunding platform. By dropping in March, when the dust has settled on the previous year, we’re able to offer a clearer view of the lasting impact of these projects and the creative shifts that are shaping the future.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside:

🔥 $706M pledged to successfully funded projects

🎭 Funding to the Theatre category surged 61%–worthy of a standing ovation, for sure 

🎮 Tabletop and Video Games hit record-breaking highs–with an 80% success rate for TTGs and highest number of successful video games in our 15-year history.

📚 The #TikTok effect shook up our Publishing category, fueling major growth in deluxe editions

🌍 New creative hotspots emerged–Berlin and Denver joined the ranks of Kickstarter’s top 20 cities for project launches

🔎 Our top 5 most-searched terms that had backers buzzing

📈 The categories that saw the most first-time Kickstarter creators–and the most million-dollar projects & more

When creators and backers have the chance to come together, big ideas turn into big moments, big numbers, and big success. We can’t wait to see what ideas and what trends our community will bring to life next.

Stay tuned, stay inspired and let’s keep creating.