Kickstarter has given birth to everything from arts magazines and documentaries to community centers and skillsharing workshops. While the creative projects the site attracts lend it its cool clout, the site is a trendsetter in ways that go beyond its support of visionary ventures. Indeed, Kickstarter pioneered what has become a full-on crowdfunding revolution, with several similar sites now elbowing for attention in the space.

IndieGoGo: Those who give money to projects on IndieGoGo, a service where members can fundraise for creative, cause-related or entrepreneurial endeavors, are not reimbursed monetarily. But their generosity is acknowledged upon the project’s completion via a gift pertaining to the end product, or sometimes even a producer’s credit. But this is where IndieGoGo’s resemblance to Kickstarter ends. Kickstarter campaigns that don’t reach their goal by the project’s deadline lose all of their pledges. On IndieGoGo, fundraisers receive all pledges, regardless of whether or not they meet their goals. Meanwhile, all potential Kickstarter projects must be vetted by the site, resulting in a carefully curated roster, whereas IndieGoGo’s more democratic approach allows anyone to start a campaign. The only question is which one should we use to get our mobile coffee bar off the ground?

We were always told that wearing eyeglasses made us look smarter. In our youth, we were convinced it was just our parents’ way of making us feel better about the unflattering bargain frames that masked half of our face, but nowadays we would be inclined to agree with them. Having discovered new prescription eyewear that makes it possible to actually retain a sense of style – and, in some cases, also help out those in need – we feel smarter already.

Warby Parker: We like to change our frames to suit our mood, but considering the hefty price tag of a pair of specs, our mood has remained unchanged as of late. Offering a pick-me-up is NYC-based Warby Parker, an eyewear company that allows those lacking 20/20 vision to express their personality at only $95 a pair – including the cost of prescription lenses and shipping. (By cutting out middlemen and designing and manufacturing in-house, the company is able to significantly reduce prices.) For those choosy four-eyes who may be wary of purchasing a pair online, Warby Parker provides two options to find frames that fit your face: their virtual try-on booth or a free 5-day home trial period that allows shoppers to give up to five styles a test drive before committing. Sweetening the deal even further, the company also partners with Restoring Vision, through whom they donate a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair they sell. And, hey, any company that attempts to bring back the monocle is a company we can get behind.