Kickstarter Helps Fund Potato Salad

Kickstarter is the host of a more unusual project involving the processing of potatoes, by one man, with the goal of making a potato salad. Zack Danger Brown’s campaign initially aimed for USD 10, currently raised USD 46,000.

With 22 days to go for backers to support the campaign, the project titled “Potato salad” has a USD 1 minimum pledge and currently 5,649 backers. Its description needs no further explanation: “Basically I'm just making potato salad. I haven't decided what kind yet,” and clearly states the risks and challenges of the project – “It might not be that good. It's my first potato salad.”

The initial joke has gone viral, including coverage in Time and Business Insider, especially since the project had gathered more than USD 70,000 on July 9. The following day, it had decreased to USD 43,984. Huffington Post comments on one possible reason: “people regret donating their hard-earned dollars to the campaign and are canceling their pledges. Kickstarter's rules discourage, but do not prohibit, people from taking back their donations.”

The updated stretch goals of the campaign acknowledge the internet’s love for potato salad, as they have all been reached and exceeded. Some of them included a USD 35 benchmark, a USD 75 one and upgraded to calling a chef for a better recipe if USD 300 would be gathered, and live streaming the potato salad making at the USD 1,000 threshold.