<p dir="ltr">I don't think it's a scam, just an ambitious portfolio of projects. However, I can see where Matt came go that conclusion because of the lack of Return on Investment data for each of the sub-projects.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For example, small-scale testing and yield rates for aquaponics are available from various labs. If crops are grown to be sold, then an optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely revenue estimate can be created for a given square footage and used to project the amount of time that the investment will be paid off. The same for the retail location (where revenue per square foot data for similar retail businesses could be used as a benchmark).<br>
</p>
<p dir="ltr">You don't have to get super technical, as that will turn some people off, but you have to also instill confidence in the worthiness of the investment and probable success of the project. Unless I see numbers, I have a really hard time imagining the cost justification for using hydrogen fuel cells in the initial build. Or the initial $150+ per square foot cost. Or the lack of maintenance costs and plans.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If it were me, I would take a phased approach and demonstrate this on a small scale before going big with it. Looking over the data, I think it's possible to get 80% of the features for 20% of the cost.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It's a noble project, but the pitch is difficult to understand from a technical perspective. I think you need a better model of the project in order for it to go viral. It has to seem just within reach to get people excited. That means an achievable initial investment, very little waste (with each sub project justified), a cost-effective architecture, and a 10-20 year Return on Investment including the continuous costs to run the facility over that time period.</p>
<p dir="ltr">If the facility were to be paid off by member dues alone, 12 months * 20 years = 240 dues payments, which requires 6000+ members to pay off. Also troubling is the lack of information about continuous labor costs, licensing, inspection, impact fees, and contractor costs.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So why is the pitch so vague?<br></p><p dir="ltr"></p><p dir="ltr">Steven</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Oct 3, 2012 12:09 PM, "Matt Joyce" <<a href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com" target="_blank">matt@nycresistor.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<p>Seems like a total scam. The cost estimates are nonsensical and there is practically zero detail on the project beyond those.</p>
<p>Probably had to use indiegogo cause kickstarter would have shot the idea as proposed down.</p>
<p>-matt</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Oct 3, 2012 8:57 AM, "Psy Tek" <<a href="mailto:psytek@alphaonelabs.com" target="_blank">psytek@alphaonelabs.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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