Buddha Doodles by Molly Hahn as featured on KICKSTARTER is one of our favorite campaigns not only because it comes from our town – Santa Barbara, Ca – but because it’s uplifting and positive. We feel that everyone needs uplifting and positive in their lives. Here’s what Molly’s looking to do and we support her 100%! Let’s get this app out there.
Buddha Doodles are whimsically illustrated daily affirmations created by cartoonist Molly Hahn (a.k.a. Mollycules).
Molly Hahn, aka ‘Mollycules’, started ‘Buddha Doodles’ in the fall of 2011 as a way to begin each new day with an illustrated affirmation or quote. The practice peacefully rests in the belief that there are no mistakes. She is well-known in her field and has illustrated &authored four children’s books: Izzy’s Ukulele Adventure, All the Things I Can Do!, Georgie and the Dragon, and Under the Sneep Tree: The Wamboozing of a Village.
Buddha Doodles has quickly gained popularity and has a steadily increasing international fan base on the Huffington Post and Facebook (5,000 followers), and 2,000 followers on Tumblr.
Per the request of her audience, Mollycules is launching this Kickstarter campaign to make a Buddha Doodles app for the iPhone or Android. This app will automatically update your phone with the daily BuDoodle + give you the opportunity to browse the collection of nearly 200 comics or cue up a BuDoodle randomly — all in the palm of your hand!
The funds raised here will go directly into the development of the Buddha Doodles app.
From the fans:
“I look forward to your posts everyday. Your Buddha Doodles especially brighten my outlook and remind me of what is most important – love love love and finding balance. I want to add my voice to the many who have already told you that you inspire them – because your art work Does inspire me: to be a better person, a more complete person. Thank you for your work.” – Brianne, Nebraska
“They are just perfect little reminders of my authentic self… they bring a little ray of sunshine to my sometimes stressful day as a nursing student.” – Dawn
Some of the rewards!!!
Buddha Doodles Tee-Shirt!
All Archival Prints are created with state-of-the-art inks and are guranteed to last up to 100 years! Check out our awesome printer, Pixels & Ink, for more details.
RISKS AND CHALLENGES Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
Our development plan for the app is very straightforward and mapped out in great detail. Our team has over 10 years combined expertise.
I do see the potential of their being a demand from our amazing audience to add more stuff to the app as time goes on and not having enough resources to do so. So if you want to see more features for the app, please contact us personally so we can weigh this to our long term plan!!!
I know that whatever unforeseen challenges that may present themselves are always opportunities for growth. We have a strong and passionate team that is ready to go!
The Stinger 2 featured on Rocket Hub is one incredible running shoe and we think the spring technology lends itself to other industries too.
Here’s what the owner had to say about their project:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Ultralight 3 Spring Running Shoe by Spira!
Ingenious Inspirational Authentic
After many years of development and testing, We are proud to introduce the Spira® Stinger 2. I know this a really cool looking shoe, but the outside is just the beginning. Like the human spirit, true beauty is found on the inside.
NOTE: FOLLOWING YOUR PURCHASE ON ROCKETHUB, YOU WILL RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM US REQUESTING YOUR SHOE SIZE(S), COLOR CHOICE(S) AND SHIPPING INFORMATION. THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR REMARKABLE SUPPORT!
My name is Andy Krafsur and I am a recovering lawyer. After 17 years of practicing law, I had an experience that changed my life.
I have always been passionate about running. Growing up in metro Detroit, I competed in Track and Cross Country in both high school and college. But by my early 30′s, my running days were over. The years of pounding had taken a toll. I was required to take a week off for every day I ran. It was demoralizing. I never dreamed that I’d be able to enjoy running again.
I can still remember my first experience with what has evolved into Spira®. It was a pair of crude prototype athletic shoes with these springs, called WaveSprings, duct taped into an open sole as you see above. I put the shoes on and went out to play basketball in our backyard. After two hours of running and jumping I was amazed to find I had absolutely no leg fatigue! It was a life and ultimately a career changing experience.
We started Spira® in an effort to change an industry and in the process positively impact the quality of activity and thus the quality life of every single person on the planet.
After many years of development and testing, We are proud to introduce the Spira® Stinger 2. I know this a really cool looking shoe, but the outside is just the beginning. Like the human spirit, true beauty is found on the inside.
The essence of the Stinger 2 is a re-engineered and lighter weight version of our patented WaveSpring® technology.
