Updated August 2025
Crowdfunding has revolutionized the way entrepreneurs and innovators bring their ideas to life. Reward-based crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo enable individuals and startups to raise millions of dollars to fund their projects through pre-orders. This blog post takes a closer look at the Top 10 reward crowdfunding projects of all time, showcasing the incredible diversity and creativity that crowdfunding has unleashed.
Startup businesses and entrepreneurs are able to raise funding in advance of actually manufacturing their products, de-risking the production process while bringing their ideas and creations to the marketplace. Early adopters and experimental consumers are able to access new products, often from previously unknown providers.
To generate over $1 million of pre-orders is definitely no easy matter, let alone $10 million. Stats provided by Kickstarter show that under 41% of projects succeed. Of those that have done, over 246,000 of them, just 0.31% raised $1 million or more. Comparable data is not provided by Indiegogo (which in July 2025 was acquired by the Polish crowdfunding platform Gamefound).
We can begin our Top 10 by confirming the Pebble Time Smartwatch is no longer the most funded reward-based crowdfunding project!
The Top 10 Reward-Based Crowdfunding Projects of All Time
- As of June 28, 2025, the biggest money generating project on Kickstarter is the eufyMake E1. It is the first personal printer that uses ultra violet technology to print textured images on 3D items. By the end of its two month campaign, 17,822 backers had pledged $46,762,258 to help bring this project to life. The initial target was for $500,000 of pre-orders. Now that they have beaten their target by 90x, we’ll keep an eye on how their supply chains and production capacity can cope. Their Kickstarter campaign, which positioned the E1 printer as ideal for hobbyists and small businesses, said deliveries would begin as soon as July 2025.
- Now dropped to second place are four secret novels by Brandon Sanderson, an award-winning author of fantasy books. These books appeal to both existing and new readers as they are stand-alone novels. As of April 2022, the project on Kickstarter had raised $41,754,153.
- The Pebble Time Smartwatch had previously shattered records on Kickstarter, raising over $20 million to prove the demand for wearable technology. It was one of the first smartwatches to gain mainstream attention.
- The Mate X is a low-cost foldable e-bike that raised $17.7 million, on the Indiegogo platform in June 2023. It also featured a display providing info on mileage, speed, battery charge, and other personalised options.
- The Babymaker e-bike raised $13.7 million from more than 9,800 backers. This unique e-bike (at the time) combined the best features of both traditional bicycles and electric bikes. It was super lightweight, and had a concealed battery with no wiring on show to possibly get in the way or snag.
Flow Hive began in Australia, and disrupted beekeeping by allowing honey to be extracted without disturbing the bees. Harvesting honey has always been a complicated process, not suitable for everyone, but Flow Hive eliminates a lot of hard work such as smoking the bees, carrying the heavy frames around and removing wax caps. This innovative system meant just adding a tap into the hive and harvesting honey directly into jars. The project raised $14.9 million on Indiegogo in 2015.- There always appears to be such a wide choice of luggage available that who would have ever thought Peak Design’s roller bags would receive $13,408,553 of pre-orders from 24,219 backers on Kickstarter, by the close of April 2025? Its Roller Pro carry-on luggage set new standards of weight and strength in a hybrid soft/hard case construction. It was particularly designed for photographers – and if it keeps their cameras and lenses safe it will be safe for pretty much any creator’s equipment. Peak Design originally expected to start shipping orders in May 2025. They have two factories producing the goods which then go to six global distribution centres. A company announcement in June said Kickstarter orders placed on a Standard Fulfilment basis will be shipped in July and August 2025. A late-July announcement apologised for late delivery to many buyers, acknowledging that they have said they feel like they’ve been deceived by Peak Design, and that their loyalty and support has been taken for granted. Once again, a project that over-achieved to such an immense degree has ended up causing reputational damage.
- The Coolest Cooler became the ultimate party accessory, featuring a built-in blender, Bluetooth speaker, and USB charger. 62,642 backers pledged $13,285,226 in 2014, and it set crowdfunding records for its wide range of features. Five years later, while still shipping original orders, it was severely affected by a 25% rise in US import tariffs on products from China that was introduced during Trump’s first term as U.S. President, and the founder announced it was going out of business. By that time, around one-third of the original crowdfunding backers were still waiting for their Coolest Cooler.
- Frosthaven. At $12,969,608, this is the most-funded Kickstarter project in the board game category. However, backers experienced significant delivery delays due to various factors, primarily the COVID-19 pandemic and global shipping issues. A digital version of the game had reached Beta stage development by March 2025.
- Ubuntu Edge is a smartphone that used Ubuntu Touch Software as well as Android tech, and it managed to raise $12.73 million from 27,633 backers in 2013. However, it was more than $19 million short of its $32 million target, and all funds were returned.
Flow HiveTwo projects dropped out of the previous Top 10 to make way for eufyMake and Peak Design. Kingdom Death Monster is a difficult board game about survival in a nightmare-horror world. Survivors fight for their lives against an onslaught of bizarre and fearsome creatures. They will use the fruits of these battles to build a fragile civilization in a place where humans are at the bottom of a monstrous ecology. It raised $12,393,139 from 19,264 backers on Kickstarter. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro had previously broken Kickstarter’s record for the most funded tech project. The portable home battery brand raised over $12,179,651 from 3,199 backers through a two-month crowdfunding campaign ending in September 2021.
Conclusion
These $10 million-plus reward crowdfunding projects represent the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of creators around the world. Some have redefined industries, solved everyday problems, and brought joy to countless people. Crowdfunding continues to be a powerful platform for turning dreams into reality, proving that with the support of a passionate community, almost any idea can find its place in the market.
However, always remember that a crowdfunding pre-order is not the same as ordering an item on Amazon or eBay, with guaranteed delivery. A project that generates a massive order book can still fail. Over-succeeding can create eventual supply chain and manufacturing problems. Where products are still at a development stage, too much added refinement or over-engineering can increase final unit production costs above the figures used at the crowdfunding stage. Inexperienced business founders can find themselves at the mercy of shrewder operators, and backers may find themselves out on a limb. Changes to import tariffs can make costings and business plans redundant.
Nevertheless, as crowdfunding platforms evolve, we can only imagine what incredible projects lie ahead in the world of innovation and creativity.
BOLD Awards VII, 2026
Our annual awards highlight and celebrate innovations and breakthroughs achieved among a global community of digital industry leaders. Entering BOLD Awards VII can be a launchpad to outshine competitors and dominate your sector.
The BOLD Awards VI gala dinner ceremony took place in March 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal. Prizes were awarded in 21 categories of digital industries and the technology that powers them. Full details of the winners are just a click away.
BOLD Awards VII is now open for entries. Submissions in 22 categories, including Boldest Crowdfunding, can be revisited and upgraded at any time up to the final deadline in December 2025. Judging will begin with a round of public voting in January 2026, and continue with assessments by an international panel of judges, leading to a glittering award ceremony for all finalists on 27th March 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.
There are also opportunities to gain prominence and prestige as a category sponsor. Send an email to hello@bold-awards.com for more information about this.
