The Roanoker - March 2014 - 23

BY LIZ LONG

e-dude: giles high's kickstarter
co-founder on brink of $1 billion
Blacksburg native Yancey Strickler and his partner launched the project-funding venture in
2009, and its growth has been nothing short of phenomenal.
LIFE IS A SERIES of projects." At least, that's the
motto of Yancey Strickler,
co-founder of Kickstarter.
A Blacksburg native,
Strickler now lives in New
York, though he's far from
forgetting his roots. In fact,
they've only helped him solidify his endeavors, leading
him to create what is now the
world's largest crowdfunding
platform.
Kickstarter began in 2009 and has grown in leaps and bounds
in a short amount of time. Since its launch, 5.1 million people have
pledged $857 million, funding some 51,000 projects - and it's only
growing more each day.
Over the next year, Strickler anticipates Kickstarter's pledges to
pass $1 billion. He'll continue his upward motion when he becomes
the company's CEO in 2014: "I've been very fortunate to enjoy everything I've gotten to do. My life is committed to helping other
people make things. I look at all of it and am filled with gratitude."
Strickler graduated from Giles High in 1996 and graduated from
William & Mary in 2000 with an English and Cultural Studies degree. He immediately moved to New York, where he made a living
as a music journalist, his work appearing in The Village Voice, New
York Magazine, Pitchfork, and other publications.
"All I ever wanted to be was a writer," he says. Writing and reading
were always my big love. I enjoyed culture and that was the thing
that got me most excited."
Then Strickler met Kickstarter co-founder Perry Chen in 2005.
They found their mutual passion for community and creativity
would provide the foundation for this massive project. Within four
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years, the company has grown to 69 employees, and will soon be
moving into its own renovated former pencil factory building in
Brooklyn.
Despite missing the mountains, Strickler is lucky enough to come
home to Giles County often. With two younger brothers in school, he
makes it a priority to get back and spend time with family. Surprisingly, he says it is easier to find home-cooked Southern food in New
York than down South, given our propensity for chains. Kickstarter's
mission is simple: to bring creative projects to life, as they believe
these ideas make for a better world. By gathering subscribers, artists
are able to see their ideas come to life without going broke.
"It's hard to do creative things and especially hard to fund them,
particularly if you're not trying to make money," says Strickler. "We
wanted to create a place where people could make things they want
to make and find support from the public."
Strickler also believes Kickstarter is a way to bring people together. Projects like the "Veronica Mars" movie are a way for fans
to not only express their appreciation for their beloved shows, but
give them a chance to feel closer to their favorite celebrities. Even
celebrities like Spike Lee and Zach Braff have jumped on the bandwagon to raise funds for their own movies. Backers sometimes get
rewards such as finished copies, premiere screenings, or listings in
the acknowledgments.
Kickstarter makes five percent off completed projects. If a project
doesn't make its goal, there are no fees. Ultimately, it's the creators
and backers that make or break the goal, as Kickstarter isn't involved
in the projects themselves. Creators keep 100 percent ownership of
their work.
And as for aspiring entrepreneurs? Strickler's advice is simple:
"You have to be pretty stubborn about whatever it is you're doing.
You should be genuinely passionate about it, because if the idea
works, you'll spend a lot of time working on it. It's easier to do what
you love."
MARCH/APRIL 2014

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The Roanoker - March 2014

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