Indiegogo

Indiegogo was founded in 2008 by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell as a democratic alternative to traditional fundraising. Launched during the financial crisis, the platform let creators and small businesses raise money directly from their communities instead of relying on bank loans. Flexible funding goals and global reach made it accessible to projects from every corner of the world.

Early partnerships validated the model. In 2010, MTV New Media joined Indiegogo to help musicians fund new content. Two years later, the Obama administration's Startup America initiative partnered with the platform, giving small businesses a national stage. These collaborations showed crowdfunding was becoming a serious tool for innovation, not just a novelty for hobbyists.

Venture capital followed. A $15 million Series A in June 2012 funded technology upgrades and global expansion. A $40 million Series B in January 2014 brought total funding to $56.5 million. Over the following decade, Indiegogo helped raise billions for more than 800,000 projects, becoming one of the world's most recognized crowdfunding platforms.

In July 2025, Gamefound acquired Indiegogo, merging its creator community with Gamefound's advanced tools. The migration completed later that year promised faster performance and richer features. Despite the ownership change, Indiegogo's core mission remains unchanged: opening access to capital so great ideas can find their audience.