Kickstarter takes NO responsibility when a participant doesn't deliver on their promise. I think this happens all of the time. Kickstarter's response is "read our rules - we are not responsible." They do NOTHING. They don't get involved even to the extent of urging the participant to follow through, publishing the names of bad participants etc. I think if Kickstarter took a more active role in pursuing the participants who just "take the money and run" or at least actively publicizing the names of those participants, people might be less likely to renege on their promises. Instead, there are no consequences whatsoever to the participants who just do not deliver. The guy I foolishly gave money to, Scott Crider, was just putting together a book of photographs that the "investors" sent him. What could be easier? He wasn't inventing anything or manufacturing anything etc. He just spent the money and delivered nothing. Kickstarter's response to all of the complaints was "read our rules; we are not responsible." Never again.

John A is dead right on. Kickstarter is only interested in getting their fee. My experience is that while they claim they're trying to help get good ideas off the ground, they really don't care as evidenced by their total unwillingness to get involved when a participant doesn't deliver on what they promise which happens a lot. Invest with due caution. I've stopped.

The US Government was created to help people, too.
"The road to hell is paved with good itentions"... Their only concern, that I can see, is getting their fee... John A said it all...

It's a for-profit corporation that was started to make money and often does not provide the goods and services advertised, but contains to retain their cut of the money people pay the project creators who use the site.