From music to hardware to writing to visual arts and more, we’ve probably all had a great idea or a passion project we’ve dreamed of doing. And that’s why The Muse has teamed up with Kickstarter, littleBits, and a host of other communities to help you get your side project off the shelf and into the real world.
Register for Project Side Project and enter your idea to instantly get access to a suite of free tools and resources to help you bring your art, craft, or creation to life.
Better yet? The top 12 submitted projects will get hands-on mentorship from the Kickstarter team, and the grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 grant, plus a suite of maker tools worth over $3,000.
How to Win
1. Register: Submit your idea for something awesome. Anything.
2. Share: Send your invention link to all your friends and family. Show them your incredible idea!
3. Vote: Bring your invention to the top of the charts by getting votes from your supporters. The top 12 get paired up with mentors and go head-to-head for the win.
After submitting your side project, get your friends and family to vote it to the top of the list. The 12 projects with the most votes will be paired with a mentor from Kickstarter to help you prepare to launch a Kickstarter campaign of your own. On August 18, a panel made up by the contest partners will select the project that is the furthest along to win $5,000 in backing and prizes from our awesome partners.
Timeline
6/23-7/21: Submit your project.
7/7-7/21: Voting begins. Share your project with everyone you know, and get them to upvote it on the contest page.
7/21: The top 12 finalists will be announced, and the mentorships begin.
8/18: The winner is announced!
Prizes
Grand Prize (Project Voted on by Partner Panel)
- $2,000 towards a successfully launched crowdfunding campaign from littleBits and Uncubed
- $1,000 store credit from Shapeways
- One-year pro membership from Instructables
- A video storytelling consultation and $1,000 in store credit from Dissolve
- Website consultation and a free year of Squarespace
- All finalist prizes below
Finalists (12 Projects With the Most Votes)
- Mentorship from Kickstarter to help you prepare to launch a Kickstarter campaign of your own
- $100 store credit from Shapeways
- One-year pro membership from Instructables
- Free entry to the next Uncubed event of your choice (LA, Chicago, SF, or NYC)
- $500 video store credit from Dissolve
- One deluxe kit from littleBits
- Free six-month Squarespace membership
- All entrant prizes below
All Entrants (Anyone Who Submits a Project)
- A free class on “How to Finally Start Your Side Project” offered by The Muse
- $25 store credit from Shapeways
- One-month free pro membership from Instructables
- Beta access to courses on Uncubed Edge
- Bundle of tools and resources from Creative Market
- Free Ableton course and prize pack from Blend
- 10 free video clips from Dissolve
- $20 off any kit from littleBits
- 10% off Squarespace