# Kickstarter: Perry Chen (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-12-31
- Length: 40m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018

## Summary

Perry Chen, co-founder of Kickstarter, explains how the platform evolved from a 2002 idea about funding creative projects to its 2009 launch, emphasizing the 8-year development period and the decision to remain a public benefit corporation rather than pursuing aggressive venture capital growth. He details the platform's 5% fee structure, the strategic decision to implement stricter review processes for physical product campaigns to manage backer expectations, and the milestone of surpassing $3 billion in pledges. The episode also features a postscript on Dustin Hogard, who co-designed the Wazoo survival belt, discussing the challenges of custom manufacturing miniature components and fulfilling a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $100,000.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=0) Introduction: Perry Chen and the Kickstarter Origin Story
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=184) Perry Chen's Early Career and the Genesis of the Idea
- [9:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=547) Forming the Team: Yancey Strickler and Charles Adler
- [13:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=839) Raising Initial Funds and Defining the Business Model
- [20:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=1249) Managing Anxiety and Launching the Platform
- [26:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=1600) Investor Strategy and Becoming Profitable
- [30:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=1812) Handling Physical Products and the 'Not a Store' Policy
- [35:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=2151) Becoming a Public Benefit Corporation and Leadership Transition
- [38:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018#t=2292) Postscript: Dustin Hogard and the Wazoo Survival Belt

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Kickstarter (company)
- Indiegogo (company)
- Wazoo (company)
- Chris Akka (other)
- David Cross (other)

## 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)
- [62: Ten Years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2020-10-03-62-ten-years) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 5 - StudioNeat (9/16)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-5-studioneat-9-16) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Samuel Feller | Product & Project management, Kickstarter, & DIY Product Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-10-28-samuel-feller-product-project-management-kickstarter-diy-product-launch) (Being an Engineer)
- [134: Kevin Kelly Remains Undefeated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-06-24-134-kevin-kelly-remains-undefeated) (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/2018-12-31-kickstarter-perry-chen-2018. 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.