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on November 9, 2011
Bob Hart
Posted project update #4Thanks Kickstarters for the opportunity!
Post CommentHi Kickstarters,
This IG PAK project time has come to an end, unfortunately without reaching our goal!
I wanted to thank everyone who made pledges for their support. I have received many letters of encouragement and complimentary reviews that confirm that the IG PAK is a viable product – we just need to get it onto store shelves!
Unfortunately, Kickstarter hasn’t turned out to be the correct venue for raising $100,000 or more at this early stage of its growth. About 3 out of 1000 projects have actually exceeded that goal.
On the bright side, the IG PAK has matured during this time. Most importantly, Kickstarters have asked tough questions and offered constructive criticisms that will make our final products more appealing to consumers. The intro video that we created helps others visualize the gigantic scope of the coming tablet boom while stressing the IG PAK’s differentiation and positioning within the Tablet Accessory market. Simultaneously, Design Annex has produced not only the 3D rendering but is nearing completion of manufacturing drawings and specifications. We also received a great review from GadgetMac, a front page story in the Sacramento Bee, and were featured on Fox 40 news in our region.
So where is the IG PAK headed now?
The most important trait that distinguishes an entrepreneur is his/her ability to pivot into a new thought process. There is no single path to success so it is the entrepeneur’s job to find the most viable one at any point in time. I don’t look at this Kickstarter project as a “failure” – I look at it as a valuable learning experience and now I’m ready to pivot!
I am just beginning the process of contacting Angel Investors in Northern California. Building a ‘business’ is even more expensive than completing a single project – especially if you want to be a strong early player. Production continuity, product diversification, and overhead costs are necessary to establish a true business model.
When I build a team that will bring the IG PAK to market I will be sure to contact each of you who made pledges toward the IG PAK for a chance to purchase one of the IG PAKs off of our first run. I will gladly autograph yours and accompany it with a thank-you note!
I wanted to end this update by emphasizing how much I believe in the Kickstarter process. It enables entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn and grow in a positive and supportive environment - exactly what our economy needs today!
Go Kickstarter!
Best Regards,
Bob Hart
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on October 5, 2011
Bob Hart
Posted project update #3IG PAK's $100,000 budget explained
Post CommentHello Kickstarters,
“I've never seen a kickstarter product that asked for so much money and actually got it, If I were to back it I'd like to know why so much money is needed. The reason that you may not have any success with this product is that people will feel like they are wasting their time registering/backing your product when it most likely will not reach it's minimum funding goal.” (Kickstarter’s name withheld)
I received this email last night and it further confirmed my suspicion that the $100,000 goal is the primary reason that the IG PAK has not received traction. That is why I am disclosing my budget so people will understand that there is solid logic and a lot of business acumen behind the $100,000 goal. Since Kickstarter is only 2 ½ years old, it isn’t surprising that only 36 projects to date have received more than $100,000. Fifteen of those were in the design category (like the IG PAK) and all of them occurred within the last year. A whopping thirteen in just the previous 7 months! As the site matures, I believe that more projects will emerge that require higher funding limits. This seems to be a natural evolution – as more people join group funding sites, larger goals will be more easily reached and therefore accepted! Another factor that limits pledges, is that many new visitors to the Kickstarter site don’t realize that Kickstarter is an all or nothing format, ie their credit cards won’t be processed by Amazon unless the project meets its goal. That takes away most of the risk of pre-ordering!
Let me interject here for those who think I am too conservative in some of my estimates: Most businesses that fail do so because they have not budgeted enough! It is never the known costs that take a business down – it’s ALWAYs those that were unplanned or underestimated! Kickstarter supporters of the IG PAK should be comfortable with a higher project goal because there is a much higher likelihood of success if the funding limit is reached!
Here is some discussion regarding my budget estimates:
Final Engineering………$10,000 (under contract)
This includes specific engineering of the spring latching system; determining section modulus of the flex top; grabber stop design; possible insert designs for different skins, mechanical connections to strap; and many other details. Also, engineering decisions must be made to choose from an array of plastic materials and additives for the best technical fit. In addition, fabric design considerations - everything from stitching profiles to the strength of threads and the material properties of the accessory bag and strap.
