Crowdsource Funding

Category: Crowdsource Funding

Introduction

In order to succeed in generating public support for OSE product development according to the poduct selection criteria and criteria for assuring distributive enterprise opportunities, we need to start with a clearly-defined ‘’’deliverable’’’. This deliverable must have clear attractive potential to a wide body of ‘’’stakeholders’’’, who also need to be defined clearly. Moreover, a clear ‘’’program’’’ and ‘’’timeline’’’ must be defined for achieving these deliverables, such that potential supporting stakeholders: (1), gain enough trust in the program, and (2), believe in the deliverables timeline. The program must be sufficiently ‘’’transparent’’’ – supported by background research, design drawings, economic analysis, and video footage.

Deliverable

The two main products – both at the stage of prototypes that are undergoing testing – are The Liberator, a high-performance compressed earth block (CEB) press, and LifeTrac, the lifetime design, open source tractor. The CEB machine is exceeding its performance expectations, LifeTrac is breaking new ground in design flexibility as a multipurpose construction, utility, and agricultural device, and both are showing clear potential for factor 10 cost reduction over their industrial counterparts. These products are an essential contribution to a post-industrial, open source economic system. These specifications and deliverables are outlined to clarify the above claims:

The Liberator

1. The Liberator I - the machine itself as a ready-to-order product. The materials cost one year ago was about $1500. The current materials cost is $2000 due to the doubling in the price of steel. The expected sale price is expected to be $4-6k. We will offer a manual machine, which will be able to produce about 4 bricks per minute. Bricks are 6x12x4 inches. This is an advanced-performance machine suitable for both individual homes and for general contractors.
2. The Liberator II - the improved performance version of the device, with automated controls and increased hopper size. This adds about $1k to the price of the above machine - and will be able to produce about twice the rate of Liberator I - or 8-10 bricks per minute. The competitors' price for such a machine is about $50k. Our expected sale price is expected to be about $5-7K.
3. The Liberator III - the industrial scale version of the machine - capable of producing 16-20 bricks per minute, at an estimated materials cost of about $4k, and yet-undetermined sale price.
4. Complete fabrication plans - all of the above products will be available in the form of do-it-yourself (DIY) plans for those with access to a basic workshop. The Liberator I and II may be fabricated with as little as a floor drill press and small welder - or $500 in shop infrastructure. The Liberator III requires a hoist or similar device for heavy lifting during assembly. This is geared at those people who would like to build the machines above at the cost of materials - or $2-4K for machines that retail up to $250k otherwise. The design is one based on maximum simplicity and highest availability of non-specialized parts - such that a motivated novice may put a machine together. The level of skill required is using a drill press, measuring hole locations, and welding - though welding is minimal and may be outsourced at a cost of about $400 - or 8 hours of labor at $50 per hour. We are also developing a version with a hopper that requires no welding,
5. Part kits - Part of The Liberator open source project is to build a fabrication facility for turnkey products and parts. Any or all of the parts may be ordered at the cost of production (materials plus labor) - to facilitate progress of DIY builders. DIY builders may order, for example, critical components - and do the rest of the assembly themselves.

Audience

The Liberator

1. Owner-builders and others interested in more sustainable means of construction – The attractive potential for this group is clear – a $5k machine for high-quality building. Our message to these people is – “Mortgage? What is a mortgage?”

Strategy

Enlist stakeholders – such as Sasha – who have a strong interest in small enterprise as a means to right livelihood – to be marketing agents.