Computer Engineer Barbie (yes, that exists), you've got competition.
A little passion can go a long way—especially with a funding platform like Kickstarter. Get entrepreneurial (and get your imagination going) as the SALT Blog finds projects that are cool, unique, and actually getting people to donate money. Who knows? With a little help, you could make your dream project a reality.
Today, we’re highlighting projects about engineering, feminism, orchestra music, video games, agriculture, sustainability, marine biology, fashion, and patriotism (variety is the spice of life, right?).
Check them out and see if anything inspires you.
1. Goldieblox, the Engineering Toy for Girls
- 2,430 backers
- $124,782 pledged of $150,000 goal
- 26 days to go
According to this Kickstarter, only 11% of all the engineers in the world are women. The reason for this? The toys girls receive to play with in early childhood.
Goldieblox is a toy that teaches girls about the value of creating things with logic, something that historically only stereotypic “male toys” (think Legos and Hot Wheels) have done.
This project hopes to empower young girls everywhere to follow their interests and become whatever they choose to be.
2. Video Game Live Music Album
- 485 backers
- $12,951 pledged of $30,000 goal
- 17 days to go
The rich storylines behind the million or so video games I played as a kid are what got me interested in writing in the first place. And if you’ve ever been an RPG nerd at any point in your life, you know for a fact that some of the musical scores built into these games are just flat-out beautiful.
This project wouldn’t be the first example video game orchestra music ever, but it might be one of the first albums!
3. The Farmery
- 192 backers
- $8,996 pledged of $25,000 goal
- 7 days to go
Some ideas on Kickstarter seem like pure genius, and I think this is one of them.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult (if not impossible) for urban supermarkets to stock locally grown produce. The Farmery plans on eliminating that problem by growing the food in the same place that it’s sold.
It’s constructed entirely out of shipping containers and is something of a hybrid between a greenhouse and market. Customers can literally watch and smell their food being grown—and then buy it in the same place.
- 75 backers
- $3,475 pledged of $4,000 goal
- 11 days to go
I’ve kind of got a soft spot for sea critters, and I think these guys do too. This project seeks to create a classroom poster and pocketbook to teach kids about the various migration patterns of the marine animals that populate the Monterey Bay.
Oceans are literally Earth’s biggest resource (they do cover 66% of the planet), but unfortunately some nasty stuff tends to get dumped in them.
5). Votary Knitted Scarfs and Blankets
- 107 backers
- $14,020 pledged of $15,000 goal
- 23 days to go
Blending fashion and patriotism together, Votary is a recently started fashion label that specializes in knit scarves and blankets. Their products all seem to represent the good old ‘Murica without being too over the top.
True to their label, the best part about Votary products is that they’re made right here in the United States. In a day and age when a lot of manufacturing jobs are outsourced, this small company seems to be doing what it can to bring a few much needed jobs back to the country.
Plus, everyone needs a good scarf.
All right, entrepreneurs, what inspires you? Let us know in the comments.
