"Shot-through" playing cards, 3D-printable miniature files, a disc clock, and more: Top 5 most successful Ukrainian projects on Kickstarter

For the second year in a row, the number of campaigns from Ukrainian entrepreneurs on Kickstarter is growing. In 2021, our compatriots launched about 30 projects on this crowdfunding platform, in 2022 – over 60, and in the first six months of 2023 – almost 40. And it's not surprising: in the conditions of war, Kickstarter has become a great platform for expanding the geography of exports and finding customers for non-standard products. Mind has monitored all the campaigns. In half a year, most entrepreneurs raised an average of $5000. But there are also record holders. Let's tell you more about them.

Previously, we wrote about Ukrainian Kickstarter leaders in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

5th place: CLEAR SKIES. RESISTANCE Playing Cards

Raised: $34,604

Goal: $5,000

Number of backers: 326

Starting price: $25

Project origin: Kyiv

Manufacturer: New Dawn Decks

For the second year in a row, New Dawn Decks brings designer playing cards devoted to the struggle of Ukrainians against russian terrorists to Kickstarter. Last year, the team raised a slightly larger amount – over $38,000. In the new project, they maintain the same design, but the illustrations are repainted in black and red – the colours of Ukrainian resistance.

"In April 2022, Three great passionate about playing cards, Old Gravity, Noir Arts and Max Playing Cards, teamed up to create the Clear Skies project, to pay tribute to the Ukrainian people, victims of an unfair and disproportionate invasion by the russian army. More than one year later, governments around the world have not been able to definitively help end this conflict and the struggle is still alive and death continues to strike those who want to live in peace in their own country. When the world begins to get used to a conflict that seems increasingly distant, there are voices that go on shouting to defend their lives and that of their families. This deck represents that constant struggle, that way of surviving and overcoming adversity every day, a fight for freedom against suffering and destruction that, after more than a year, has not been able to overcome the determination, courage and resistance of the Ukrainian people," the designers told the backers.

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4th place: 3D Printing Hobbyists United

Raised: $48,897

Goal: $50

Number of backers: 839

Starting price: $35

Project origin: Kharkiv

Manufacturer: Solgood Creations by Sergiy Sobol and Caleb Goodson

Solgood Creations became the funding champion of 2022, raising over $440,000. The funds were raised for the war-affected individuals. This year, the team returned to Kickstarter with a similar product but introduced a new collection of approximately 1200 STL files for 3D miniature printing. The themes vary, including fantasy, post-apocalyptic, modern dioramas, and Wargamers, among others. Some models are dedicated to the war in Ukraine. "In this project we created four dioramas, one of which is based on the sad events in my country, the war in Ukraine. However, it shows our hope for victory and freedom for my people," told Sergiy Sobol to the backers.

Just like last year, the designers offered not only their own digital products but also over 1000 STL files "from some of the most talented creators in the world." "Many creators generously donated their own products giving you a wide range of miniatures. The collection we have gathered represents the joint efforts of various artists and companies worldwide. These wonderful creative individuals came together to give hope to those affected in Ukraine," explained Sergiy Sobol.

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3rd place: REAL TIME watch

Raised: $59,222 (campaign not yet finished, fundraising will continue until July 21st)

Goal: $5,000

Number of backers: 318

Starting price: $157

Project origin: Kyiv

Manufacturer: ZAVOD

"Remember to appreciate and cherish every minute of your life because you never know when your world can change completely," – this is the message that ZAVOD has launched the REAL TIME watch on Kickstarter, based on the disc time system. It was designed by Oleksiy Iskos, a Danish designer of Ukrainian origin. The watch does not have hour or minute hands; instead, two dials rotate like planets around the sun. On the back of the gadget, the manufacturer indicates the names and coordinates of places with the least pollution, recommended Dark Sky Reserves worldwide, as well a star map, the date, and time of the annual meteor shower.

One of the watch models is devoted to the war in Ukraine, with the inscription "WAR TIME" on the back. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this limited collection is intended to support civilians affected by the war. "We, a Ukrainian team of designers and watchmakers, started this project about two years ago and planned to launch it in the early spring of 2022. But before the spring, the war started. Most of the team members have left their homes, sent wives and children to a safe place, some have joined the Ukrainian army," explained the manufacturers.

It is ZAVOD's second campaign on Kickstarter. The team previously introduced the RIDER1991 watch in 2017 and raised nearly $28,000. 

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2nd place: Hapstone RS

Raised: $164,634

Goal: $10,000

Number of backers: 566

Starting price: $135

Project origin: Sumy

Manufacturer: Hapstone RS by Anton Kulizhko and Stanislav Markiv

Entrepreneurs from Sumy brought their knife sharpening device to Kickstarter for the second time. "We are a group of people who have been 'obsessed' with knives for a long time. As far back as 2012, we realised that the existing sharpening systems did not satisfy us. We invested ten years of experience in developing the concept and design. Now we can say that Hapstone RS is the finest knife sharpener on the market with its unique design," enticed the entrepreneurs to backers. They assured that their system is universal, suitable for a wide range of knife sizes and thicknesses. Most of the parts are made from aviation-grade aluminium.

The company has its own production line, which was launched in 2018. It was also their first time on Kickstarter, where they raised almost $34,000 from 163 backers. This time, they informed backers that they have developed a quality control system for production processes and tested the feasibility of large-scale manufacturing.

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1st place: 3D Luminous Wooden World Map

Raised: $198,229

Goal: $5,000

Number of backers: 168

Starting price: $109

Project origin: Irpin, Kyiv Oblast

Manufacturer: Enjoy The Wood by Igor and Maryna Fostenko

Enjoy The Wood is the leader of the ranking and a classic example of how a small family business, through nine years of work, has transformed into a stable production company with over 100,000 customers worldwide, thanks to crowdfunding. Additionally, crowdfunding allowed the company to resume operations last year after its office and production facilities were destroyed during the russian occupation.

This company's story is quite unique: while backers on Kickstarter usually pursue new and unconventional items, Enjoy The Wood consistently returned to the platform year after year with its core product – wooden 3D world and city maps. Each time, they added new options and raised significant amounts (up to over $530,000). This year's campaign was no exception: the entrepreneurs offered backers an updated colour 3D map with LED lights and raised nearly 40 times the amount they initially asked for.