Large cavity molds with sliders/sonic welding…$25,000
Costs for injection molds are very high, even in China where labor costs are low. Large molds are even more expensive because they are subjected to tons of force per square inch, requiring thick slabs of high quality aluminum or steel. The IG PAK has a relatively large footprint. It takes a lot of time to create these extremely high precision tools. When sliders are required for features that have ‘undercuts’, the mold prices escalate appreciably. The IG PAK's grabber stops are undercut to receive the iPad. Also, assembly will require sonic welding which increases the cost. I wish I could have these made in America but the estimates I received were double or triple the $25,000 budget created with people familiar with Asian manufacturing …and many long time US plastic injection companies now have their molds made in China.
Jigs/set up/training for limited fabric run…….$5000
Since this Kickstarter project is a relatively limited run (1000 units) the cost of jigs/ set up/ training for bag and strap fabrication cannot be absorbed by the manufacturer as it would be in continuous, high through put production. It will require someone from our team to oversee. More than likely, it will occur at a wholely different location and time than where the molds are being built. An acceptable sample will be created that will be used as a benchmark for future production.
Quality control...$5000
This is a minimal amount of money budgeted for quality our quality control. Two trips to China are anticipated by different team members for at least a week at a time. We will try to visit both the plastic injector/sonic welding factory and the fabric strap and bag manufacturer on each trip.
Price per item…$32.50
This is a conservative ballpark estimate which includes all material, labor and machine costs to produce and assemble the following: accessory pouch with zipper, wide high quality sling, shoulder guard, mechanical fasteners, strap adjusters, non-slip coating, Smart phone pouch, poly-carbonate housing, internal spring mechanism, boxing w/filler, shipping to US. Again, the limited Kickstarter run means that materials cannot be purchased in mass, the fabricators will have to work through a learning curve, and generally machine rates are at there highest. Future full-production costs should be substantially lower.
Shipping cost within the US is included in non-bulk orders …….$12.50
Our original intention was to ship the IG PAKs in medium sized USPS flat rate packages. The cost is about $11.00 per package plus handling costs. Unfortunately, the IG PAK wants to be a little longer than the standard box. We are working on that but feel comfortable that our budget is reasonably close.
The algebraic formula is a logical method for approximating the quantity of IG PAKs required to fund this project. That quantity multiplied by the average unit price of the primary pledges yields an approximate $100,000 goal. Of course, this is an over simplification of the variables truly existing!
That’s all for now! Hope it answers most of your questions regarding the budget.
Thanks for your support!
Best Regards,
Bob Hart
PS I apologize to those who have trouble with tech-speak and equations, that's my MBA and my Bachelor's in Civil Engineering training bubbling up and overflowing the page!
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on September 29, 2011
Bob Hart
Posted project update #2What fits inside the IG PAK?
Post CommentWe have been getting lots of questions regarding what will fit inside the IG PAK.
These questions include What type of iPad 2 skins fit? Will my Smart Cover fit? and Will my original iPad fit inside?
They are all great questions and after discussing the details with our design team, the general answer is "Yes". I know this varies from some of the answers on my original FAQ list but here is the thought process that brings us to that response:
As I showed in the video we used a Hard Candy Street Skin wrapped around the iPad 2 inside of our prototype so that the iPad 2 would be well protected in the mobile environment when it is in the user's hands. Its dimensions with the iPad 2 inside are .5 inches x 7.8 inches by 9.75 inches. We plan on using those dimensions with applicable tolerances to design the interior of the IG PAK.
It turns out that many skins that have been designed for the iPad 2 with the Smart Cover will fit within that volume! Of course, it defeats the IG PAK's Sleep / Awake function, but that is your choice. Please check your iPad 2 skin manufacturer's specs against the above dimensions.
Also, the original iPad without a skin happens to fit snugly! If you want to carry your original iPad without a protective skin then it works!
The primary holding device within the IG PAK utilizes a spring clamping mechanism between the back end of the IG PAK and the contoured stops. It has a relatively large amount of tolerance which will keep your iPad snugly inside.
The IG PAK will also include a zipper pouch that will allow the user to carry such things as a wallet, tablet charger and keys!
Thanks for all of your comments and questions! Now, I will update the FAQs and Headline to reflect this discussion!
Please mention the IG PAK to your friends, co-workers and family!
