# Kickstarter: Perry Chen

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-07-31
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen

## Summary

Perry Chen, co-founder of Kickstarter, explains how the platform evolved from a concept born in 2001 to a reality launched in 2009, emphasizing the eight-year refinement period and the decision to maintain control rather than sell out. He details the early struggles of raising only $120,000 from angel investors like David Cross, the manual creation of a 100-page blueprint before any code was written, and the deliberate choice to keep the fee structure low and the platform open to preserve its mission. Chen also discusses the strategic pivot to add review processes for product projects to distinguish Kickstarter from a retail store, and the eventual transition to a public benefit corporation to balance shareholder interests with community impact.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=0) Introduction: Perry Chen and the Origin of Kickstarter
- [3:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=191) Early Life, Day Trading, and the Initial Idea
- [9:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=559) Forming the Team and Building the Blueprint
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=817) Raising Capital and the Long Road to Launch
- [22:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=1360) Launch Strategy and Early Growth
- [26:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=1577) Investor Relations and Profitability
- [28:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=1710) Defining the Platform: Products vs. Creative Projects
- [33:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=1999) Corporate Structure and Legacy
- [36:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen#t=2211) Postscript: Kristel Gordon and Duvaid

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Kickstarter (company)
- Indiegogo (company)
- David Cross (other)
- Krisaka (company)
- Duvaid (product)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Josh Lifton](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-09-an-interview-with-josh-lifton) (The Amp Hour)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 11 - Marco Perry and Mark Prommel of Pensa (11/12)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-12-afterschool-podcast-episode-11-marco-perry-and-mark-prommel-of-pensa-11-12) (Core77 Podcast)
- [S3 E7: Building Bootstrapped Hardware That Sells with Christian Reed](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2026-01-13-s3-e7-building-bootstrapped-hardware-that-sells-with-christian-reed) (The Builder Circle)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2014-04-16-afterschool-podcast-episode-19-craighton-berman-founder-of-manual-04-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [62: Ten Years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-10-03-62-ten-years) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-07-31-kickstarter-perry-chen. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.