AdBlock launches crowdfunder to release an ad campaign

Talk about being meta. AdBlock, the company that brought to you the ad blocking extension on Chrome is trying to raise money… for an ad campaign. AdBlock wants to raise money to make an advertisement that will promote blocking ads.

AdBlock has launched a crowdfunding project which will try and raise at least $25,000 in order to help Internet users the joys of ad-less surfing. If the project manages to raise the amount in 30 days, AdBlock will start its anti-ads ad campaign. If the project manages to make double the money, AdBlock will invest the amount in hiring a Times Square Billboard. Bigger goals for the crowdfunding adventure include a full page spread in the New York Times and a TV spot during the 2014 Super Bowl.

Ad for an ad-blocker

“7 out of 10 Internet users still don't know they can have an ad-free experience. We want to empower all people around the world to choose an online world without advertising. We can reshape the whole Internet -- it's just a matter of spreading the word,” reads the ambitious crowdfunding. The company will be making AdBlock banner ads and video commercials with the amount raised, embracing the same medium it has vowed to beat.

The interesting copy of the video advertisement proposed reads, “This is the last ad you’ll ever have to see.” At the time of publishing, the noble cause has already seen 529 backers who’ve pledged $8,500. The crowdfunding activity has another 28 days to go.

Of course, AdBlock is giving out rewards to anyone who contributes – $1 will see your name added to the support page, $10 will get you an AdBlock sticker, $25 and $65 will earn you an AdBlock T-shirt and a hoodie respectively. Interestingly, the $40 and $1,337 rewards seem like the most fun. The former amount will let you turn all the ads on the web into cat pictures and the latter will let you choose your own cat-like extension. Of course, to be able to get all these rewards and kickstart the ad campaign, the $25,000 mark must be reached.