ITM301 Principles of Information Systems in Business and Organizations 

Assignment Expectations

You are to produce an analysis of Kickstarter. In doing this analysis you will answer the questions asked.  Use a table to show the Kickstarter offerings and the number of backers. Then discuss these pledges and why this crowdfunding is of advantage to entrepreneurs. Using several products compare the type of information the entrepreneur needs to get funding and discuss if you would invest or recommend to others. In 3 or 4 pages, provide your discussion and analysis—we encourage the use of spreadsheets and tables to justify your response.

Go to Kickstarter.com and look at the various project categories. Select a category and a project of interest to you. Provide a description for one of your selected projects, including the offerings and number of backers. Discuss the pledges, the amounts of the pledges, and the numbers of people for different pledge amounts. What does the pledge amount tell you about the motivation of the customers?

Explain why crowdfunding may be advantageous to new entrepreneurs. How does Kickstarter seek to build a community for the entrepreneurs?

What information must an entrepreneur provide to get funding? How does Kickstarter manage the collection and transfer of pledges? Would you use this site yourself or recommend it to others?

Sample Solution

One project of interest in the Technology category on Kickstarter is the “Pulse Oximeter – Non-invasive Measurement of Blood Oxygen & Heart Rate” project. The product offers non-invasive measurement of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate with a compact and easy-to-use device. The project had a goal of $20,000 and received $28,939 in funding from 659 backers.

The pledges for this project range from $1 to $300, with the most popular pledge amount being $69 for the Pulse Oximeter device. The pledge amount of $69 shows that the customers are motivated by getting a functional and affordable device for their personal use. The second most popular pledge amount was $139, which included two Pulse Oximeters and showed that the customers are motivated by getting a good value for their money.

Crowdfunding through platforms like Kickstarter can be advantageous to new entrepreneurs in several ways. Firstly, it provides a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and products to a large audience, thereby increasing visibility and exposure. Secondly, crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs to raise capital without having to go through traditional funding sources such as banks or venture capital firms. This can be especially beneficial for entrepreneurs who may not have the necessary collateral or credit history to secure a loan. Additionally, crowdfunding also allows entrepreneurs to gauge the market demand for their product and make necessary changes or improvements based on the feedback they…Order a customized and more comprehensive answer here