The Stinger 2 contains three WaveSprings: two smaller springs in the forefoot, and one in the heel. Amazingly, the shoe weighs less than 8 ounces in men’s size 9, comparable to the lightest shoes on the market. It is perhaps the most technologically advanced shoe ever developed.
Despite the fact that the shoe is ultra lightweight, it is remarkably resilient. The WaveSprings do not just cushion the impact, but return energy more effectively than any other footwear technology. As a result, you should be able to run longer, harder and faster with less pain and fatigue.
Unlike a coil or conical spring, the WaveSpring® is both laterally stable and compact, yet provides the same amount of deflection as a coil spring that is three times as tall. Indeed the technology is compact enough to fit within a traditional size midsole. It is also stable medial to lateral, accommodating the natural movement of the foot.
One of the best things about the WaveSpring® is that it never breaks down and gives you a “new shoe” feel from the day you put it on, until the shoe wears out. Traditional foam midsole materials tend to break down very quickly. However, the WaveSpring® should outlast the shoe. For runners, this is really important. Once a shoe loses its cushioning, there is an increased risk of injury. By contrast, there is little cushioning loss with the WaveSpring®.
The WaveSpring® is tunable and engineered based upon both the size of the shoe and the activity. For example, there is a different sized spring in a women’s size 6 than a men’s size 13.
Finally, the WaveSpring® is far better for the environment than traditional Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) that make up most athletic shoes.
Virtually everyone who races in our shoes sets a personal best. Runner’s competing in a predecessor shoe, the Stinger, won over 150 major marathons and races in the U.S. and internationally.
Based upon the testimonials we’ve received, we expect you will achieve a 15 second per mile Person Record (PR) at any distance from the 5k to the marathon.
The great thing about these shoes is that you don’t need to be a runner to enjoy them. They can be used for almost any activity. You will find the Stinger 2 useful at the gym, the mall, on vacation, or many fitness activities.
We have been developing this shoe for three years. It has been a remarkably long road. A revolution like this takes passion, time, commitment and patience (and a lot of nerve). We don’t have a marketing budget, and cannot compete with larger companies who can spend millions of dollars promoting their brands. We are also tucked away in a relatively small community in El Paso, Texas. The city has been remarkably supportive, but we need to connect to the rest of the world.
The funds we raise with your support will be used to purchase inventory. We have already paid for all of the design, development and tooling. We just need a little help to bring in the product and allow you to experience this remarkable shoe!
NOTE: FOLLOWING YOUR PURCHASE ON ROCKETHUB, YOU WILL RECIEVE A NOTIFICATION FROM US REQUESTING YOUR SHOE SIZE(S), COLOR CHOICE(S) AND SHIPPING INFORMATION.
FAQ’s
What colors are available?Answer: We will have two different colors available, Yellow/Black and Tango/Yellow/Black. You may designate your color of choice.
What sizes are available?
Answer: The sizes range from 6-13 for women, and 4 ½ to 13 for men, in whole and half sizes.
How do I determine what size I need?
Answer: We recommend ordering your standard street shoe size. Note: We learned in the production process that the shoes will fit true to size. Initially, we had advised that the shoes would run small and suggested sizing up a half size. For anyone who responded to us prior to September 5, 2012, we will adjust your size up by 1/2 size unless we’re advised otherwise. We will also send an email prior to shipment to confirm. Apologies for the inconvenience.
What material is the WaveSpring® made from?
Answer: The WaveSpring® is made out of special spring steel and is produced outside Chicago, IL.
How do I arrange to provide you my size and color request and shipping information?
Answer: Following completion of your purchase, you will receive an email from us which will ask for your shipping information along with the size(s) and color(s) you’d like. Once completed you can return to us via email.
Can you ship internationally?
Answer: Yes, although there is an extra charge.
What is the return and warranty policy?
Answer: If the shoes do not fit, they may be exchanged for the correct size if unworn. A shoe can be returned within 30 days for any reason, provided they are in new condition and can be returned to stock with the shoebox and all packaging materials (including shoesbox, hangtag, tissue and stuffing) still intact. We warrant the shoe from defects for 90 days from purchase. Excessive wear of the shoe does not automatically indicate the shoe is defective. Spira will pay for outbound shipping. Return shipping is paid for by our customer.
Are the shoes legal for competition?
