Looking for more real world data to explore?

How about another chance to win a free all-access membership to Maven?

Look no further!

We’ve just added a rich new dataset to the Data Playground with real data from Kickstarter, one of the world's largest crowdfunding platforms for creative projects.

This dataset is ripe for data exploration, analysis, and visualization, so load it up in your favorite BI tool (Excel, MySQL, Power BI, Tableau, etc.) and give it a go!

To go along with this release, we’re launching the Maven Crowdfunding Challenge and giving away a free all-access membership to the winner.

We’ll share more about the challenge details below, but first let’s talk about the data…

About the dataset

• We’re looking at over 375,000 projects started on Kickstarter

• Each record represents one project

• Records contain details about the project category, deadline date, amount pledged, number of backers, and more!

How to play the Maven Crowdfunding Challenge

For this challenge, you will be assuming the role of an analyst at an investment firm that invests in early stage entrepreneurs. The partners have asked you to analyze Kickstarter projects to understand factors that lead to a project taking off.

Your task is to share a single-page visual or dashboard that provides data-driven recommendations for the types of projects they should be looking at for future success.

Here’s how to submit your entry:

• Follow Maven Analytics on LinkedIn (existing followers can still play)

• Share a LinkedIn post containing both a direct @ mention to @Maven Analytics and the hashtag #mavencrowdfundingchallenge

• In your post, share a single-page visualization or dashboard based on the challenge objective above

• Tag, mention, and invite your connections to play along!

How to win

Finalists will be chosen by a panel of previous challenge winners, Maven Hall of Famers, and the Maven team. Each panelist will name one finalist, and the winner will be selected from the finalist pool by the Maven team, via live voting.

What you can win

As part of the Maven Crowdfunding Challenge, we'll be giving away 1 annual all-access Maven membership completely free of charge. The winner will get access to all of our Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and SQL courses, as well as our ongoing Machine Learning series, all with direct support and coaching from our expert instructors.

No purchase is necessary to participate. As always, this challenge is open to both current Maven subscribers and everyone else as well.

Check out the official rules below...

Official Terms (Maven Crowdfunding Challenge)

• Maven Analytics will give away 1 Annual subscription for an Individual account. After the one year period, the subscription will expire.

• No purchase is necessary to enter.

• The challenge will close to new entries on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021, at 12:00pm Noon Eastern Standard Time. All entries must be submitted prior.

• After the submission deadline, finalists will be chosen by a panel of previous challenge winners, Maven Hall of Famers, and the Maven team. Each panelist will name one finalist.

• Maven Analytics will select 1 winner from the finalists, and will announce the winner on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021 at 10:00am Eastern Standard Time. The official announcement will be posted on LinkedIn from the Maven Analytics LinkedIn account.

Don't want to participate in the Maven Crowdfunding Challenge? No problem. You can still analyze the data on your own. All of the Data Playground datasets are completely free and are available for everyone to learn with. Feel free to dig in anytime.

Check out the Kickstarter dataset, and many more, at the Data Playground.

Happy analyzing!