Kickstarter Joins Forces with Alibaba.com as Crowdfunding Partner for $1 Million CoCreate Pitch Competition

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Kickstarter Partners with Alibaba.com

In a significant development for aspiring entrepreneurs, Alibaba.com, a premier business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform, has announced its collaboration with Kickstarter, officially designating it as the crowdfunding partner for the CoCreate Pitch 2025. This global initiative, boasting a whopping $1 million prize pool, aims to provide a robust platform for innovators looking to transition their product ideas from conceptual stages to international markets.

The merger of these two influential platforms marks a pivotal moment in the entrepreneurial landscape. Kickstarter, renowned for its thriving community of over 23 million backers who have collectively pledged more than $8.5 billion to creative projects, joins forces with Alibaba.com, which encompasses a vast network of 50 million business buyers and 200,000 suppliers from across the globe. This partnership aims not only to fuel creativity but also to facilitate sustainable business growth through a comprehensive set of resources, visibility, and infrastructure that entrepreneurs can leverage.

Kuo Zhang, President of Alibaba.com, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Our mission has always been to make it easier to conduct business anywhere. We are continually enhancing our support for entrepreneurs, whether through global sourcing services or our innovative AI-powered tools. This collaboration with Kickstarter perfectly aligns with our goal of bridging the gap between innovative ideas and their execution in the market."

Kickstarter’s CEO, Everette Taylor, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the power of community support in nurturing innovative ideas. He remarked, "Throughout our 16-year history, we’ve witnessed how a single idea can flourish when backed by a community that believes in it. We’re thrilled to contribute to this year's CoCreate programming and aid in bringing these ideas to fruition. Those who advance as finalists and opt to launch their campaigns on Kickstarter will benefit from the backing of our passionate global community."

The CoCreate Pitch, unveiled during Alibaba's flagship event, is poised to become the largest product-centric pitch competition worldwide. The competition will select 100 semi-finalists—70 from Las Vegas and 30 from London—to pitch their ideas live at two major events scheduled for September and November 2025. The winning entrepreneurs will receive prizes that include cash and sourcing credits, along with complimentary access to Alibaba's extensive sourcing tools and global platform.

Participants are encouraged to submit their entries via a 30-second video across social media platforms such as Instagram or TikTok, using the hashtag #CoCreatePitch. Alternatively, they may fill out an entry form on the dedicated CoCreate Pitch website. The initial evaluation will consider factors such as innovation, feasibility, and potential market success.

In addition to the pitch competition, the partnership allows Alibaba.com and Kickstarter to develop co-branded digital portals to enhance the support available to entrepreneurs. These portals will streamline access to the CoCreate Pitch competition resources, facilitating an easier application process for entrepreneurs excited about transforming their visionary ideas into tangible realities.

Moreover, Kickstarter will be heavily involved in the CoCreate event, hosting panels discussing alternative funding models and joining a prestigious judging panel that will oversee the competition. Taylor will also provide guidance to winners who plan to initiate crowdfunding campaigns following the pitch competition, further solidifying Kickstarter's commitment to empowering innovators.

With registration deadlines approaching in mid-2025 for the Las Vegas and London events, this unprecedented collaboration between Kickstarter and Alibaba.com is set to invigorate the entrepreneurial community worldwide. For those eager to take their product ideas to new heights, the CoCreate Pitch presents a valuable opportunity to gain not only funding but mentorship from seasoned industry professionals as well.

For full details on how to apply, visit Alibaba CoCreate. Overall, the integration of Kickstarter's community-focused model with Alibaba's expansive commerce capabilities represents a transformative step forward for entrepreneurs everywhere, unlocking paths to innovation and success at an unprecedented scale.