Answer: USA Track and Field has a rule that prohibits the use of springs in shoes for competition, but no one has been disqualified for racing in the shoes and runners competing in Spira have won over 150 major races and marathons in the U.S.
We commissioned Joe to do a number of cartoons for us with the Crowdfunding theme and he loved the idea. Then we told him we were helping out people in need and he was “100%” on board. Joe’s enthusiasm made it easy to see we were working with a great cartoonist.
Here’s his background information.
I love doing freelance because it’s always different. I feel I can think outside of the box and bring strong unique ideas to clients. I think because I’m a fan of art as well as an artist I can see things from both sides. I work mostly with traditional media but have a very strong understanding of Photoshop and use it often.
Here’s his work experience:
Advocate UCD
Illustrator
2009 – 2011
I was a cover artist and article illustrator. Having the fast paced atmosphere of a newspaper really improved my abilities all around.
We hope you’ll support our ability to continue to work with Joe through donations to our shared campaign and your involvement will set the groundwork for great cartoons to come.
This Kickstarter Update really gives tribute to the founders of the company that are really leading the way in showing us all how to stick with the vision that we have as small business owners – even when revenues are dancing right in front of us. Yes, staying on course with the mission and vision of the company is one of the most challenging objectives of any small business owner. We often find ourselves pulled in hundreds of different directions chasing revenues that were never the original intention of the company. And, on Kickstarter’s announcement on Thursday reminds us of the difficult decisions we all face when confronted with revenues that aren’t necessarily directly related to our mission. Kudos guys for sticking to your guns. But, what does it mean for the crowdfunding space? Opportunity!
Yes, now that Kickstarter has left the mass pre-sale product space, who will fill in the gap? Will www.indiegogo.com, www.rockethub.com or others step up to the plate allowing this type of crowdfunding to occur? Of course, as Kickstarter mentions, their reasons for discontinuing this line of crowdfunding was also because they felt (or potentially some legal folks felt) that it could get them into trouble by creating a misleading and unsubstantial attempt to obtain funding. And, given the amount of funds that are being generated and the amount of unfulfilled commitments (we’re still not sure if the pebble has shipped yet), we were all wondering when some lawyer might get the courage to step up and ask for the legal liability that Kickstarter has in monitoring unsubstantial rewards. Still, with the crowdfunding space being relatively new, we’re still wondering who will come up with a different approach to crowdfunding with promises of mass product pre-sales.
In fact, given the changes in the SEC regulations, we’re wondering if we haven’t stumbled upon another entirely new crowdfunding space between non-equity crowdfunding and equity crowdfunding. But, we’re headed off into another direction with that discussion. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see who, if anyone picks up the mass product pre-sale crowdfunding space.
Here’s a link to the Kickstarter updates. Be sure to read them before making your decision on which crowdfunding site to join.
Enclave Eyewear:twenty&twenty line featured on KICKSTARTER is a Santa Barbara, California campaign and given that we’re located in Santa Barbara, we just had to feature these guys on our site. And, we find that Santa Barbara, California is one of the best places to have a Start-up even with the extremely high cost of living – we’re just north of LA with approximately 10,000,000 people. And, we’re flush with potential investors.
In any case, here’s what Enclave Eyewear:twenty&twenty line featured on KICKSTARTER
had to say about their fundraising campaign:
Polarized sunglasses constructed from memory plastic and polycarbonate. Quality materials and classic style.
I’m here to launch the twenty & twenty model of enclave eyewear.
As a college student in Santa Barbara, CA, I struggled to find the right pair of sunglasses. I didn’t want the cheap acrylic and PC sunglasses you see everywhere that crack, warp, and form stress marks at the first signs of wear and don’t really protect your eyes.
I also disliked that a few large powerhouses are running a sunglass monopoly and overcharging for glasses that really aren’t made that well. For example, Ray Ban, Oakley, and SunglassHut are actually owned by the same parent company, Luxottica, that controls the design, manufacturing, pricing, and distribution of their branded sunglasses. This results in prices disproportionate to quality.
With Enclave’s twenty&twenty model, I wanted to get away from these two extremes and offer a high quality product without the brand inflation. I wanted glasses I would want to bring to a party or wear at the beach but not have to worry about dropping or scratching them. Glasses that actually protect my eyes and look good at the same time. My glasses feature polarized, UV400 protected lenses and a memory frame that’s unbelievably durable.
