I know these guys and it is a real (albeit ambitious!) idea.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 1:06 PM, Aurélien <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:aurelien@cwb.io" target="_blank">aurelien@cwb.io</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div class="HOEnZb"><div class="h5">Steven Sutton <<a href="mailto:ssutton4455@gmail.com">ssutton4455@gmail.com</a>> writes:<br>
<br>
> I don't think it's a scam, just an ambitious portfolio of projects.<br>
> However, I can see where Matt came go that conclusion because of the<br>
> lack of Return on Investment data for each of the sub-projects.<br>
><br>
> For example, small-scale testing and yield rates for aquaponics are<br>
> available from various labs. If crops are grown to be sold, then an<br>
> optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely revenue estimate can be<br>
> created for a given square footage and used to project the amount of<br>
> time that the investment will be paid off. The same for the retail<br>
> location (where revenue per square foot data for similar retail<br>
> businesses could be used as a benchmark).<br>
><br>
> You don't have to get super technical, as that will turn some people<br>
> off, but you have to also instill confidence in the worthiness of the<br>
> investment and probable success of the project. Unless I see numbers,<br>
> I have a really hard time imagining the cost justification for using<br>
> hydrogen fuel cells in the initial build. Or the initial $150+ per<br>
> square foot cost. Or the lack of maintenance costs and plans.<br>
><br>
> If it were me, I would take a phased approach and demonstrate this on<br>
> a small scale before going big with it. Looking over the data, I think<br>
> it's possible to get 80% of the features for 20% of the cost.<br>
><br>
> It's a noble project, but the pitch is difficult to understand from a<br>
> technical perspective. I think you need a better model of the project<br>
> in order for it to go viral. It has to seem just within reach to get<br>
> people excited. That means an achievable initial investment, very<br>
> little waste (with each sub project justified), a cost-effective<br>
> architecture, and a 10-20 year Return on Investment including the<br>
> continuous costs to run the facility over that time period.<br>
><br>
> If the facility were to be paid off by member dues alone, 12 months *<br>
> 20 years = 240 dues payments, which requires 6000+ members to pay off.<br>
> Also troubling is the lack of information about continuous labor<br>
> costs, licensing, inspection, impact fees, and contractor costs.<br>
><br>
> So why is the pitch so vague?<br>
><br>
> Steven<br>
><br>
> On Oct 3, 2012 12:09 PM, "Matt Joyce" <<a href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com">matt@nycresistor.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
> Seems like a total scam. The cost estimates are nonsensical and<br>
> there is practically zero detail on the project beyond those.<br>
><br>
> Probably had to use indiegogo cause kickstarter would have shot<br>
> the idea as proposed down.<br>
><br>
> -matt<br>
><br>
> On Oct 3, 2012 8:57 AM, "Psy Tek" <<a href="mailto:psytek@alphaonelabs.com">psytek@alphaonelabs.com</a>> wrote:<br>
><br>
><br>
> Hello,<br>
><br>
><br>
> I'm writing to let you know about 'hackert0wn', a pioneering<br>
> educational center for clean technology and sustainability<br>
> featuring the world's first marketplace for hackers.<br>
><br>
><br>
> Take a moment to check it out on Indiegogo and also share it<br>
> with your friends. All the tools are there. Get perks, make<br>
> a contribution, or simply follow updates. If enough of us get<br>
> behind it, we can make 'hackert0wn' happen.<br>
><br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/hackert0wn?a=1498290&i=emal" target="_blank">http://www.indiegogo.com/hackert0wn?a=1498290&i=emal</a><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
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<br>
</div></div>Hi hackers,<br>
<br>
Wow so they have a t0wn, mugs and much more things but no website?<br>
<br>
No webmaster in a hackertown -_-'<br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br>
--<br>
Aurelien DESBRIERES<br>
Ride Free! Ride GNU.org<br>
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