Pro Tip: Pretty much the two worst things you can do when promoting something are talk shit about previous partners, and talk shit about other people with similar projects.
Also, if your new project is for mobile phone users in Portland, why are you sending it to a group in Los Angeles?
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing > and took the domain away from him.
> For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided > notion, especially for this situation.
> I feel that this story is important to tell you because > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to > take any risks.
> All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts > that are relevant to Fundable.
> Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
> During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
> I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't > understand.
> The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as > well.
> If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
> PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
> The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page > you will become and advocate.
> I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
> I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
>> Pro Tip: Pretty much the two worst things you can do when promoting >> something are talk shit about previous partners, and talk shit about >> other people with similar projects.
>> Also, if your new project is for mobile phone users in Portland, why >> are you sending it to a group in Los Angeles?
>> -s
>> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to >> > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some >> > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place >> > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you >> > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police >> > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out >> > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing >> > and took the domain away from him.
>> > For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in >> > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided >> > notion, especially for this situation.
>> > I feel that this story is important to tell you because >> > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take >> > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a >> > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of >> > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt >> > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and >> > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not >> > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive >> > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to >> > take any risks.
>> > All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially >> > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with >> > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's >> > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you >> > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many >> > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying >> > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the >> > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts >> > that are relevant to Fundable.
>> > Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. >> > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the >> > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so >> > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if >> > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
>> > During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time >> > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community >> > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of >> > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough >> > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our >> > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
>> > I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea >> > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them >> > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. >> > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else >> > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't >> > understand.
>> > The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It >> > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the >> > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was >> > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't >> > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes >> > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for >> > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were >> > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as >> > well.
>> > If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you >> > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, >> > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the >> > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
>> > PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone >> > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to >> > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality >> > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around >> > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
>> > The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as >> > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a >> > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make >> > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page >> > you will become and advocate.
>> > I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get >> > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I >> > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More >> > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just >> > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know >> > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
>> > I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
Now please, don't respond. You will just make yourself look more silly. Take a moment and reflect on how childish your ad hominem attacks are and try to be a better person - but don't tell me about it, or any of us, for that matter.
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 6:16 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: > Go read your TechCrunch, jessup. Memorize the following paragraph and spit > it out at the next Barcamp:
>>>> Pro Tip: Pretty much the two worst things you can do when promoting >>>> something are talk shit about previous partners, and talk shit about >>>> other people with similar projects.
>>>> Also, if your new project is for mobile phone users in Portland, why >>>> are you sending it to a group in Los Angeles?
>>>> -s
>>>> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to >>>> > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some >>>> > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place >>>> > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you >>>> > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police >>>> > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out >>>> > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing >>>> > and took the domain away from him.
>>>> > For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in >>>> > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided >>>> > notion, especially for this situation.
>>>> > I feel that this story is important to tell you because >>>> > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take >>>> > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a >>>> > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of >>>> > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt >>>> > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and >>>> > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not >>>> > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive >>>> > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to >>>> > take any risks.
>>>> > All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially >>>> > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with >>>> > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's >>>> > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you >>>> > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many >>>> > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying >>>> > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the >>>> > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts >>>> > that are relevant to Fundable.
>>>> > Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. >>>> > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the >>>> > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so >>>> > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if >>>> > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
>>>> > During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time >>>> > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community >>>> > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of >>>> > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough >>>> > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our >>>> > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
>>>> > I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea >>>> > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them >>>> > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. >>>> > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else >>>> > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't >>>> > understand.
>>>> > The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It >>>> > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the >>>> > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was >>>> > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't >>>> > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes >>>> > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for >>>> > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were >>>> > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as >>>> > well.
>>>> > If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you >>>> > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, >>>> > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the >>>> > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
>>>> > PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone >>>> > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to >>>> > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality >>>> > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around >>>> > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
>>>> > The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as >>>> > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a >>>> > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make >>>> > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page >>>> > you will become and advocate.
>>>> > I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get >>>> > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I >>>> > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More >>>> > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just >>>> > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know >>>> > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
>>>> > I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
On Jan 1, 2010, at 6:09 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sean, what have you even accomplished?
Hmmm, good question. Well, for one I organized the first BarCamp in Los Angeles, and given that this is the BarCampLA mailing list I figure that counts for something.
> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 7:51 PM, Sean Bonner <seanbon...@gmail.com> > wrote: > Wow, this is the douchiest e-mail I've seen all day. And that is > saying a lot.
> Pro Tip: Pretty much the two worst things you can do when promoting > something are talk shit about previous partners, and talk shit about > other people with similar projects.
> Also, if your new project is for mobile phone users in Portland, why > are you sending it to a group in Los Angeles?
> -s
> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: > > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to > > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed > some > > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place > > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you > > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin > Police > > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get > out > > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing > > and took the domain away from him.
> > For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies > in > > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that > misguided > > notion, especially for this situation.