My goal is to offer an honest product that doesn’t sacrifice quality.
-Daniel
TWENTY & TWENTY MODEL:
If we get funded, the twenty&twenty model will be our signature line, which is why we’re offering it first on Kickstarter. I took my own product design experience and created electronic renditions to source samples and refine the design, colors, and materials used in the twenty&twenty line. The final product couples polarized polycarbonate lenses with a durable, lightweight, BPA-free memory frame. As a reward for your pledge, please choose from any of the seven colors below.
I believe that you deserve to know what goes into your sunglasses and we’ve done our best to source the highest quality materials available.
6-layer Polarized Polycarbonate Lens:
Polycarbonate is seen in a wide range of applications, most interesting to us is its use in bullet-resistant glass, aircraft canopies, and riot shields. It is lighter and harder than plastic lenses (CR-39), making it extremely scratch resistant. It is chosen for it’s unparalleled clarity and shatter-resistant properties (30x more so than glass); the same reasons we use it for our lenses.
The lens begins with a polarized polycarbonate core, which is then thermally fused to five additional layers. Two UV filters block 100% of UVA and UVB ultraviolet rays up to 400 nanometers. A flash color film further reduces glare and acts as a one-way-mirror (only on the mirror lenses). And finally two scratch resistant films that keep everything protected and looking good.
Thermoplastic Memory Frame:
The frames are an injection molded thermoplastic memory polymer that can be put under extreme pressure and still return to its original shape.
It is a durable, forgiving material that allows the frame to flex comfortably to your face, avoiding stress fractures and other damage you see in cheaper frames. It is amazingly light, not degraded by UV wavelengths or human sweat, and is BPA and EA free. The increased flexibility and strength can withstand more abuse and sit comfortably on any face, giving it a clear advantage over other common frame materials.
WHERE KICKSTARTER COMES IN:
We’ve sourced a leading manufacturer of frames and lenses which are hand assembled, polished, and packaged to our exact specifications. But we need your help to go from working prototype to full scale production. Your pledge will go towards production and high-strength steel moulds necessary for the factory to turn out the quality we want on a larger scale. If the goal is met and barring any setbacks I expect to be shipping these out to you from sunny Southern California by October!
REWARDS:
As a reward for your pledge we’re going to send you the first production run of the twenty&twenties.
All reward levels will include a limited edition Kickstarter microfiber pouch for each pair of sunglasses and free shipping within the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska). For international shipping please add $7. At the end of the Kickstarter campaign, you will receive a survey so you can specify which colors you would like.
$30 pledge: one pair of twenty&twenties (any colors) + microfiber pouch
$55 pledge: two pairs of twenty&twenties (any colors) + microfiber pouches
$105 pledge: four pairs of twenty&twenties (any colors) + microfiber pouches
$180 pledge: The Collection – all seven colors of the twenty&twenty line
$250 pledge: ten pairs of twenty&twenties (any colors) + microfiber pouches
Snug Vest: Innovative Therapy Device For Autism Treatment featured on Indiegogo.com is helping kids with autism one vest at a time or according to Lisa Fraser one hug at a time. We think we need one of these vests too! But, we know that we need more of them out there. So, let’s give them a hand.
Here’s how they describe their project and be sure to check out our inside scoop to get our conversations with Lisa and her team.
“Who are we?
We are Squeezease Therapy, a small team based in Vancouver, British Columbia commmitted to improve the lives of individuals with autism through the development of the Snug Vest. Our goal in the next few months is to make the vest available for everyone who needs one. Visit www.snugvest.com to know more about our company.
What is the Snug Vest?
The Snug Vest is an inflatable therapy garment used for administering evenly-distributed pressure to the sides, shoulders, and back of the torso. The vest provides Deep Pressure Therapy to relieve anxiety and increase focus and attention for individuals with sensory and anxiety disorders. Click here to read more about the Snug Vest.
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a life-long developmental disability and neurological dysfunction that affects 1 in 88 children in North America. Individuals diagnosed with autism often have an impaired ability to communicate and engage in social interactions.
What is our goal?
Our goal is to raise $20,000 to create customized tools that can help make our Snug Vests in larger quantities at a faster rate. Every dollar that is given to this project will go directly towards getting the vest on to the backs of those who this will help.
What are the perks?
