Open Source Wireless Mesh Extenders
[15:10:15] Paul Gardner-Stephen: Quick update from Oz: We are pushing towards running an Indiegogo campaign in July/August to raise capital to productise the Mesh Extenders and hopefully get enough to finish off everything Serval Mesh. Primary goal will be around $300k, but with stretch goals to at least $2m. Working on script for some more outback filming for a 90sec intro video for Serval which will also be a key asset for the Indiegogo campaign. Filming will be Tuesday morning local time, so I need to get cracking. Basically we are using the last of our discretionary funds in Serval to do all this. Interesting but surprisingly painless process to get the University to approve me to go fund raise for an external organisation (Serval Project Inc.) while getting paid by the University. We will be aiming to get some good media and blog/tech coverage, and will talk to you all again soon about whether any of you are able to help with promotion through your various networks. Anyway, it is fun to get back into media mode after a long stretch of (vital) technical work.
[15:13:45] EAS: PG I meant to suggest you need to discuss funding opportunities with Hivos / Digital Defenders Fund, I think your work fits squarely into what they're looking for - http://www.hivos.org/activity/digital-defenders-partnership
Happy to make an intro if you think this is helpful or whenever you're ready [15:21:55] Marcin Jakubowski, Ph.D.: Paul and Esra - I am thinking of positioning OSE in the particular space of 'manufacturing support for open source projects.' Does this exist yet? I am thinking that the microfactories we create position themselves as for-hire facilities but only to open source projects. Paul, let's hit up the Hivos or any other Venture Philanthropy source (ie, not-for-exit), or, let's join your campaign - and I would suggest Kickstarter instead of Indiegogo if we believe the funding will succeed. I suggest we position this as fabrication of mesh extenders - ie, general Open Source Pick and Place Circuit Fabrication, etching, milling, laser cutting, 3D printed cases, etc - both for industrial and DIY applications. Localized microfactories. My timing on this is to stabilize OSE so I can play like this within 3 months - so July/August is too early, but in a month or 2 from that, I'm game for pushing the Open Source Microfactory all the way.
[15:23:18] Paul Gardner-Stephen: MJ - Kickstarter is a pain if you are in Australia, but I am open to hearing why you feel KS is better than IGG. IGG's flexible funding looks quite attractive to us right now. [15:26:32] Marcin Jakubowski, Ph.D.: I don't have data to show, but does not KS have much greater following? Plus, the All or Nothing is a sign to your supporters that you intend to succeed, so it appears to produce more commitment. I would choose KS because IGG is simply less visible.