New Makerspace

[Mr. OBrien]

There are a lot of very smart students in this area with nowhere to go and express their talents. Me included to be honest. I want to open a new makerspace in this area. Actually it would be the only makerspace in this area. The next one is 100 miles away. So if I could get some support from everyone interested in donating to projects like this I would really appreciate it! The local college community outreach center is a little place with two offices but they are fully on board to help with getting the word out if I can obtain the funding to secure one of the old building's on town square and get the first steps underway! Thank you all for taking the time to read this, Blake

The Campaign can be found here!
https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/new-makerspace-cuba/x/8068327

Campaign removed from public viewing for reasons pointed out below!

[EEVblog]

You didn't tell us where it is! We have to click on the link to find out.

Hadn't heard of "Generosity" before. Indiegogo without any rewards
$500k is a lot to ask for!

[richardman]

Wow, that's quite a bit of money, but you are talking about real building and stuff. Good luck!!

[Corporate666]

There are a lot of very smart students in this area with nowhere to go and express their talents. Me included to be honest. I want to open a new makerspace in this area. Actually it would be the only makerspace in this area. The next one is 100 miles away. So if I could get some support from everyone interested in donating to projects like this I would really appreciate it! The local college community outreach center is a little place with two offices but they are fully on board to help with getting the word out if I can obtain the funding to secure one of the old building's on town square and get the first steps underway! Thank you all for taking the time to read this, Blake

The Campaign can be found here!
https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/new-makerspace-cuba/x/8068327

You're not going to be successful with the way you have approached this.  You need to take a *dramatically* different approach, with different goals and a dramatically different pitch in order to succeed.

[Mr. OBrien]

There are a lot of very smart students in this area with nowhere to go and express their talents. Me included to be honest. I want to open a new makerspace in this area. Actually it would be the only makerspace in this area. The next one is 100 miles away. So if I could get some support from everyone interested in donating to projects like this I would really appreciate it! The local college community outreach center is a little place with two offices but they are fully on board to help with getting the word out if I can obtain the funding to secure one of the old building's on town square and get the first steps underway! Thank you all for taking the time to read this, Blake

The Campaign can be found here!
https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/new-makerspace-cuba/x/8068327

You're not going to be successful with the way you have approached this.  You need to take a *dramatically* different approach, with different goals and a dramatically different pitch in order to succeed.

I am a first timer admittedly. So I'm not entirely sure how to be successful at all. Online marketing stuff is definitely one of my weak points. I am very open to advice if your willing to provide it. Thank you for your honesty.

[sleemanj]

Uh, yeah, no.

For starters, you need to write a business plan, yes, it is a business, it might be a non profit business but it has to pay for itself.

At this time you are standing on a street corner saying "give me 500k and I'll do... stuff, promise".

How did you calculate the 500k you say you need, where is the costs breakdown, what is your budget, where is the list of exactly what equipment you will need, how many people will you require on staff, what will be the compliance and legal costs etc etc etc.

Good things start from an idea, but "build makerspace, eh, 500k should cover it" isn't an idea ready to take to market.

[Mr. OBrien]

Uh, yeah, no.

For starters, you need to write a business plan, yes, it is a business, it might be a non profit business but it has to pay for itself.

At this time you are standing on a street corner saying "give me 500k and I'll do... stuff, promise".

How did you calculate the 500k you say you need, where is the costs breakdown, what is your budget, where is the list of exactly what equipment you will need, how many people will you require on staff, what will be the compliance and legal costs etc etc etc.

Good things start from an idea, but "build makerspace, eh, 500k should cover it" isn't an idea ready to take to market.

I have removed my campaign for the reasons you have pointed out. I hate to take one nickel if that's the way people are looking at it. Thank you very much.

[Bud]

What will happen once the initial 500k run out ?

[Hamster]

As a Board Member of the Tampa Hackerspace in Tampa, FL, USA, i recommend you start small, build your community, then build your space.  Keep an eye on the Nation Of Makers Organization that is being built , which includes a set of Awesome Board Members.. This organization will help give new spaces a path way to becoming successful ..

[MK14]

A similar thread, appeared about 2 years ago, by the same author.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/please-help-us-open-new-makerspace!/msg579579/#msg579579

[DJohn]

start small, build your community, then build your space

This, a thousand times.

The space that I'm a member of started with almost nothing.  We had a small office borrowed from a founding member, a handful of interested people, and a few donated tools.  It grew from there.

When we bought a laser cutter, it was funded by donations from the people who wanted it.  We have a few sewing machines, because sewing turned out to be quite popular.  If we'd had $500k to spend on equipment at the start, I'm not sure any of the founding members would have thought of sewing machines.

We outgrew that first office, and found somewhere much better.  The workshop has grown along with our membership, and is now well suited to the sorts of projects that our members work on.  Mostly: there's still that annoying legal stuff that restricts what we're allowed to set on fire...

[Corporate666]

Well, based on MK14's post above... we're obviously being taken for a ride.