The creative crowdfunding giant, Kickstarter, faced significant operational hurdles before Everette Taylor, then 33, was appointed as its CEO in 2022. The company, which launched in 2009 with considerable fanfare, had fallen on difficult times, with revenue dropping by 20% prior to Taylor’s arrival. Since he took the helm in September 2022, the company has experienced a notable corporate revival. Now 37, Taylor has become a prominent figure in the business world, frequently featured in publications such as Entrepreneur, Esquire, and Forbes, and is now the subject of a profile regarding his trajectory as a young, Black CEO.
Taylor’s leadership has been marked by a focus on returning to the platform’s roots. When Kickstarter first emerged over 15 years ago, it was designed to support lesser-known artists, musicians, filmmakers, and fashion designers. Over time, however, the platform evolved into a space for high-profile projects from A-list celebrities and newsmakers, a shift that drew criticism from those who argued the site was providing resources to individuals who did not necessarily require them. Notable figures including Kristen Bell, Charlamagne Tha God, Vic Mensa, Spike Lee, and Zach Braff have utilized the platform to fund various pursuits.
To address the evolving needs of the creative community, Taylor is spearheading the launch of The Culture Fund. This new initiative aims to provide financial support to projects across the fashion, music, art, and film industries. Taylor explained that the fund was conceived after he observed that creatives from diverse backgrounds often shared a common struggle: financial instability. He noted that many public-facing successes mask the underlying debt incurred during production.
“A lot of them, even the people that you see, (saying) ‘Oh, I’m in Vogue’ or ‘I did this thing,’ or ‘I just like launched a movie,'” Taylor said, “they don’t show you that they went in debt launching that movie.” By launching The Culture Fund, Kickstarter intends to circle back to its mission of assisting emerging creators. The company has committed an initial $1 million to the fund as a test amount and plans to seek additional investment from external partners to sustain the project long-term.
Regarding the company’s initial investment, Taylor stated, “I was like, ‘Hey, let’s put our money where our mouth is’ and make this commitment from ourselves.” This move reflects his broader philosophy of leadership and accountability. Taylor, who maintains a significant digital presence with over 600,000 Instagram followers, has been candid about his own background. He was raised primarily by his mother in Southside Richmond, Virginia, in a neighborhood characterized by structural disadvantages.
His personal history includes a period of homelessness at age 17, an experience he describes as a “terrible” ordeal. Despite these early challenges, Taylor emphasizes that he never lost hope, crediting his internal confidence for his survival. After high school, he briefly attended college before dropping out to launch his first company, EZ Events, at 19. That venture was sold in 2011, and he later founded PopSocial, a social media marketing firm that generated over $2 million in revenue.
By 2018, Taylor was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He subsequently served as the chief marketing officer for the online art marketplace Artsy before transitioning to Kickstarter. His rise has been noted by industry observers as part of a broader trend of young, Black CEOs who are successfully rebuilding consumer trust and cultivating personal brands in a corporate landscape where the average CEO is significantly older.
Ann Mooney Murphy, a business professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, noted the rarity and difficulty of such an ascent. “It’s very difficult to become CEO as a Black person but if you do make it, that might mean that you have some pretty remarkable qualifications,” Murphy said. Taylor himself acknowledges his identity, stating, “I am very much a very proud Black man. With that being said, I think I’m a great CEO period.”
Taylor’s inspiration for his career path includes figures like Shawn “Jay Z” Carter. In an Observer story published in June, Taylor cited the Roc Nation co-founder as a major influence, particularly after seeing him on the cover of Black Enterprise magazine. Last month, Taylor attended a concert at Yankee Stadium celebrating the 30th anniversary of Carter’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” a record that was released when Taylor was seven years old.
The platform’s current model continues to distinguish itself from charitable sites like GoFundMe. While GoFundMe donors typically support specific causes, Kickstarter patrons pledge funds at various tiers in exchange for rewards. This structure remains central to how the company facilitates creative projects, even as it pivots toward more targeted support through The Culture Fund.
Looking toward the future, Taylor remains focused on mentorship and legacy. He expressed a desire to see others surpass his own achievements, stating, “For all of what I’ve accomplished and all of who I am today, I want people to improve upon that and be better than who I am.” His tenure at Kickstarter is viewed by many as a stabilization period, moving the company away from the volatility it faced in the mid-2010s.
As Kickstarter navigates economic uncertainty, the company’s commitment to The Culture Fund serves as both a strategic pivot and a reaffirmation of its original purpose. By focusing on the financial realities of creators, Taylor hopes to ensure that the platform remains a viable engine for innovation, regardless of the creator’s initial level of fame or existing capital.
Revenue dropped by 20%, and Taylor was hired as chief executive that September, according to a recent New York Times piece.
When Kickstarter launched over 15 years ago, Taylor said the company didn’t have users funding campaigns for $50 million tech products or $30 million campaigns for games.
He was homeless at 17 for less than a year – a detail that has defined media coverage despite the fact that Taylor said he mentioned it offhand in one of his first-ever interviews.
Last year was the privately-operated corporation’s best on record.
He witnessed mental health challenges and drug abuse.
Under his leadership, the company continued its four-day work week and cleared up consumer confusion over some post-COVID-19 similarities to GoFundMe.
In a corporate landscape where the average CEO is around 60, the group includes Damola Adamolekun, who runs Red Lobster and is 37 like Taylor, and Sean Tresvant, the CEO of Taco Bell, who is in his 40s.
The CEO expert said Taylor’s upbringing is far from the only nontraditional aspect of his biography.
Taylor was also an outside hire with marketing expertise, a rarity for top executives.