Patreon, a reward-based crowdfunding platform dedicated to musicians and other content creators, recently announced that backers have given $10 million to its campaigns in 2014. According to Polygon, the 2014’s $10 million is a 3,761 percent increase over last year, which saw pledges of $259,000.
Vice president of operations at Patreon, Tyler Palmer stated, “In our eyes (and hearts), this demonstration of support underscores a dramatic, cultural revolution happening in arts communities around the globe. More creators are able to create freely and fully by connecting directly to the people with the power to support them. We’re honored to help make this happen, and inspired to do more.”
Palmer shared that Patreon has added creation pages, new payment settings, and a features section. The platform has also improved search and recommendations engines. He also revealed that 2015 will bring new designs and features such as notifications, creator analytics and even a mobile app.
Showing his appreciation to backers and entrepreneurs who turned to Patreon for crowdfunding efforts, Palmer added, “Thank you for making things. Thank you for paying people to make things. And thank you for stepping into a new ecosystem that’s evolving the way art is financed and shared. We know that without, Patreon is an empty shell. YOU fund, YOU create, YOU fill us up, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”