In return for every contribution of $600, you will be providing a Snug Vest to a child in need. Other rewards include T-Shirts, Squeeze Bears, Plush Bears, Massagers, and Pillow Sets. With every contribution over $10, you will receive a personalized card from us and a thank-you from a childwaiting for a Snug Vest.
Every dollar will make a difference towards our project. We appreciate your participation and contributions of all sizes.”
Here’s an example of exactly why we’re telling everyone about crowdfunding and building an online resource for others to see why crowdfunding is so vital to our economy and future. If you’re wondering if you should be running a crowdfunding campaign be sure to follow this campaign and read through our inside scoop as we get the inside details on how they decided to use a crowdfunding platform to get the word out about their project. Here’s what they’re doing:
What our project is:
Every year we raise money to send our photography students to the Summer Press Institute at Syracuse University. SPI is a photography, writing, and video camp taught by the Newhouse faculty. It not only is a fabulous intensive week of photography training for our students, but it also introduces them to college life. They live in the dorms, use the computer and classrooms at the Newhouse School, and have a fun summer experience away from the city. The outcome we’ve seen over the past four years of sending our students to Syracuse is that this experience has inspired our students to go to college. AND two of our recent graduates have received full scholarships to Syracuse.
Who we are:
NYC SALT is a free photography program for inner city high school students. We (a group of professional photographers and photo editors in NYC) teach the art and business of photography and provide college prep for our students. Our vision is to see each student develop an award winning portfolio that will help in getting scholarship money for college. We’ve been in existence for over 7 years. In the past two years since becoming a nonprofit, we have had two graduating classes totaling 14 students who are going on to college, many are the first in their families. In addition, our students have collectively received 17 Scholastic Art Awards in the past two years! Check out our website to see the students’ work! NYC SALT
The cost:
This year, we do not have enough money to send our kids to camp. Tuition costs $500 per student plus transportation ($100) and food ($100) for the week. We have 10 students who are eligible to go. Please help us provide this amazing experience for our students!
In addition:
If we are to raise over our goal of $8000 for camp expenses, we are also in desperate need of more computers and cameras for our classes so that the students are learning on the same DSLR and have some different lenses to check out from the camera locker. Currently, we have only 3 computers for 17 students which makes editing hard!
Flash Pipe: the new lightweight, folding flash diffuser – again – is the second time running the successful campaign on www.kickstarter.com. and that’s one of the things we loved about this campaign. Les Tirmenstein, inventor, confronts the challenge of getting into a fundraising campaign for the second time with the same product by rethinking some of the packaging to get the funding requirements down to a reachable goal; and, he’s successful!
Here’s how he describes his product:
FlashPipe is a clever, new diffuser for your hotshoe mounted flash. There’s nothing else like it and it works great. The quality of the light it produces is soft and bright with an ever-so-slight warming that makes skin tones look great. It’s incredibly lightweight at just one ounce. And the coolest part is that it folds flat when not in use, saving valuable space in your camera bag or allowing you to carry it with you in a pocket at all times. It mounts and removes effortlessly and it’s made out of an extremely durable thermoplastic material. On top of all that, FlashPipe will sell for less than $25, so it’s a no-brainer to add one or more to your arsenal of gear. It’s simple, it works great, and it’s very affordable.
*The first production run will target Canon and Nikon owners since there’s such a large base of existing users. Two sizes will accommodate both company’s most popular models. You’ll need to tell me if you want the Regular (fits Canon 580/600 and Nikon SB900/910) or if you want the Small (fits Canon 420/430 and Nikon SB600/700/800). Any brand flash with matching measurements can also use FlashPipe, of course. There’s even a beta tester who plans on using FlashPipe on the bare tube of his Quantum Q-flash, so there are lots of possibilities. Check out the UPDATES page for specific dimensions.
If you want more background info, read on….
I’ve been a professional photographer for a few decades now, and whenever I shoot events, or weddings, or editorial assignments, I find that sometimes I need to use on-camera flash. I prefer natural lighting, but you don’t always get that luxury. When you have to or chose to, it usually looks better to use soft, diffused lighting. This is especially true when shooting people. There have been a lot of products out there to accomplish this and I’ve tried several, but I’ve found that in one way or another they tend to be lacking. Either they don’t work effectively, they’re bulky or awkward in use, difficult to mount, or they’re just too expensive. And most occupy way too much space when not in use. Some just look ridiculous and are an unprofessional looking distraction.
