Ukraine is in trend: 10 most successful domestic Kickstarter campaigns in 2022

This challenging year for all of us has become a record year for the number of Kickstarter campaigns from Ukrainian entrepreneurs. According to Mind estimates, backers of the platform funded more than 60 projects from Ukraine in 2022 (last year – 30). Not only did our teams promote their products, but also told backers from all over the world about the horrors of the war and the resistance of the Armed Forces and businesses to the ruscist invasion. As a result, we received funding for more than $1.684 million.

Mind monitored all projects and selected the top ten finalists by the amount of funding received. Earlier, our media wrote about the Ukrainian Kickstarter leaders of 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

Raised: 22,714 euros

Requested: 1000 euros

Number of backers: 331

Starting price: 39 euros

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Manufacturer: Oleksandr Gorgontiy’s The Company

This is a pocket anti-stress gadget. According to the developers, the user can get rid of nervous tension by moving the button. The Company has already launched this product on Kickstarter four times, each time with an updated version. The team has conducted two campaigns this year: in May, backers were offered a Slider with a mini-titanium button, and in October – a triangular titanium sequel.

"Support Ukraine! When you buy from Ukrainians, you support us and our economy. We distribute the vast majority of finances within Ukraine. The funds will go to small factories and designers whom we work with to develop and create products, as well as to the Ukrainian national postal operator when delivering orders. It helps us not only to stay afloat, but also to restore, repair, and manage our future," the developers appealed to backers.

Raised: $32 473

Requested: $17,000

Number of backers: 373

Starting price: $14

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Founder: Sviatoslav Pashchuk

These are playing cards dedicated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They were created by Sviatoslav Pashchuk, a famous Ukrainian illustrator and director who works in Pin Up style. This style became popular during the First World War. Back then, soldiers pinned images of attractive, sexy women to the wall. "For the soldiers, they were the image of an ideal beautiful woman and symbolized those who were waiting for them at home. The girls on my posters are more reserved and serious because they represent the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this deck, I decided to combine the Pin Up style with the military style of the current Ukrainian army, one of the strongest and most advanced armies in Eastern Europe. My heroines are women of modern warfare that are harsh and relentless, so I tried to show their strength and restraint more", said Sviatoslav Pashchuk.

The illustrator has been helping our military since 2014. His series of posters "Separatism is bad for your health", which was released in 2015 to raise funds to support the army, became popular in Ukraine. From 2018 to 2021, Sviatoslav Pashchuk launched six campaigns on Kickstarter and raised almost $160,000.

Raised: $35 008

Requested: $4,000

Number of backers: 510

Starting price: $32

Where the project is from: Zaporizhzhia

Founder: Mykola Taradaiko, owner of the Pentagram publishing house

Mykola Taradaiko becomes the record holder of the year by the number of campaigns on Kickstarter. In 2022, the entrepreneur launched six decks of Tarot cards on the platform:  Reverse Scale, Granny's Postcards, Bloody Tears, Glory to Ukraine, La Commedia a Soggetto, and Lovely Lenormand.

Each deck has its own style and is dedicated to a separate theme. For example, Glory to Ukraine was "born" in Kyiv bomb shelters in March 2022. It was created by two Kyiv artists – sisters Michelle and Nicole Feldman, known for their murals and graffiti. "We wanted to show the world our beloved Ukraine as we see it. The deck concerns the centuries-old history, culture, and traditions of the Ukrainian people and, of course, tells about the present, events, and participants of the liberation war. We continue living, working, and creating," Mykola Taradaiko told the backers.

Glory to Ukraine raised $4687 on Kickstarter. The biggest success ($14,242) was Bloody Tears, a gothic Tarot deck about Count Dracula, gargoyles, chimeras, etc.

Raised: $35 341

Requested: $9000

Number of backers: 269

Starting price: $49

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Founder: Signum Games

This is a fantasy board game with polymer miniatures (20 mm in size). The developers offer players to travel to the world of Signum, where glorious heroes lead their armies of fantastic creatures to the battlefield and unleash a real war there.

Kyiv studio Signum Games launched its game on Kickstarter just in time – two days before the full-scale invasion. On February 24, the team informed backers about the beginning of a real war and reassured them: "We continue working. Many people have invested their time and efforts in this project. We are not going to let it go in vain. The funds for our project were raised in the first 38 minutes of the campaign, and we reached over 300% by the end of the day." During March, the company continued informing backers about the progress of events.

As a result, the team received 390% of the target funding. "This project was probably the most difficult for us against the background of russia's invasion of Ukraine, and your support at such a difficult time is very important for us! Support that we will never forget! Stay safe and take care!" Signum Games emphasized.

Raised: $38 161

Requested: $7000

Number of backers: 596

Starting price: $25

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Manufacturer: New Dawn Decks

These are designer playing cards also devoted to the struggle of Ukrainians against russian terrorists. "Each card is a painting that gives emotions. They are full of best wishes to people who are fighting for their freedom. On one of the cards, there is a golden tree, partially burnt, which still shines under the light coming from the universe. It is a destroyed country with light and inner strength that radiates hope," the designers explained to backers.

They launched the campaign back in April. "This war leaves its mark on a huge number of people around the world who are watching with despair and frustration the absolute failure of politics and international justice, unable to comprehend the suffering of so many innocent people. The personal losses are irreparable, but there are many needs of the Ukrainian people, and rebuilding the country will take a long time. That is why a small working team decided to do its part and pay tribute to all those who strive for peace through a deck of playing cards – that is what we do best. The unjustified suffering and bloodshed shock those who see Ukraine as a beautiful and peaceful country that was thrown into this merciless war. However, the strength, determination, and resilience of the Ukrainian people shine hope for the future of the country and its further reconstruction," the designers shared their feelings.