> > I feel that this story is important to tell you because > > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to > take > > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a > > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of > > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt > > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation > and > > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was > not > > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive > > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to > > take any risks.
> > All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially > > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with > > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's > > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you > > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many > > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying > > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of > the > > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts > > that are relevant to Fundable.
> > Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. > > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap > the > > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just > so > > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the > point if > > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
> > During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time > > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech > community > > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of > > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely > enough > > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our > > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
> > I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your > idea > > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them > > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. > > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else > > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't > > understand.
> > The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It > > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the > > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was > > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't > > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes > > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for > > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you > were > > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your > contributions as > > well.
> > If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you > > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just > said, > > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make > the > > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
> > PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless > phone > > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to > > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality > > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for > around > > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
> > The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, > as > > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a > > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to > make > > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page > > you will become and advocate.
> > I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I > get > > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I > > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More > > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just > > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know > > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
> > I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
Hrrm, not sure what this has to to do with Los Angeles? Or with BarCamp? But I've got an open mind.
I'm sorry that you repeatedly make poor business decisions. That sucks.
Back when I was on the Internet when it was just usenet and gopher, I thought of using it to send images as well (besides the alt.binaries, obv ) But that fucker Tim Berners-Lee stole my idea and actually built it.
I did review your site.
I'm an electrical engineer and help oversee television and radio broadcasting in addition to other technologies. From what I read on your site, you have no real understanding of the complexity of starting a telecommunications company today considering the regulation and spectrum coordination required. All for a phone that won't work outside of the city of Portland.
Enjoy becoming an ILEC. Enjoy the FCC. Enjoy the competition.
Honestly, if you've got a real passion for this, try working for an existing telco, or a repeater installer, for a bit and see what it's really like. Also, a good therapist will help you work out your unresolved issues and anger.
Good luck, and never, ever post to this list again plz,
Lastly, I am friends with Andy and take personal offense to you trying to drag his name through the mud. So please go fuck yourself with a pineapple.
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing > and took the domain away from him.
> For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided > notion, especially for this situation.
> I feel that this story is important to tell you because > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to > take any risks.
> All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts > that are relevant to Fundable.
> Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
> During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
> I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't > understand.
> The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as > well.
> If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
> PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
> The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page > you will become and advocate.
> I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
> I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 7:17 PM, Michael Pusateri <pusat...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hrrm, not sure what this has to to do with Los Angeles? Or with BarCamp? > But I've got an open mind.
> I'm sorry that you repeatedly make poor business decisions. That sucks.
> Back when I was on the Internet when it was just usenet and gopher, I > thought of using it to send images as well (besides the alt.binaries, obv ) > But that fucker Tim Berners-Lee stole my idea and actually built it.
> I did review your site.
> I'm an electrical engineer and help oversee television and radio > broadcasting in addition to other technologies. From what I read on your > site, you have no real understanding of the complexity of starting a > telecommunications company today considering the regulation and spectrum > coordination required. All for a phone that won't work outside of the city > of Portland.
> Enjoy becoming an ILEC. Enjoy the FCC. Enjoy the competition.
> Honestly, if you've got a real passion for this, try working for an > existing telco, or a repeater installer, for a bit and see what it's really > like. Also, a good therapist will help you work out your unresolved issues > and anger.
> Good luck, and never, ever post to this list again plz,
> Lastly, I am friends with Andy and take personal offense to you trying to > drag his name through the mud. So please go fuck yourself with a pineapple.
> Sincerely,
> -Michael
> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to >> shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some >> serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place >> without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you >> should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police >> department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out >> while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing >> and took the domain away from him.
>> For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in >> between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided >> notion, especially for this situation.
>> I feel that this story is important to tell you because >> Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take >> Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a >> presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of >> new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt >> that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and >> I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not >> enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive >> profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to >> take any risks.
>> All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially >> Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with >> Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's >> capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you >> take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many >> things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying >> Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the >> commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts >> that are relevant to Fundable.
>> Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. >> That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the >> entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so >> burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if >> we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
>> During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time >> to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community >> or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of >> trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough >> money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our >> server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
>> I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea >> and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them >> for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. >> If you have never started your own company and then had someone else >> steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't >> understand.
>> The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It >> could change the development of funding the arts as well as the >> political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was >> very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't >> even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes >> wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for >> Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were >> in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as >> well.
>> If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you >> failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, >> "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the >> same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
>> PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone >> service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to >> establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality >> unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around >> $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
>> The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as >> this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a >> startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make >> it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page >> you will become and advocate.
>> I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get >> a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I >> realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More >> importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just >> don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know >> this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
>> I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 7:17 PM, Michael Pusateri > <pusat...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hrrm, not sure what this has to to do with Los Angeles? Or with > BarCamp? But I've got an open mind.
> I'm sorry that you repeatedly make poor business decisions. That > sucks.
> Back when I was on the Internet when it was just usenet and gopher, > I thought of using it to send images as well (besides the > alt.binaries, obv ) But that fucker Tim Berners-Lee stole my idea > and actually built it.
