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Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

chrishacken.com

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Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#11

Post by sigstoat »

chrishacken wrote: post #7
Jgrubb wrote: post #6

Are there any grants or any kind of city money for work like what you're doing? I would think towns like Wilkes-Barre and Scranton would be bending over backwards to try and attract the sorts of businesses that would rely on infrastructure like what you're putting down. That you have to do all this with your own money and credit seems really wrong.

You would think that. Unfortunately many/most people care more about their precious roads than they do about infrastructure.

are roads not infrastructure? that transports food, and medicine?

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#12

Post by ireflect »

This is the real spirit of entrepreneurship. Hard work, learn quick, make mistakes, but get it done. With skin in the game rather than burning through investor money.

I hope to read more of these posts, but I know Chris cannot afford to spend a lot of time writing them. Nevertheless I'm looking forward to reading part 3 when it is posted in 18 months.

PS slight grammar nitpick: overtime != over time

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#13

Post by chrishacken »

ireflect wrote: post #12

This is the real spirit of entrepreneurship. Hard work, learn quick, make mistakes, but get it done. With skin in the game rather than burning through investor money. I hope to read more of these posts, but I know Chris cannot afford to spend a lot of time writing them. Nevertheless I'm looking forward to reading part 3 when it is posted in 18 months. PS slight grammar nitpick: overtime != over time

Fixed the grammar :p

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#15

Post by amazon_not »

jaytaylor wrote: post #10

Inspiring story. Will be interesting to see what Chris is capable of if / when he's able to get access to more capital. Are there VCs who invest in this sort of enterprise? The odds of getting a positive return seem favorable compared to many of the currently trendy software-only startups out there. Also, I like Chris' tagline: Create value, not excuses.

No, the returns aren't there to make infrastructure investments attractive to VCs.

A software startup can exit at 10x, an infrastructure investment won't.

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#18

Post by chrishacken »

amazon_not wrote: post #15
jaytaylor wrote: post #10

Inspiring story. Will be interesting to see what Chris is capable of if / when he's able to get access to more capital. Are there VCs who invest in this sort of enterprise? The odds of getting a positive return seem favorable compared to many of the currently trendy software-only startups out there. Also, I like Chris' tagline: Create value, not excuses.

No, the returns aren't there to make infrastructure investments attractive to VCs. A software startup can exit at 10x, an infrastructure investment won't.

I think the key difference is that infrastructure is more of a long term investment. We can return 10x’s but it’ll likely take a little longer than a software company would. However, i can make the case that we have a higher guarantee of delivering than a software company can.

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#19

Post by gammatrigono »

seibelj wrote: post #8

Have you ever tried WeFunder or similar crowdfunded mechanisms to raise money? I would invest a few thousand at generous terms to support you guys and the mission, and I’m sure many others would too.

Can't imagine it would be worth the investor liability/risk for a couple $k.

Re: Starting an ISP: Deploying Fiber

#20

Post by amazon_not »

chrishacken wrote: post #18
amazon_not wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, the returns aren't there to make infrastructure investments attractive to VCs. A software startup can exit at 10x, an infrastructure investment won't.

I think the key difference is that infrastructure is more of a long term investment. We can return 10x’s but it’ll likely take a little longer than a software company would. However, i can make the case that we have a higher guarantee of delivering than a software company can.

"A little longer" == 25 years if your returns are 10% and grow 10% annually.

Other than than all true. Telecoms infrastructure is an utility play, steady long term returns. Something pension funds like, but they on the other hand don't like risky startups, so it's a challenge to get funded until you are established and have a solid track record.

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