Total: 23,000
*As of the end of December 2022
This is the number of makers who have embarked on new challenges throughWadiz.
With the visionof “creating a world where anyone can take on a challenge,” Wadiz has spent the past 10 years building a crowdfunding industry that connects ambitious makers with supportive backers. There’s something we announce every year at the end of the year.
It’stheWadiz Wadiz Awards,”now in its fifth year.
The Wadiz Awards are Wadiz official awards that recognize the best makers who have presented new possibilities for everyday life and driven positive change through Wadiz funding over the past year.
Five award ceremonies have been held through 2022. On average, 120 teams are selected each year, and to date, over 600 makers have been honored. This provides makers with the genuine prestige of being “selected byWadiz.”
Wadizis home to many small brands and creators who start out with their own unique stories. We showcase the pride they take in growing their businesses through customer support and funding in the form of “Awards.”
“A platform that offers opportunities to take on challenges”
The Wadiz Awards serve to convey the very purpose of Wadiz, while also celebrating and cheering on the makers who have driven growth over the past year.
The Wadiz Awards are particularly meaningful because the final winners are determined by votes from supporters. This is because supporters are customers and fans who resonate with the brand’s values, participate in the funding campaigns, and provide generous feedback.
Approximately 13,000 members participated in the 2022 voting, which is about three times the number from the previous year. Can you see the growing interest in Wadiz?
2019–2022 Wadiz Awards Poster
Now that we’ve reached the fifth edition, some creators have even earned the honor of “consecutive wins.” With 55 teams participating, the number of brands on Wadiz that are launching new ventures and achieving sustained growth continues to grow.
Which brands led the funding market in 2022?
We reviewed a variety of achievements to select over 100 teams as nominees for the Wadiz Awards.
We selected 100 teams from the top 5% of makers based on a comprehensive score calculated from various metrics—including funding targets, requests for additional funding, likes, comments, signatures of support, satisfaction ratings, refund rates, and whether the project was listed on the Wadiz Store—among funding projects that ran from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022.
Makers selected for the 2022 Wadiz Awards Top 10
The top 10 creators have raised an average of 350 million won in funding this year, with an average satisfaction rating of 4.73. Among them, "Mastermind Group," which took first place, has garnered significant attention for its "Jewelry Ice" product—which never melts—and has raised nearly 1 billion won in funding to date.
From “World Travel from Your Living Room” to “Lingerie That Celebrates Women’s Freedom”
What exactly is it about this project that has attracted funding and support from so many backers and earned it a spot in the Top 10—a true measure of popularity? We took a look at the compelling story from the backers’ perspective and also heard a brief acceptance speech.
Who was the top maker of 2022?
Mastermind Group, which developed “non-melting ice” and raised a cumulative total of 900 million won in funding, was named the top maker among the 2022 Wadiz Awards Top 10.
Targeting the whiskey ice market, they believed the overseas market would be larger, so they first tried the U.S. funding platform ‘Kickstarter.’ After that, they took on the challenge of Wadiz funding. By actively incorporating feedback from Wadiz following the failure of their first project, they were able to achieve even greater success.
Let’s hear from Jang Jeong-hoon, CEO of Jewel Ice.
“I am delighted and deeply honored to have been selected as the top maker by our supporters. Moving forward, Jewel Ice will strive to make the world a richer and more beautiful place with high-quality ice, never losing sight of our original vision as we establish ourselves as a global brand, not just a domestic one.”
*Wait a minute! If you're curious about Jewel Ice Maker's story, check out
👉 The success story of an ice enthusiast who expanded overseas with ice: Achievement Room Ep. 3 Mastermind Group
"Marun Five," a three-time consecutive award winner
Marun Five launched its business in 2017 with two female co-CEOs. By 2022, it had rapidly grown into a brand with a market value exceeding 10 billion won, garnering significant attention.
Marun Five is also a maker that has won the Wadiz Awards for three consecutive years. It is a brand that has consistently been loved by supporters and fans who rush to sign up for notifications as soon as news of a new project is announced.
Let’s hear from Marun Five co-founders Gong Mi-ae and Jung Soo-jin!
“It is truly meaningful to receive this award for Sheer Underwear for the third consecutive year. To Marun Five, our supporters are like ‘team members’ with whom we share ideas. I believe the reason Sheer Underwear has been so well-received is that we’ve incorporated our supporters’ feedback into our products and continuously improved them.”
“We will continue to prioritize comfort and health, and we will do our best to repay your support with even more innovative and new products.”
Travel the world from your living room? A liquid highball blend named after cities
Levitate has developed a liquid highball blend that, when mixed with soju or other spirits, ice, and “Evil,” makes you feel like you’re “traveling the world from the comfort of your own home.” The product line features a variety of flavors, each named after one of 10 cities—including Jeju, Bangkok, Paris, and New York—and offers a distinct taste for each.
We have raised a total of 200 million won in funding, and our product has earned a perfect score of 5 out of 5, earning the recognition of our supporters. Following the successful funding campaign, we successfully launched our store Wadiz and held an offline pop-up exhibition. In recognition of these achievements, we also received follow-up investment fromWadiz.”
Through the 2022 Wadiz Awards, we’ve taken a look at the projects that stood out Wadiz—a world of endless possibilities and challenges.
To instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in creators, and to help supporters discover the excitement and novelty of everyday life, we will continue to develop projects like the Wadiz in 2023.
Wadizcontinues to support the challenges and growth of various brands.
Wadizexclusive brand festival, theWadiz Awards’— I can’t wait to see what projects will be showcased this year 😊
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