> I did review your site.
> I'm an electrical engineer and help oversee television and radio > broadcasting in addition to other technologies. From what I read on > your site, you have no real understanding of the complexity of > starting a telecommunications company today considering the > regulation and spectrum coordination required. All for a phone that > won't work outside of the city of Portland.
> Enjoy becoming an ILEC. Enjoy the FCC. Enjoy the competition.
> Honestly, if you've got a real passion for this, try working for an > existing telco, or a repeater installer, for a bit and see what > it's really like. Also, a good therapist will help you work out > your unresolved issues and anger.
> Good luck, and never, ever post to this list again plz,
> Lastly, I am friends with Andy and take personal offense to you > trying to drag his name through the mud. So please go fuck yourself > with a pineapple.
> Sincerely,
> -Michael
> On Fri, Jan 1, 2010 at 5:36 PM, John Pratt <jpra...@gmail.com> wrote: > I used to run Fundable.com until a few months ago, when I decided to > shut it down against the will of my business partner, who allowed some > serious programming errors and customer service issues to take place > without informing me. The final straw was when he said, "John, you > should sell your part of the business to me because the Austin Police > department is thinking about filing charges against Fundable. Get out > while you can." That's when I shut down the credit card processing > and took the domain away from him.
> For those of you who insist on thinking that the truth always lies in > between two accounts of a situation, I urge you to drop that misguided > notion, especially for this situation.
> I feel that this story is important to tell you because > Kickstarter.com copied us. I tried for 4 years to get people to take > Fundable seriously, traveling across the country, even giving a > presentation to FBFund, Facebook's fund to stimulate development of > new apps. It was a series of rejections for 4 years. I really felt > that I presented myself professionally in every business situation and > I dressed appropriately and practiced my presentations. That was not > enough. The idiots wanted us to show them charts with massive > profits and widespread public acceptance so that they didn't have to > take any risks.
> All it took was 5 super-connected people at Kickstarter (especially > Andy Baio) to take a concept we worked hard to refine, tweak it with > Amazon Payments, and then take credit. You could say that that's > capitalism, but I still think you should acknowledge people that you > take inspiration from. I do. I owe the concept of Fundable to many > things, including living in cooperative student housing and studying > Political Science at Michigan. Rational choice theory, tragedy of the > commons, and collective action are a few political science concepts > that are relevant to Fundable.
> Yes, Fundable had some technical and customer service problems. > That's because we had no money to revise it. I had plans to scrap the > entire CMS and start from scratch with a new design. We were just so > burned out that motivation was hard to come by. What was the point if > we weren't making enough money to live on after 4 years?
> During those 4 years both of us had to take full-time jobs from time > to time. Neither of us were that well-connected in the tech community > or Fundable would have grown a long time ago. It wasn't for lack of > trying to reach out to people. The company was making barely enough > money for us to cover expenses and pay ourselves on the side. Our > server space was donated during the entire 4 years.
> I cannot tell you how painful it is to watch 5 assholes take your idea > and run with it and not even give you credit. I hate all 5 of them > for that. If I see them, I may punch each one of them in the face. > If you have never started your own company and then had someone else > steal the credit for what you worked hard to develop, you don't > understand.
> The Fundable/Kickstarter fundraising model matters. It's huge. It > could change the development of funding the arts as well as the > political process. We had an idea of this 4 years ago, but it was > very difficult to bridge theory to practice. To be honest, I didn't > even know if it was going to work most of the time and I sometimes > wondered if I was wasting my time. We laid the groundwork for > Kickstarter to exist. Don't forget that when you use it. If you were > in a similar situation, I would remind people of your contributions as > well.
> If you have met me in L.A. and you dismissed Fundable before or you > failed to return my calls or you flaked on me in person or just said, > "oh that's a cool idea" and then left our conversation, don't make the > same mistake this time with my new project, located at PDXCell.com.
> PDXCell is an entity that will produce a decentralized wireless phone > service for the city of Portland, where I now live. The goal is to > establish a very low cost wireless system that provides quality > unlimited internet access and local wireless phone service for around > $10 month, very likely through WiMax. That's the goal.
> The details can be found at PDXCell.com. You are welcome to help, as > this is not a web startup or a non-profit. This project is not a > startup. It will require the collective desire of many people to make > it come into being. I think, however, that if you read the web page > you will become and advocate.
> I got burned with Fundable in a lot of ways, but at those times I get > a better perspective on the situation I am not very bitter because I > realize how much I learned and how much I got to experience. More > importantly, all Kickstarter projects are Fundable projects, I just > don't receive any money from them. The Kickstarter founders know > this. The web community knows this. Now you know this.
> I won't be making the same mistakes with PDXCell.
I'm surprised John didn't mention RTMark, which had software to allow people to pledge to fund art projects. There's also Kiva and the Grameen Bank and some of those sites where you can lend money to individuals.
My gut feeling is that projects like Kickstarter are not really world- changing.
