Frequently Asked Questions

What is Experiment?

Experiment is a platform for funding scientific discoveries.

What happens if a fundraising campaign doesn't reach the goal?

Experiment is an all-or-nothing fundraising platform. If the project doesn't reach it's goal, then none of the backers are charged.

Who funds projects on Experiment?

Everyone! That’s the beauty of the Internet, it allows anyone with a credit card to bring real science to life.

What is the reward for funding science?

Results. Scientists share the outcomes of their experiments with their backers. Backers on Experiment have funded 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 53 academic posters presented, and 69 talks at science conferences.

Does anyone review or approve the science behind the projects?

Our team reviews and approves each experiment before they launch publicly. Check out our start page for more information on our review criteria.

What is the cost of starting a project?

It is free to start a project. Once a project is funded, we take an 8% platform processing fee which keeps the site running.

Is any institutional overhead included?

Experiment's policy is that funds transferred to researchers are not subject to institution overhead. Click here for more information about working with your university.

Is Experiment a non-profit or for-profit organization?

Experiment is a mission-driven for-profit company. Though really, we're a happy melting pot of science, social entrepreneurship, and tech startup.

How do I get some Experiment stickers?

Send us an email with your mailing address!

What are the evaluation criteria for potential projects?

Read our Start Guide to learn more about project approval.

What are some examples of successful Experiment campaigns?

We've got case studies of funded campaigns.

What is the Open Access badge?

Projects with the Open Access badge mean that the researcher pledges to release all results of the project in an openly accessible way. Whether it's lab notes posted on Experiment or a final peer-reviewed article published in an open access journal, we encourage all researchers to do so. Click here to learn more about why Open Access is important.

How much technical information do I have to share about my experimental idea?

We only encourage transparency and openness as a way to help your backers understand the scientific impact, but there are many other ways to do so without giving up your secret sauce. Click here to learn more about this.

How do academic researchers use Experiment?

Experiment is often used to replace small grants for early-stage exploratory research. Other times, it’s used to supplement larger projects. Just don't treat it like a grant, with the expectation of writing a proposal and expecting money to come.

What is the funding success rate?

Experiment has a 47.8% success rate.

Can I delete my launched project?

Projects that have launched can not be deleted. When the campaign ends, it will no longer be discoverable by common search engines, but the URL will still exist.

Can I launch a project outside of the U.S.?

At this time, we are only hosting projects run by scientists based in the United States. Projects where you are a United States researcher, but conducting research abroad are eligible.

The next countries we will expand to are Canada, UK, and Australia. If you would like to be part of the pilot please submit this short questionnaire.

If you are based elsewhere, let us know how to reach you and we'll notify you as soon as Experiment is available in your country.

Are the donations tax-deductible?

Donations are not currently tax-deductible. We’re working on tax-deductible pledges with a certain number of partners. This will be updated when the feature is live.

Can I get a refund?

No, all payments that are charged once a project has met its goal are final.

How do I reset my password?

You can go here to reset it.

How can I contact you?

Our team at Experiment would love to hear from you! You can email us directly. We like to write long-winded personal emails, and sometimes we attach pictures of cats and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Security

At Experiment we strive to make sure our community is secure.
If you would like to notify the team about any security issues, please email us. We reward handsomely in T-shirts and stickers.