Indiegogo launched in 2008 as a crowdfunding website for films, music, and games.
The platform was founded by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Scheier. It originally focused on helping creators raise money for projects that might not receive funding through conventional entertainment or business channels.
Indiegogo later broadened its scope to include technology products, charitable campaigns, and other ventures. Campaign organizers can use crowdfunding to obtain financial support directly from a large group of contributors, often while building an audience around the project.
Indiegogo is commonly confused with Kickstarter, which launched later in 2009. Both platforms became prominent rewards-based crowdfunding services, but they have different histories and campaign rules. Crowdfunding can validate demand, but a successful campaign does not automatically guarantee that a creator can manufacture or deliver the promised product.