Best Regards,
Bob Hart
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on September 29, 2011
Bob Hart
commented on a projectBrogan, Thank you for your pledge and thanks for your questions. Since millions of people have purchased the Smart Cover and compatible skins we feel that the answers will be helpful for lots of people! I am working with my design team to answer your questions more precisely but here are my initial thoughts: The Hard Candy Street Skin that we have been using for our prototype design to date is thicker than your Spec Skin ie. .5 inches vs. .375 inches. It appears to me that your Spec Skin with the Smart cover will fit inside the case. As you mentioned, that will defeat the IG PAK's sleep / awake function but that is an individual's decision! There are other minute design details that this presents in the interior's design that we will have to consider further but my initial impression is that these can be worked out. I'll be getting back to you and updating a post within a couple days. Thanks again, Bob Hart
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on September 28, 2011
Bob Hart
Posted project update #1Nice looking design but what keeps the iPad 2 from falling out?
Post CommentHello Kickstarters,
We are a couple days into our Kickstarter period and are pleased with our progress so far. We appreciate all your positive comments regarding the IG PAK and its sleak design. Thank you very much.
I wanted to take this opportunity to answer a couple questions that have been asked:
Q: What keeps the iPad 2 from falling out of the IG PAK
A: This is kind of technical so please bear with me.....During the prototype stage we started with two mechanical stops that had vertical backs and relied on the clamping force of the flex top alone. We knew that the production model would be pre-biased and be made from a strong poly-carbonate material. Although that would be sufficient in most normal use cases we decided to add extra features that would lock the iPad inside even better without adding a strap or other barrier-to-access to ensure that the IG PAK would be able to hold the iPad 2 inside during rougher treatment. To this end, we added springs in the back of the container and reshaped the back of the stops to look like hooks that receive the outer edge of the iPad 2. Now, when the iPad 2 is inserted the springs are compressed until the iPad 2 passes the stops and is forced down by the flexible top and the user's hand. The springs then push the lip of the iPad 2 into the hook stops. The user then releases the iPad 2 and slides his/her hand out. The flex top then presses against the back of the iPad providing additional security. When retrieving the iPad 2 the user grabs the iPad 2 and pushes it toward the back of the device to compress the spring until it clears the stops and can be lifted and pulled out. Please See the animation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLvUxWvcdRw
Prior to production we will be testing the IG PAK extensively and providing full updates to all backers.
Q: Will the IG PAK protect the iPad in the rain?
A: We are designing the IG PAK to be rain 'resistant'. Since the body of the IG PAK extends down over the entire iPad 2 like an umbrella it should protect it from getting wet during light to moderate rains. Since the IG PAK is so thin, we recommend putting your rain coat on over it during heavy, windy rains. (You probably won't be reaching for your iPad then anyway)
Well, that's all for now. Please let your friends and family know about the IG PAK and once again, we thank you for your positive feedback.
Warm Regards,
Bob Hart and the IG PAK crew
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on September 25, 2011
Bob Hart launched a project
Rapid Access IG PAK™ for iPad doubles as a work station! by Bob Hart
The IG PAK ™ is the world's first rapid-access backpack designed for the iPad* which doubles as a portable work station!
Funding Unsuccessful (11/09/2011) -
on September 22, 2011
Bob Hart
backed a project
MAN-CHILD - Feature Film by Ryan Koo
The first feature film by Koo (dir. of The West Side, founder of NoFilmSchool.com) explores the high-stakes world of youth basketball.
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108% funded $125,100 pledged
- 2,336 backers
- Funded Sep 23, 2011
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on September 11, 2011
Bob Hart
backed a project
Place your bets on The Only Game in Town by Dawn Davis
Fran Walker, a lonely chorus girl, falls for Joe Grady, a frustrated musician, in the sexy, seedy Strip of 1960's Vegas.
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105% funded $4,205 pledged
- 69 backers
- Funded Sep 14, 2011
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on September 11, 2011
Bob Hart
backed a project
An Evening With Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer by Amanda Palmer
Be a part of "An Evening with Neil Gaiman & Amanda Palmer…" whether you want to attend the shows, or live a million miles away…
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666% funded $133,341 pledged
- 3,873 backers
- Funded Oct 03, 2011
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on August 17, 2011
Bob Hart
backed a project
43 magazine by allen ying
a new skateboard magazine with an art book feel, focusing on quality, photography, and arts.
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117% funded $23,583 pledged
- 305 backers
- Funded Aug 29, 2011
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Bob Hart
Roseville, CA
Hi, I am Bob Hart, a consumer product designer and project manager - when I'm not building tree houses for grand-kids or trying to encourage parents to set healthy examples for their children by exercising regularly and eating healthier. I earned my ... view more
