Kickstarter is a funding platform for projects. In short, you post your plan to execute a project, and provide rewards in exchange for pledges. Rewards are usually limited edition items that are related to the project (such as stickers, t-shirts, etc.), invites to a related event, and in some cases, the opportunity to have one of the items built by the project.
We need to raise approximately $20,000 to build our prototype. It’s a lot of money, but it’s the only way we can build a brewery prototype as close to the production model, and allow us to work out the kinks. Yes, we plan to build and sell OttoBrew commercially. Unlike something you might build in your garage, we need to build an attractive reliable brewing appliance that will endure the test of time. Unlike virtually every appliance on the market, they are designed to become obsolete or wear out. That may be good for the companies that build these products, but it’s bad for the environment (the Earth does not have unlimited resources), and companies didn’t used to build products this way.
With this money, we will purchase raw materials such as stainless steel, plumbing parts, and wiring, components such as solenoids, sensors, and pumps, a computer and data acquisition system, and miscellaneous hardware. We’ll need to construct the chassis which will require welding of the stainless steel (this is an artform). Of course we also need to pay for rewards for our pledgers, and ingredients to brew several test batches.
The programming, assembly, and testing will be done by Team OttoBrew. We could not accomplish this without our team of loyal and dedicated people.
With a working prototype, we will then begin the steps of going into production which could include seeking investment capital. With this product, we will ignite a new revolution in brewing.