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Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

bbc.co.uk

31–38 of 38 posts

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#31
post #24

I've given 3 oral pitches to my local Awesome Foundation over the years and wasn't selected each time. Not sure if that says something about my ideas, pitch skills, or what, but it's a bit of a bummer. FYI: The ideas were a completely solar/bike-powered LAN party, an electronics recycling drive where you get to smash computers with sledgehammers, and a student conference where all the research posters are wheatpasted…

Regarding smashing computers with sledgehammers, keep in mind that in doing so you are quite likely to release lead dust and other toxics. You shouldn't be breathing this in and you shouldn't let it get washed down the gutter and into the local stream.

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#32
post #24

I've given 3 oral pitches to my local Awesome Foundation over the years and wasn't selected each time. Not sure if that says something about my ideas, pitch skills, or what, but it's a bit of a bummer. FYI: The ideas were a completely solar/bike-powered LAN party, an electronics recycling drive where you get to smash computers with sledgehammers, and a student conference where all the research posters are wheatpasted…

Sorry, I just don't see the appeal of any of those ideas -- though clearly I am not your target interest group.

The smashing of computers as a recycling effort seems ridiculous to me in that computers are filled with tons of toxic materials.

I don't see how smashing them with hammers is good for anything...

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#33
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What was it about? Why did you have no success?

* Here was my crowd-funding campaign: http://www.pozible.com/project/11432 And here's a blog post I wrote about why I think it didn't work: http://www.pigsdontfly.com/2013/05/7-things-i-learned-from-u...

As nice as the machined metal looks, they'd cost pennies to produce as injection molded parts and would be just as functional.

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#35
post #24

I've given 3 oral pitches to my local Awesome Foundation over the years and wasn't selected each time. Not sure if that says something about my ideas, pitch skills, or what, but it's a bit of a bummer. FYI: The ideas were a completely solar/bike-powered LAN party, an electronics recycling drive where you get to smash computers with sledgehammers, and a student conference where all the research posters are wheatpasted…

Sorry, I just don't see the appeal of any of those ideas -- though clearly I am not your target interest group. The smashing of computers as a recycling effort seems ridiculous to me in that computers are filled with tons of toxic materials. I don't see how smashing them with hammers is good for anything...

Smashed computers can still be recycled, I had a partnership with a local e-waste recycling company. The idea was to give people incentive to recycle with a fun event. With regards to the toxic materials, it was my understanding that only monitors offered some risk. I could be wrong though.

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#36
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

* Here was my crowd-funding campaign: http://www.pozible.com/project/11432 And here's a blog post I wrote about why I think it didn't work: http://www.pigsdontfly.com/2013/05/7-things-i-learned-from-u...

Did you consider using alternative materials? If you switched to 3D Printed materials, I think the costs would be much less and you could have funded it with the amount of money you already collected.

I used 3D printing during the prototyping stage, and even using a friend of a friend's printer it still worked out to be roughly $60 AUD a print.

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#37
post #34

This looks wonderful! I went ahead and applied for my Thread Hero project: http://threadhero.com

seems interesting... but there's no detail info about how it works - neither for charity side or shirt buyers side... you force me to have another sign up not knowing the details...

Edit: and after entering the e-mail already you ask to share!? I'm not going to share until I know more about it!

Re: Awesome Foundation gives no-strings cash to great ideas [video]

#38
post #34

This looks wonderful! I went ahead and applied for my Thread Hero project: http://threadhero.com

seems interesting... but there's no detail info about how it works - neither for charity side or shirt buyers side... you force me to have another sign up not knowing the details... Edit: and after entering the e-mail already you ask to share!? I'm not going to share until I know more about it!

It's just a "coming soon" page right now. I'm currently talking with some organizations to figure out the details.
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