I began to experiment with shapes and materials in searching for a solution that worked better. I wanted something that above all, created nice light. It also needed to be fast and easy to get on and off my flash, wouldn’t weigh it down, didn’t cost a lot, and was durable. And, if I needed to take it off momentarily or when I was done using it, I didn’t want it taking up a lot of room in my pocket or camera bag.
After lots of thinking, drawing, making prototypes, and finally finding the perfect material (a tough, translucent thermoplastic) I had a refined design that was simple, straightforward , and effective… the FlashPipe. I also learned a lot from the previous Kickstarter launch and received great advice from several people. As a result I went back to the drawing board and made improvements that I believe now perfect it.
Check out some of the results:
Originally FlashPipe was offered in two versions: The Convertible and The Wedge. But the Convertible could also do the job of the Wedge (permanently open top design) so why have both? Having two designs was confusing people, so it just makes sense to simplify the product line. Also, I found that by shortening the length of the body by one inch it not only looked better aesthetically, but it performed more efficiently. Less light was being “wasted” vertically.
The FlashPipe has a flap on top that can be fully opened or closed or left at an angle in-between. This gives the photographer the option of converting from completely diffused light or using the ceiling by completely opening the top, or opening partially and letting the flap give some forward bounce. An improvement over the first design is the top flap is now larger. It now extends past the sides and front wall slightly, so when it’s closed there’s no way raw light can leak out the opening. This was an important modification for using the FlashPipe in the 90º tilted forward mode. When pointed ahead instead of up, the larger flap completely shields the subject from stray light. This comes in handy when doing close proximity shots. Picture the flash head pointed forward so you can illuminate a small object like a slice of wedding cake or macro insect photo without any harsh light coming out of the edges of the top opening and you’ll see the benefit.”
Zip Cup: Ultra-Convenient Collapsible Travel Mug featured on Indiegogo aims to solve the pollution problem of wasted paper cups by providing a convenient collapsible travel mug.
Here’s how the owners describe their product:
About Zip Cup
Conventional travel mugs are bulky and inconvenient to carry around all day. You might remember having a collapsible cup when you were a kid, but Zip Cup is different. Instead of relying on friction, Zip Cup has been engineered to safely extend via sophisticated twist-and-lock mechanism with tight sealing. It holds a full size cup of hot coffee without burning your fingers, leaking or dripping (when extended or collapsed). The lid has a drinking spout that can be closed off to prevent coffee sloshing out while you walk.
About This Campaign
The purpose of this Indiegogo campaign is to solicit pre-orders, which will fund the factory production of Zip Cups. You can sign up for one of the “perks” listed on the right hand side of this page. By doing so, you’re not only placing a pre-order for Zip Cup, you are also helping make the product a reality.
I really appreciate your support: I’ve invested heavily in engineering, design and prototyping. The initial manuracturing costs of Zip Cup are high because unlike standard coffee cups, comprised of a single part, Zip Cup is made of 3 separate parts, each with locking mechanisms, along with a lid.
Please sign up for one of our perks today: see right hand side of this page.
Why I made Zip Cup
I created Zip Cup because I’m a sustainability pro with a serious coffee addiction. I felt hypocritical throwing paper cups away every day but I found travel mugs too bulky to lug around, and existing collapsible cups were flimsy & unsafe for hot coffee. A few years ago I saw this image, which represents just 15 minutes worth of paper cup waste in the US. It disgusted me…and then it inspired me to make a more convenient travel mug.
What does Zip Cup solve?
Have you ever tried unsuccessfully to squeeze a travel mug into a small bag or your pocket? Felt bad about tossing a paper cup after using it for just 10 minutes? Had a paper cup unceremoniously slosh hot coffee into your face or trousers?
If so, please welcome Zip Cup into your life. When collapsed, a 16 oz. Zip Cup is approximately the size of a pair of socks, and a 12 oz. collapsed Zip Cup is about the size of a hockey puck. The first round of Zip Cups will be produced at 16 oz. (coffee shop size medium) and we will soon add more sizes.
