This whole "controversy" over companies who do Kickstarters and later raise money (or sell their company) seems overblown. When you're backing a Kickstarter for these types of companies you're often trying to get the product as a pre-order. So in addition to a potentially low margin business, these companies are now supposed to feel inclined to give you -- the customer -- equity in their company? As a backer, do you want the product or do you want the equity? They are two completely different ideas that seem to be conflated in the press. Perhaps all this controversy is fabricated by the press and not an actual problem.
Kickstarter in particular is about rewards and/or patronage. There is an avenue for equity based crowdfunding elsewhere, the question is whether there is a big enough demand on the consumer side (with people who have little information about the company) and the business side (with founders who don't want to share equity). I'm not referencing AngelList, but rather companies who would run Kickstarter-like projects.
Kickstarter in particular is about rewards and/or patronage. There is an avenue for equity based crowdfunding elsewhere, the question is whether there is a big enough demand on the consumer side (with people who have little information about the company) and the business side (with founders who don't want to share equity). I'm not referencing AngelList, but rather companies who would run Kickstarter-like projects.