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"  Web-based fundraising (a.k.a crowdfunding) is often done in the name of charity projects like building schools in third-world countries. The founders of Crave, on the other hand, took to the Web to solicit donations for orgasms. Or, more specifically, sex toys for the new millennium.  Crave went right to the randy people it aims to please to crowdfund for its debut vibrator, the Duet, which plugs right into your computer&amp;#039;s USB port. We interviewed designers Ti Chang and Michael Topolovac about getting kicked off Kickstarter, sex necklaces, and storing your term paper on your vibrator. \u2028\u2028Cosmo: You wanted to raise money for sex toys online. Why did you use the lesser known site, CKIE instead of the go-to crowdfunder, Kickstarter? Crave: We designed the project to go on Kickstarter. We had this elegant video pulled together, and they kicked us off, saying they don&amp;#039;t support vibrators! We stumbled across CKIE, which had no traction, so we were surprised by how well it did\u2026We would have broken any Kickstarter record. \u2028\u2028Cosmo: So, how well did you do? Crave: Techcrunch and Gizmodo picked [our story] up early on, and from there, it took off. We were getting one tweet a minute at its peak. The goal was $15,000 in six weeks, and we ended up doing that in the first two days. By the end of the six weeks, we raised just over $100,000. \u2028 \u2028\u2028Cosmo: Okay, now sell us: What&amp;#039;s so great about the Duet? Crave: It&amp;#039;s designed as a great external stimulator that hugs the clit. Technologically, it&amp;#039;s completely hassle-free. We heard from customers who were saying they don&amp;#039;t want to deal with chargers and batteries and cords. The USB part is convenient. It&amp;#039;s waterproof, extra small, and absolutely quiet.  \u2028\u2028Q: This USB. Can you actually store information on it like any drive? Like, say, a term paper? Crave: The basic model does not hold info, but the Duet Lux holds 8 or 16 gigs of storage along with 24-karat gold plating. Not to mention, custom engraving. \u2028\u2028Cosmo: What were your online donors saying about the mission? Crave: One of our donors said, &amp;#039;My wife...loves a vibrator but hates to talk about it. All of a sudden she is liberated. She&amp;#039;s leading the discussion\u2014rather than me trying to search the skanky Websites and find something I hope she likes!&amp;#039; \u2028\u2028Cosmo: You recently expanded your line of vibrators and also added\u2026 sex jewelry?\u2028\u2028 Crave: We released the Solo, a single motor version of the Duet, and came out with foreplay jewelry. There&amp;#039;s a necklace called Droplet that is also a nipple vibrator. It looks like two little pendants, and it&amp;#039;s super discreet. We have leather handcuffs with a stainless steel chain you can wear as bracelets on one wrist during the day and then wear on each wrist at night as cuffs.  Q: Is raising money online for sex toys the wave of the future? Crave: The space is becoming modern and mainstreamed as opposed to stigmatized, bringing to market products that women actually want. There&amp;#039;s a bigger trend where the market is on the cusp of becoming mainstream like Victoria&amp;#039;s Secret before it became mainstream. We&amp;#039;re in the middle of that right now. And it&amp;#039;s about time! Follow Jessica on Twitter. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a11894/crave-sex-toys/>