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Gadget Kickstarters (and one Indiegogo) that raised millions

We gathered the top 10 products that went from concept to reality with the help of millions of dollars raised via crowdfunding.

Eric Mack Contributing Editor
Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
Expertise Solar, solar storage, space, science, climate change, deregulated energy, DIY solar panels, DIY off-grid life projects. CNET's "Living off the Grid" series. https://www.cnet.com/feature/home/energy-and-utilities/living-off-the-grid/ Credentials
  • Finalist for the Nesta Tipping Point prize and a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Eric Mack

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What started with a few million dollars on Kickstarter turned into a few billion dollar acquisition for Oculus. Oculus VR

It's only been a few years since people started asking strangers for cash to help transform gadget ideas into actual gadgets. In that span, there have been some remarkable successes, one huge potato salad and thousands and thousands of final products shipped.

Among the most successful have been the Pebble smartwatch, the Kickstarter that raised millions and added the term "smartwatch" to the public's vocabulary -- now huge names like Google and Apple are trodding down the trail blazed by that crowdfunding campaign. Perhaps you've heard of the Oculus Rift. That also started on Kickstarter, as did numerous 3D printers and other products that promise to do something smarter or just better than before.

We've pulled together the 10 most successful tech hardware crowdfunding campaigns, according to statistics from Kickstarter and Indiegogo. More than a few of them may surprise you. Check them all out in the gallery below.

10 gadgets that grabbed the most Kickstarter bucks (pictures)

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