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Amazon announces category just for Kickstarter projects
Looking for a crowd-sourced gadget, but don't actually want to run the risk of backing a Kickstarter? Good news: Amazon just launched a hub for completed, successful Kickstarter products. The product category lives on Amazon's Launchpad page -- a digital store for start-ups that sell crowdfunded and first run products on consignment. Kickstarter projects have always been present on Launchpad, but now they have there very own category and landing page.
Amazon shines a spotlight on startup products in the UK
After going live in the US this summer, Amazon has today brought its Launchpad program to the UK. Appearing sans fanfare on the UK portal, Launchpad is a dedicated storefront specifically showcasing the products of early stage companies. That said, the initial catalogue features some relatively well-known brands, such as Sphero, Withings, Pebble, Elgato, Misfit and new smartphone player Wileyfox, though it's not limited to products in the technology realm. The idea behind Launchpad is that startups can use the program -- and Amazon's delivery expertise -- to get their products to customers without having to become logistics experts themselves.
Amazon Launchpad helps startups get products to customers
If you're an inventor, then your expertise probably lies in developing hardware and software rather than knowing the ins-and-outs of the logistics business. Amazon is hoping to help these individuals with Launchpad, a system that lets startups harness the company's vast marketing and transportation resources. Essentially, if you run a venture capital-backed startup or have made a splash on Indiegogo, then you can send Amazon a box of devices and Jeff Bezos will take care of the rest. For instance, Launchpad will be one of the first places that you can buy Thync's mood-changing wearable and Eero's distributed WiFi hardware.
