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Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

What is crowdfunding and which companies could not meet the expectations of customers who believed them — in our photo gallery

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

Сrowdfunding is a way to attract public funds, usually through Internet, for realization of some projects. The author advances an idea, collects money fot its realization, and the one who will believe it may invent. Of course, like any other business, there is a risk to fail. Something similar happened to a number of projects on the Kickstarter website, such as a refrigerator on wheels, nano dron for selfie, home 3D printer, playing cards with an image of an owner and others. These products found their admirers, but further customers were disappointed in them.

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

The Coolest Cooler refrigerator on wheels

The product's creator Ryan Grepper collected more than $13 million for his idea that was much higher than the initially stated value. The project was launched last year, and Grapper promised his sponsors to deliver the first refrigerators . Now the delivery period is extended to April 2016. However, the cool box has already gone on sale on Amazon, but its price is three times more expensive than the stated one. The project's participants expressed their legitimate dismay at the fact.

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

Zano Dron taking pictures of its owner

The project also collected more than it was stated: 2 million euros instead of 125,000 euros. According to the Director General of Torquing Group Ivan Reedman, the nano dron development project manager, capable of being placed in the palm of your hand and taking high-resolution images, the product was supposed to go on sale in June 2015. In November of the current year following the reports of delays in supplying, Torquing Group stopped its activity. It is not surprising that many customers felt cheated and robbed.

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

The Buccaneer home 3D printer

The project's budget was also exceeded: not less than $1.5 million instead of $100,000. The project was launched in May 2013, and the first deliveries of the device were to start in February 2014. In October of the current year one of the co-authors of 3D printer from the Pirate3D company Brendan Goh had to admit the failure in realization of the idea, as about 60% of the customers didn't receive the product and, probably, will not get it any more.

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

Playing cards with an image of their owner

In this case, in contrast to other projects, its author but not its customers came off a loser. Already in September 2012, the Serbian underground artist Milan S. suggested to all interested audiences to send their photo to put it on one of the cards of an ordinary card deck. The project was completed 3 years later in the Washington state court in the United States, where the company was ordered to pay $55,000 as compensation for losses. However, at the exact same time, the clients who supported the project began to receive the promised card decks.

Сrowdfunding: top-5 failed companies

The Code Hero computer game for programming training

The project was conceived in far 2012. The developers of the innovative computer game promised customers a lot, including such option as an opportunity to fire JavaScript on unity engine with a coded gun. One year later, the game's creators launched its beta version, then dissapeared. In April of the last year, the Code Hero coordinator announced his leaving the project. The authority was transferred to another person, but the matter failed to gain traction. In connection with the above, the customers intend to file a lawsuit against the company.

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