Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
X

Kickstarter pledges surpass $1 billion; half pledged in last 12 months

About 5.7 million people have pledged cash through the crowdfunding giant since it kicked off nearly five years ago.

donreisinger.jpg
donreisinger.jpg
Don Reisinger
Former CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger

Crowdfunding giant Kickstarter has reached a new milestone.

Total Kickstarter pledges have surpassed $1 billion, the company announced Monday. The total came from 5.7 million donors, and half of the sum was pledged in the last 12 months alone. In Kickstarter's first month in April 2009, its users raised nearly $3,900.

Kickstarter, along with competitor Indiegogo, have become funding places of choice for inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone who has an idea they'd like to make a reality. So far, Kickstarter has cemented itself as the leader in crowdfunding.

In addition to announcing its milestone, Kickstarter said that people in the US accounted for the vast majority of pledges, offering up $663 million. Next up with the UK at $54.4 million.

A couple of interesting tidbits: Wednesday is the most popular day for people to pledge cash, and nearly 16,000 people have backed more than 50 projects.