6 Month Immersion Program

Introduction

Program forthcoming for Sep. 2018. Preparation includes spawning an Open Source Microfactory HeroX, completing Seed Eco-Home documentation, and preparing curriculum with assistance of the Khan Academy.

Curriculum

1. How to collaborate with others using open source tools to unleash design innovation
2. How to design and build a house
3. How to build an aquaponic greenhouse
4. How to build key construction machines and produce materials using open source designs and digital fabrication in an open source microfactory
5. How to design house utilities, produce alectricity, and make fuels
6. How to start a tractor and car manufacture
7. How to become an expenential movement entrepreneur
8. How to evolve as a human

Application Process

Only extremely motivated individuals are invited to apply. Coursework involves immersion study for 3 months off-site. After this, 9 months are on-site, followed by a 3 month advanced on-site program for the Entrepreneurshp track. The time on site features numerous real builds, including a Seed Eco-Home, Aquaponic Greenhouse, tractor, brick press, CNC torch table, 3D printer - and a basic microfactory that can produce all of the above. The 3 month advanced program revolves around business and marketing development for a successful microfactory - as well as team development for an OSPD R&D operation that collaborates with OSE on further product development. A prerequisite prior to applying is one full cycle (12 weeks) served in good standing on the OSE Development Team.

Outcomes

As a result of the program, all participants are expected to start a microfactory in their home town. The microfactory produces both products and experiences. The experiences are the Extreme Manufacturing workshops where exreme builds of significant products occur over a weekend.

OSE's support role in the success of OSE Fellows is to provide the equipment and extreme build event organization for building a microfactory in the OSE Fellow's location over a weekend. Thereby, OSE intends to dogfood its own techniques to set OSE Fellows up and running as new microfactory entrepreneurs. All OSE Fellows are expected to contribute to OSE development as part of the OSE OSPD collaboration.

Costs

The materials costs for setting up a microfactory are approximately $12k for the structure and infrastructure for an off-grid microfactory, and $15k for the production machines. Tuition for the year is $18k. Prices may change without notice, these are initial guesses based on a pilot project of 12 students.

OSE Fellows are expected to have community pull - ie, support in their own community to find a permanent land base and to build the microfactory. OSE and the OSE Fellow will collaborate on assuring that the necessary support is in place for a successful venture.

Microfactory Business Model

Educational workshops, in which real goods are produced, can be a workable revenue model. Participants pay an admission fee for the experience, and resulting products or kits can likewise produce additional value. An event schedule of up to weekly frequency can be pursued for full capacity operation. Expected revenue is $1000-$25000 per weekend event, depending on the nature of the build. OSE's support role may involve marketing assistance for OSE Fellows' build events.