In November 2016, Kickstarter announced the launch of Kickstarter Live, a feature that lets the crowdfunding site’s users use live streams to raise money in real time. To build its live broadcasting platform, Kickstarter turned to Huzza, a startup centered around creator-led events. Now, Kickstarter has taken its relationship with Huzza one step further by acquiring it for an undisclosed price.
Huzza made a name for itself by working not just with Kickstarter but also with other crowdfunding platforms, such as Patreon. The startup’s co-founders, Justin Womersley and Nick Smit, are based in Vancouver, and once they join their new team, they will stay put in their current home. Kickstarter’s Vancouver office will become its first hub outside of the United States.
As part of the deal, Huzza will shutter its creator-facing platform. “Choosing to shutdown Huzza was an incredibly difficult decision for us, especially as Kickstarter gave us the opportunity to keep the platform going,” reads a post on the Huzza website. “Our mission with Huzza has always been to help creators connect and more deeply engage with their communities, and we felt that we can have a bigger impact on creators by focusing our efforts on Kickstarter.”
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The Huzza acquisition will allow Kickstarter to build upon the live streaming platform it has already launched. A list of upcoming streams related to active campaigns can be found here. Kickstarter has also shared additional information about its Huzza deal in a blog post.
