Kickstarter is a funding platform dedicated to getting creative projects off the ground. It’s entirely crowdfunded, so donations from the general public fuel these dynamic new ideas. Here’s a look at what goes into creating and backing a Kickstarter project.

Kickstarter is driven by creators and backers. Creators pitch creative project ideas and backers fund those projects.

Creators set up a page to showcase their project details and prototypes using text, video, and photos. Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. Creators also create reward tiers for backers who pledge specific amounts. The more a backer pledges, the bigger the reward.

Once enough backers have funded the project, the creator can develop and produce their vision. Depending on the complexity of the project, backers may have to wait months to see the final product.