[hackerspaces] Start a Kickstarter for Your Laser Cutter Today

[Nick Farr]

It actually gets tricky.  I'd advise getting a lawyer to guide you through
the process, but it is very possible for Non-Profits to handle a transaction
like this.

One possible way of doing the NYCR plan within a 501(c)(3) is to have an
"investor group" purchase the machine as a partnership, then resell the
machine on an installment basis back to the 501(c)(3).

The major hurdles are insuring that the agreement doesn't create an "excess
benefit transaction" for "disqualified persons".  (Google those terms for
more info.)

In short, those in the investor group, if they're involved with governance
of the space, should recuse themselves from any vote or participation in the
space's decision to proceed.  Those who authorize a loan situation as
follows should have no tangible interest or risk in the machine itself.

There are lots of ways to make something like this happen, it's just a
matter of following the proper guidance.

Nick Farr
http://nickfarr.org
+1 202 630-3277
D762E03B



On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 6:32 PM, Carlyn Maw <carlynorama at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Tim,
>
> How did your not-for-profit status get in the way exactly?
> Non-profits can lease equipment, have a positive cash flow, etc, I
> thought. Just curious where y'all ran aground - in case we're about to
> make the same mistake!
>
> Best,
> --C
>
> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 1:30 PM, Tim Saylor <tim.saylor at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I put together that same exact plan for PSOne but our non-profit status
> got
> > in the way.  In order to pay back investors someone would have to assume
> all
> > the risk  and take charge of making the laser profitable personally.
>  That
> > was a bit too high a hurdle for us.  I'd love to find out that there's a
> way
> > to make it work though, if anyone knows more about non-profits than I do
> > (which shouldn't be hard).
> > Tim
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:15 AM, bre pettis <brepettis at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> I will also donate on kickstarter to any hackerspace wanting to get a
> >> lasercutter. I recommend getting a non-chinese knockoff brand. Get the
> >> biggest one you can afford!
> >>
> >> It would be a nice sell if your hackerspace could also say something
> like,
> >> "we've pulled together 8k and need another 12k."
> >>
> >> At NYCR, we had 20 people become LAZZZOR investors and each put in
> between
> >> 500 and 5000 dollars to get 20k together and get a nice epilog 35 mini
> and
> >> blower system. We charged for use of our laser until the money was paid
> back
> >> to the LAZZZOR investors. If I could go back, I wish we had bought the
> 120
> >> watt 24x36 machine...
> >>
> >> It really is a wonderful tool! (It also is the reason we were able to
> >> create MakerBot)
> >>
> >> Bre
> >>
> >> MakerBot Industries
> >> http://makerbot.com
> >> Recent Press:
> >>
> http://blogs.forbes.com/davidewalt/2011/01/07/the-makerbot-is-best-at-ces/
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 2:43 AM, I.T. Daniher <explodingmind at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> What about "Lasersaur"? "DIY Desktop CNC Machine"? Both are currently
> >>> funded kickstarter projects involving the creation of an open-source
> laser
> >>> cutter.
> >>> -itdnhr
> >>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 02:36, tetsu yatsu <tetsuharu at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Not sure if you're speaking from personal experience or just trollin',
> >>>> but the only loss is a loss in confidence.
> >>>>
> >>>> Sounds like you already know about the whole kickstarter
> >>>> 'all-or-nothing' deal, so I won't proselytize about that.
> >>>>
> >>>> If you're willing to try again, might maybe you could phrase it a
> little
> >>>> differently :). We made some stupid flyers that we distributed to all
> the
> >>>> local college campuses, and had a silly story about how we were going
> to
> >>>> decrease the out-of-control secret agent population.
> >>>>
> >>>> We could help you make flyers if it's holding you up?
> >>>>
> >>>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 2:25 AM, Tim Saylor <tim.saylor at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Well, the worst that will happen is you won't have a laser cutter but
> >>>>> you've already cashed in your chips with whoever you convinced to go
> >>>>> "donate" once and now they'll be less inclined to "donate" for your
> second
> >>>>> try even though they haven't really donated yet.  Kickstarter is a
> great
> >>>>> tool but you should put some thought into your proposal before
> kicking it
> >>>>> off.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 1:17 AM, tetsu yatsu <tetsuharu at gmail.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> https://www.kickstarter.com/start
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Now I may just be high off sublimated acrylic fumes, but I love our
> >>>>>> lab's laser cutter and I want everyone to have this chance. I cut
> out 15
> >>>>>> Hudson-CI logos to entice people at my work to buy into continuous
> >>>>>> integration, 8 stupid keychain things, and I couldn't help but fill
> the
> >>>>>> sheet with little rockets that say 'derp' on them. Now I have 2
> dozen 'derp'
> >>>>>> rockets. And I'm cutting out a big wooden Github Octocat made by our
> member
> >>>>>> JohnBentCope, which my girlfriend thinks is adorable, and was a big
> hit at
> >>>>>> the MagicRuby conference.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I want everyone to have a laser cutter.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> If you start a kickstarter for getting a laser cutter, I will
> donate.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> There's the link. Doesn't cost anything. Just do it.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Worst that'll happen is you'll not get a laser cutter, which is
> where
> >>>>>> you are now.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Come on.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I got my pocket book out. Let's get you a laser cutter.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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> >>>>
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