Crowdfunding giant Kickstarter launches in the Asian market today, allowing entrepreneurs from both Hong Kong and Singapore to raise funds on the site.
Today’s debut is the site’s first foray into Asia after running 18 successful sites in the UK, Australia and North America. Fundraising goals can now be set in Hong Kong and Singapore dollars and raise funds from investors in their home market.
CEO and co-founder Yancey Strickler said in a blog post:
“As one of the most exciting regions for emerging creative culture and innovation, we’re thrilled to begin to support creators in Asia.”
Kickstarter is one of the world’s biggest crowdfunding sites, allowing entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses and ideas online and ask for backing from investors. The site has raised $2,574,267,825 so far and successfully funded 111,338 projects.
Projects have had varying degrees of success; in 2014, a man from Ohio received $55,000 after asking for $10 to make a potato salad, however the Zano mini drone raised £2.3 million but then failed to launch a product.