&gt; so what&#x27;s stopping new startups to make apps and publish on kickstarter to avoid paying the investors back later?<p>Absolutely nothing, plenty of niche games are funded through Kickstarter.<p>&gt; why do these &quot;investors&quot;, more like donors, so willing to throw their money at the screen?<p>Because someone is promising to try to build a thing they want, that no professional investor is willing to fund.