Popular crowdfunding platforms such as , , and (just to name a few) are giving many entrepreneurs, designers, start-ups and pure dreamers an opportunity to raise funds and turn their ideas and dreams into a reality, no matter how far-fetched or how simple they may be - like this , perhaps? Helping you spread cold butter straight from the fridge with ease.
Since its launch in 2009, has really established itself as a popular hotspot for ideas with more 100,000 projects already successfully funded. So, how does it all work? Well, every project creator launches a fundraising page; you set yourself a funding amount and a deadline and then leave it to click-through gods of the interweb - so if people like the project, they can pledge money to make it happen. If the project meets its goal then the project is backed, however if it falls short then no deal. .
Food-related projects are particularly popular on Kickstarter. Here are some foodie Kickstarter campaigns that have caught our eye and got us thinking; including a few that have exceeded their funding ambitions.
A portable coffee grinder with a brain? We are intrigued... and also want one...
You can cook, boil, roast and grill in a portable and eco-friendly way, with this wood burning stove that looks to be a perfect accompaniment for your next outdoor or camping adventure.
Turning plastic waste into works of art - this pen is taking bags and bottles to a smart and fun place.
One for the bread bakers out there. Steaming in a normal home oven is difficult and this terracotta pot is designed to improve baking quality within anyone's standard home oven, trapping heat and creating high humidity conditions to mimic those of larger and professional bakery ovens.
Gastronaut is the world's first freeze-dried ice-cream that is organic and un-meltable... say what?! Have your summer dreams come true?
Is your pet a fussy eater? This bowl of chow has been designed for those pets that are overly excited by human feasts, but who need to protect their health. Think human food aroma meeting dry pet food.
This is a series of micro projects in collaboration with the non-profit and the World Palestine Congress to ensure Palestinian families can organise and feel productive with producing their own food, and maintaining land as well as, in some cases, fostering an income.
One of the projects that we worked on involved building a coop, providing feed to raise 300 little chicks. 8-9 weeks later the little chicks became chicken weighing approximately 1.3 kg. Each chicken can be sold for $3 each. Same would be with raising chicken for eggs. The sale of fresh organic eggs will provide much needed income. Source: Kickstarter
This app hopes to connect like-minded people over a meal. And before you say dating app - it's not at all. This is a social group setting that hopes to give people flexibility to meet new people and what better way than over some delicious food.
Welcoming refugees. Empowering women. Crafting delicacies through group catering options. Brittani Farrington moved to Canada two years ago and when her Syrian friends asked how to sell their food in Canada, Brittani began to explore the possibilities. Tapping into her restaurant marketing background she has begun to lay the groundwork for 'Karam Kitchen'.
Source: Kickstarter
Spruce up your work space or dining table with a little magic, well sort of. Enter gravity-defying drinkware. It looks pretty cool and you can have your wine, beer, coffee any beverage really floating in mid-air. Why? Because we can...
Are you prone to drink spillage? This cup cozy could be the answer - it comes in all kinds of crazy prints and it certainly looking sturdy. Holding 3-5 beverages at a time without fail, could this be your drink-saving hero?
Did someone say Hummus Club? Okay, so it's not Kickstarter, but we stumbled across this Indiegogo campaign and thought it was worth sharing. From Perth market to pop-up and now hopeful eatery, this hummus club has high hummus dreams and we like it!
A life without fresh vegetables? Certified nurse-midwife, Cynthia Hyde was fascinated with Nepal during her first visit, 6 years ago. Cynthia met a man who runs the school in remote Humla and learned about the need for greenhouses. This project has been developed and requested by people who hope to use it at their school. Three greenhouses to teach kids about food production with a strong focus on health and nutrition. 
Kailash Humla Children's school in Nepal. Source: Kickstarter
Miniature is so in and these portable scales are easy to use, just squeeze them on and place them under whatever you need to weigh. Weigh your food, your packages, luggage, your pet?! It certainly knows no boundaries by the sounds of it and you can take it anywhere!
DIY cider made easy and from the comfort of your home? This gadget takes your favourite fruits and turns it into a party drink. Marketed as as easy as a pot of coffee, you can make wine, mead and craft cider in it and it will also notify when your batches have fermented and are ready to drink.
This fermentation system launched July 12, 2016 and in 4 days it had already received 60 per cent of its funding. It has gained three times more than its original pledge of US$50 000 (approx. AUD$65 800) and there's still time to get involved!
A coffee maker that doubles up as your coffee mug and is easily rechargeable, home, work and car - success! This travel mug has raised over US$85 000 (approx. AUD $111 890) and is in its final stages leading up to their product launch.
How would you feel about insects in your home? Well, 830 backers successfully pledged to Livin Farms Hive which is all about healthy and sustainable food sources and their creation of a functional desktop hive for edible insects allows you to grow 200-500g of protein-rich mealworms! And if you feed your mealworms sustainably on vegetable scraps from your own kitchen then you will always know what you are eating. So how do you feel about growing and eating insects?
Humanising the homeless. One man's journey - toss a mattress in a van and travel the country interviewing members of the homeless population over a meal. Each face, sandwich, and story, will be documented extensively in the book Fifty Sandwiches. This is no remedy to homelessness, rather a method to raise awareness and understanding as well as giving those with no home and no voice a platform.
Make your own tortillas at the touch of a button with Flatev. You choose your dough, insert it into the drawer, push the button and enjoy! Over 650 backers and US$136 000 (approx. AUD $179 000) has helped bring this taco-party potential to life.
The crowdfunders have spoken!
