Kickstart a Revolution

My love affair with KickStarter [http://www.kickstarter.com] began in early 2012 and was followed closely by a dive into IndieGoGo [http://www.indiegogo.com].  Both are revolutionary crowd funding resources with slightly different models and both are changing the world in ways you may not be aware of if you have not been following along.

Kickstarter is a business resource that is fantastic for new startups that would otherwise not have a chance at survival.  If you have an interesting idea that has an actual business plan and a solid product idea, but want to avoid venture capital, then Kickstarter nay be a good option.  Unlike traditional investment, funders do not normally get any ownership rights in the company or project.  Instead a kickstarter funder may get a t-shirt, or a special edition of the finished product and the satisfaction of knowing they helped get a new company off the ground.  In the past eighteen months, I have helped kickstart several projects including the following.

HackEDA
Unfortunately this project was one of the few that was not funded.  This would have been great for inventors and hardware hackers who need a circuit but don't want to deal with original design.  The core of the project is still located here [http://www.hackeda.com].

The ARKYD space telescope
This is one of my favourites.  Funders raised 50% more than the required amount to place a publicly accessible telescope in orbit.  Since I would not have a clue what to do with the time I paid for, I donated it all to the University of Calgary to assist the Astrophysics program.

Game Stick
Love my GameStick.  Yes this was funded and yes I got one of the Funder Edition models.  This may change gaming in big ways if it gets traction.  More than fifty six hundred funders raised over SIX TIMES the required $100,000 needed to launch the project.  Seriously, you have to go look at the Kickstarter page for this one [HERE].  A very powerful game console with cloud storage, online sales and it all fits in your pocket for about $80. Yes you heard correctly.  Go buy one.  [https://www.gamestick.tv]

Mine Kafon
Countries like Afghanistan are dotted with hidden minefields that have been left behind and pose a serious risk to people trying to reclaim the land.  The Mine Kafton saves lives as it blows around on wind power looking for old mines to explode.

PRONG - (AKA JuiceTank)
The JuiceTank combines an iPhone charger and a rugged case into one very handy accessory for your iPhone.  Got one and love it.

IndieGoGO is a little different.  If you have an idea, or some great cause, or generally anything you want to raise money for, IndieGoGo can help you get there.  Unlike Kickstarter, there are not the same strict rules or timelines on funding.  You can assist with typhoon relief, or help support an author writing a book.

One of my favourites, one I helped to fund, and the largest ever Indiegogo project is the Tesla Museum at Wardenclyffe.  In this project, Matthew Inman of "The Oatmeal" fame, raised nearly double the $850,000 goal to fund this project to build a museum dedicated to Nikola Tesla's life and work at the location of the Tesla Tower at Wardenclyffe.

Both of these crowdfund sources and the numerous lesser known ones, are fueling a revolution. Crowdfunding allows individuals with little personal power or political weight to raise awareness, get funding, and generate tremendous support for new ideas that would otherwise have been buried or forgotten.  Without Matthew Inman and the Indiegogo vehicle, the Wardenclyffe property may have fallen into the hands of developers and been turned into a mini-mall.  Without Massoud Hassani and Kickstarter, the Mine Kafton may have never been built.

Got an idea?  Maybe you don't need the massive investment capital you thought you needed.  Maybe crowdfunding can help fuel your revolution.

A boy and his dog

I picked up our dog's ashes from the cremation service today.  Just another chore on my Saturday "to-do" list.  A matter of process and procedure, right?  It's just a dog, right?

Asking for the box at the front counter was easy.  Filling out the paperwork was a piece of cake.  It's all just standard process, paperwork, payment.  Just another chore.  I carried her box of ashes out to my truck and put her on the back seat - and then it hit me.  I was putting her in the back seat of the truck for the last time ever.  It took at least 10 minutes to regain my composure so I could actually drive.

What's the big deal you say?  Why shell out another $200 for a cremation services after spending thousands in vet bills for years already?  It's just a dog right?  We can always get another one, right?

Lets put this into perspective for a minute, and there will be many people who can relate closely to this, I know I am not alone here.  Our Jersey Girl, this dog who was now ashes in a box in the back seat, had been part of our family for fourteen and a half years.  She was an old girl, and it was her time, and she went peacefully, but none of that rationale makes this any easier.  My wife and I have been married for nearly 30 years, and we have spent literally half that time with her in our family.  She spent more time sleeping in our bed than we did.  She helped care for a half dozen children who at one time or another called our house "home".  When a new puppy came into our lives a few years ago, she instantly adopted him and taught him how to be a good dog.  She was a teacher, a companion, a protector, and a friend.

Jersey was really my son's dog, and they both knew it to the end.  I cannot tell you how many times I walked out of the house and just before I closed the door, said to her, "Good dog, guard the house, protect the boy", and she did it so very well.  When he would go away for too long, she would curl up at his door or on his bed to make sure he was ok when he came home.

Protector, friend, companion, confidant, helper, and travel mate.  Pay $200 for cremation service to respectfully send her off?  Absolutely - without question.  So I put the box of ashes in the back seat and our Jersey Girl got to take one last ride in the truck - one of her favourite things to do.  

I will miss those truck rides.