I'm not sure if the programme has any equivalent outside the UK but, here, we have a programme called "The Dragon's Den". The idea is simple; a bunch of wannabe entrepreneurs strut their ideas in front of a panel of 4 real entrepreneurs to try to get one or more of them to back their business ventures - for a share in the business and, hopefully, long term profits.
Most of the wannabes are well meaning but deluded in some way - bad product, too much existing competition, no significant customer base, unrealistic valuation of their prospective business - or any combination. Most leave the "Den" with a good idea of where and why they've failed to entice financial backing.
These Kickstarter projects remind me of the Dragon's Den - albeit the crowd funding is at a much lower level individually. I'm sure there are some great and worthy ideas out there and, if we want to take a punt with a few shekels, we're unlikely to lose much. Others look like chancers trying to get the public to fund a half-thought-through bad idea or their next holiday. Whether we support or not is our decision. I think it's wrong to judge Kickstarter as they could just as easily facilitate a phenomenal success as an abject failure.
The idea is, I suppose, "Darwinian" as the stronger propositions should have the best chance of survival. If not, who is to blame? The "entrepreneur" or those who haven't thought it through before parting with their money - as there's absolutely no compulsion to do so.