Raised: $87,241

Requested: $10 000

Number of backers: 1114

Starting price: $15

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Manufacturer: 3rd Dominion

It is another "card" project. This team of designers and producers of playing cards has been on Kickstarter twice this year. In March, they released the deck "Ghost of Kyiv." The cards feature elements of Ukrainian symbols and stylized images of pilots. The super joker is Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. "We are ready for production. The main risk is the war. We are confident that it will end in Ukraine's victory," the designers explained to backers at the time. According to them, the production of decks is located in Western Ukraine – in a fairly safe place. If necessary, entrepreneurs are ready to change the usual delivery routes and send parcels from Poland.

Everything went smoothly, 3rd Dominion raised over $64,000. And in October, they launched the second campaign. This time, backers were offered a military-style deck with techno-beasts and transhumanoids – AREA 51 v.2, designed by Andy Kurowiec.

In 2020 and 2021, the team ran four campaigns on Kickstarter and earned over $90,000.

Raised: $65 049

Requested: $5000

Number of backers: 611

Starting price: $69

Where the project is from: Lutsk

Manufacturer: Voris Corp

It is a leather desk mat with a water-repellent effect and wireless charging of devices. On the stand, there is an organiser for wires and office supplies. "What is done on the desk is done in the head either." Sometimes, a simple search for a charger can become a "pain in the neck" for many people. How to solve this problem? Simple. "Goodbye, chaos, hello, LeMat" that's how the makers of the mat convinced backers.

The team from Lutsk raised $25,711 from 323 backers on Kickstarter last year. This summer, they launched an updated product on the platform. "We took into account the previous wishes of backers and their ideas and made a modernised mat. The team tried to make it as simple as possible, but at the same time increase its functionality... We are a family brand. All products are handmade in our studio with a keen eye for beauty, sense, and detail," the developers explained.

Raised: $252 599

Requested: $70,000

Number of backers: 4876

Starting price: $35

Where the project is from: Kyiv

Manufacturer: Frogwares

The Awakened is a virtual detective adventure game that "turns" the player into a young Sherlock Holmes. Frogwares team took their 16-year-old game as a basis and redesigned it. "In addition to several visual and gameplay changes, we are rewriting the story to be a direct continuation of our young Sherlock's story, diving into the key events in his formative years that could have led him to become the incomplete and broken genius we all know him to be," the developers said.

Since its founding in 2000, Frogwares has released more than 20 games based on the Unreal Engine for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. The company employs more than 90 people. The first time the team went on Kickstarter was in August of this year.

"The russian invasion set one of the most difficult operational tasks we have ever faced. For those of us who are not in the military or in humanitarian aid organisations, the only way we can fight back is to continue developing the team. Our most powerful weapon against the russians now is the ability to keep the economy running... Under normal circumstances, we would have financed the next game ourselves by selling previous products. However, the war constantly poses new challenges that each time require us to stop, regroup and adapt. This requires time, effort and, in many cases, money that would normally be spent on creating a game. That's why we have decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign," the developers explained to backers.

Raised: $363 305

Requested: $5000

Number of backers: 2275

Starting price: $69

Where is the project from: Irpin, Kyiv Oblast.

Manufacturers: Enjoy The Wood by Igor and Maryna Fostenko

Enjoy The Wood, who create 3D wooden maps of the world and cities, launched two campaigns on Kickstarter this year. The first was launched in March, when Borodianka, Bucha, and Irpin, the towns where the company's production facilities and offices were located, were still occupied by russian terrorists.

"No one plans war, death, or becoming a refugee. However, it happened to us and our people. Our President called on all producers to act: ‘Each of us must work for Ukraine and our victory. Now we need to resume production wherever possible.’ Our production facilities and offices are not damaged now. If they are, we will come back and resume our production later. However, even if this does not happen, we are ready to restart in a new location in the west of Ukraine and re-establish all our processes. We have already found a place for production and ordered some equipment," this is how the entrepreneurs explained the state of affairs to backers. And they were believed. Enjoy The Wood raised $162,681 for wooden 3D maps.

The second campaign started in October. This time, the entrepreneurs launched a new unusual Quatro City product, a wooden puzzle with a detective quest. And they did not lose, raising $200,624.

In total, Igor and Maryna Fostenko have already conducted eight campaigns on Kickstarter. In 2020, they raised $220,736, in 2019 – $533,530, in 2018 – $157,365.

Raised: $440 222

Requested: $1000

Number of backers: 5833

Starting price: $50

Where the project is from: Kharkiv

Manufacturer: Solgood Creations by Sergiy Sobol and Caleb Goodson

This year's leader was the money-raising campaign for food for the war victims. "I am Sergiy Sobol, a Ukrainian 3D artist, and designer living in Kharkiv. My American friend Caleb Goodson and I decided to create a project helping not only my family, friends, and relatives in this difficult time, but also my volunteer group. Our team prepares food and feeds people. The need for food is significant," this is how this Kickstarter campaign started in April 2022.

Instead, the designers offered backers digital products – more than 1000 STL files for printing 3D miniatures. The founders of Solgood Creations put not only their own developments on Kickstarter. "Many creators generously donated their own products to our cause. The collection is a joint effort of various artists and companies worldwide. These wonderful creative people gathered together to give hope to refugees in Ukraine," explained Sobol.