Zip Cup features:
Ultra-convenient: collapses to fit in your pocket or bag
Versatile: holds 16 oz. (coffee shop size medium) hot or cold beverages on the go
Safe: Reinforced locking system means no leakage in your bag–uses the same technology used on spaceships and submarines
Stylish: eye-catching design available in a range of cool colors and customizable designs (coming soon)
Eco-friendly: BPA-free and recyclable
Dishwasher-safe
Pays for itself: save 10-25 cents on every cup of coffee you buy
Final thoughts
If you support Zip Cup on Indiegogo, at almost every level you actually get at least one Zip Cup, many at below-retail prices. You can think of it as a discounted pre-order, a way to stock up on inventive gifts for the coffee or tea drinkers in your life.
Based on market research we are confident that we will reach our goal on Indiegogo. And if we fall short, we have alternate financing options to pursue so that we can fulfill our campaign perks.
Zip Cup will have an immediate environmental impact: if you help us hit our goal and get Zip Cup in the hands of just 5,000 daily coffee drinkers, we can prevent over 1.8 million paper cups from getting trashed next year, saving 20,000 gallons of water.
Please sign up for a perk on the right hand side of this page today. And just as important: PLEASE tell anyone you know who might be interested in owning their own Zip Cup.
Share Zip Cup with your friends:
You can learn more at zipcup.com, and stay in touch via email updates, Facebook and Twitter. You can also drop us a note at karla[AT]zipcup[DOT]com.
Thanks in advance–we couldn’t do it without you. ”
Our Interview with Matt Unger owner of Mushboo a company that has a unique and environmentally friendly way to grow gourmet mushrooms focused on four key questions.
Here’s what Matt had to say and how we came to know an amazing guy and company looking to change our carbon footprint one coffee ground at a time!
Question
1. How old were you both when you started working on the project and how long did it take to come to fruition?
Answer
1. I am currently 30, Igor is 21. I grew my first batch of oyster mushrooms on used coffee grounds 4 years ago. I moved to Vancouver just over a year ago to start the business and took on Igor as a managing partner. Igor’s academic background includes forestry, mycology and wood processing so he was a good match for mushboo. After much market research and testing we decided to launch the mushboo business in February 2012. We spent the first month developing a marketing strategy and road map (my background includes agriculture, business consulting and financial analysis) for success. We started production on May 1, 2012 in a small 310 square foot mycology lab that we built on the edge of downtown Vancouver during the RocketHub campaign.
Our After Thoughts
Really who does this – amazing! Great to see these guys living their dream and taking charge of their education and goals. Students in various fields often have trouble putting the end goal of making a sustainable living together with their education. These guys are taking it three steps further (saving the planet has to be worth another two points).
Question
2. Have you looked for any grants for the project and have you been getting calls from anyone looking to help?
Answer
2. We are just starting the grant writing process now as well as reworking the business plan to acquire financing for expansion. One of our coffee shops in particular has been incredibly helpful in providing us with advice, connections and even helped us out at our first big trade show, Maker Fair Vancouver (pics on our site shortly)
Our After Thoughts
Isn’t it about time Starbucks started helping these guys out with a grant given that the amazing PR they’d get for cleaning up the landfills from used coffee grounds? I mean we’re just saying….
Question
3. Where do you buy the bamboo?
Answer
3. Originally we purchased bamboo locally until we discovered it was coming from old growth forest high in the mountains of China. We have since switched to another supplier and are planning to set up a cooperative of bamboo farmers in Asia within the year so we can purchase directly and eliminate the chemical processing currently required to import raw bamboo to North America. We would love to hear from anyone with connections to bamboo farmers that might be interested in this type of partnership.
Our After Thoughts
We’re working on it and we’d love to hear from someone in California that could help these guys out.
Question
4. Does the company make enough money for you to live or are you doing other things at the same time?
Answer
4. This is more than a full time job, or two for that matter. We process over 500 kilograms (1,100 lbs) of waste coffee every week. Additionally we are testing new species of mushrooms so our customers can purchase refills of different varieties, flavours and colours. Once we secure funding we plan to expand to a larger facility (we have a waiting list of coffee shops wanting us to pick up their grounds), hire more staff and increase our production capacity from the current 2,000 units per month to 10,000 units per month. Once we have the new facility we plan to release two additional products as well as 5 different species as mushboo refill options. We are also experimenting with 3 other waste streams to determine the viability of taking the mushboo “waste to food processing system” to urban centers across North America.
Our After Thoughts
Now that’s truly making magic mushrooms! We look forward to meeting with these guys at the end of August and seeing for ourselves how amazing these facilities are!
