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on March 15, 2010
Toby
Posted project update #7Starbucks Sponsors the betacup Challenge to Spur Creative Problem-Solving
We have a very important announcement, which we wanted to share with you because you were instrumental in helping to make it happen.
During the Kickstarter campaign, we started to have talks with Starbucks regarding the betacup challenge. Since then, they have stepped up and offered to put up the $20k prize that will go towards the winning solutions.
While we were disappointed that we were not able to reach our Kickstarter target, your enthusiasm and support went a huge way towards convincing Starbucks that we this is a worthwhile cause and that their involvement could have a tremendous effect on our ability to reduce paper cup consumption.
Here's a link to the official announcement:
http://www.thebetacup.com/2010/03/15/starbucks-sponsors-the-betacup-challenge-to-spur-creative-problem-solving/Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to collaborating with you to solve this problem.
Toby Daniels & the betacup team
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on January 4, 2010
Toby
Posted project update #6the betacup: What happens next?
Post CommentHello and Happy New Year
First, we would like to thank you again for supporting betacup by pledging and in many cases asking others to do the same.
By now you have likely received a notification from Kickstarter that we did not reach out goal (so no pledges were accepted).
So now what happens?
Fear not, the project will continue and we are still just as committed towards our goal of eliminating paper cup waste.
The good news is that thanks to your efforts in helping us to raise awareness we have been approached by a number of corporate sponsors who have indicated that they also want to support the prize.
Ideally we would have completed our negotiations before then end of 2009, but it is still ongoing and we hope to have some good news and make an announcement very soon.
Once we know how much prize money we have secured from sponsors we will run another Kickstarter campaign for a smaller target of $3000 - $5000 to form our "people's choice" award.
Thanks again for your support, we look forward to following up with you.
the betacup team
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on December 3, 2009
Toby
Posted project update #5“This project will only be funded if at least $20,000 is pledged by Dec 31, 11:59pm EST.”
Post CommentAs you are probably aware, we’re on a deadline here. As the headline of this blog clearly states, unless we reach our goal of $20,000 in pledges by December 31st we will not be successful in funding the betacup prize fund.
So far we have raised $3.5k in pledges, which is 17.5% towards our target, however we only have 28 days left before the deadline.
Here are a few ways you can help us reach our goal:
1. Tweet about the campaign and share the following link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tobyd/fund-the-betacup-prize
2. Add the following to your email signature:
Hate disposable cups? Be part of the solution:
http://www.thebetacup.com/fund-the-prize/3. Copy and past the following embed code and add the campaign widget to your site:
4. Write a blog post about the campaign:Our friends at Tiny Choices very kindly posted a great article about the betacup and our campaign here:
http://tinychoices.com/2009/12/02/betacup-for-a-better-cup/
5. Help us expand our network:
Who else should we be talking to? Are there sites that we should approach or brands that would be interested in supporting our initiative?
6. Make your personal pledge:
Finally and most importantly we would love for you or your company to make a contribution to the campaign. $20 or more will get you a commemorative betacup and $200 will secure your place at the awards ceremony in New York City in 2010. If you pledge $2,000 you will be listed as an official sponsor and also be invited to join the judging panel for the design contest.
Here’s the link again, in case you need it: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tobyd/fund-the-betacup-prize
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for your ongoing support!
P.S My colleagues at betacup tell me that if we don’t reach our goal by December 31st then I will lose control of my Facebook status for the whole of January 1st. As you can imagine this could have dire consequences for me and my squeeky clean image!
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on November 25, 2009
Toby
Posted project update #4Helping spread the word
Thanks again to all of our supporters and also to everyone who joined the campaign since the last update.
Things are moving along nicely, but we have still have a very long way to go and making sure we secure the prize for the design contest will be crucial in our mission towards finding a solution to paper cup waste.
From now on we're going to ask each of you to help support the initiative by doing one simple thing to help bring awareness to the project.
Today, we'd love for you to add the following copy and link to your email signatures, to drive awareness and to encourage your friends and coworkers to get involved.
Hate disposable cups? Be part of the solution:
http://www.thebetacup.com/fund-the-prize/Thanks so much for you support!
Toby & the betacup team
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on November 14, 2009
Toby
Posted project update #3I am not a paper cup….I am also not that convenient.
Post CommentOne of our supporters left a comment on our Kickstarter Blog, which I wanted to share with you as their note touches on one of the main challenges of redesigning the reusable coffee cup.
“‘I’m curious to know what your thoughts are of the “I Am Not A Paper Cup” design by DCI. While interesting because it visually mimics the cup that you are trying to replace, it still doesn’t seem to be as functional as one might like. I used to work in a store that sold these items, and we got frequent complaints that they leaked. [Spillage is NO FUN.] But I think more importantly, these cups are also ceramic, which doesn’t make it very durable for folks constantly on the move.” bLaKtivist
Our view is that the “I Am Not A Paper Cup” is an interesting concept. If nothing else it raises awareness around the problem, and that’s a good thing. But it doesn’t solve the bigger issue that we are looking to address, and that our Kickstarter friend also points out. Designing something that is both practical and convenient as well as desirable in the consumers mind is what we really need to focus on.
What do you think? What other parameters should we be thinking about when creating the design brief?
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on November 13, 2009
Toby
commented on a projectIt's an interesting concept. If nothing else it raises awareness around the problem, and that's a good thing right? But it doesn't solve the bigger problem that we are focused on, which is how to design something that is both practical, convenient and also sexy and desirable. Would love to hear your thoughts.
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on November 10, 2009
Toby
Posted project update #213% towards our goal
Post CommentThanks again to all of you who have supported the betacup prize fund to date. We are inching ever closer to our goal, but if the top of Everest is our destination, then we're still only at Basecamp!
To help us get to the summit, we still need your ongoing support and most importantly we need you to help us spread the word.
Check out how some of our supporters and staff have rallied the Twitter troops so far:
Because coffee is good, but drinking sustainably is better, I support @thebetacup project http://bit.ly/39WxV6
(via @michellemilia)
Gandhi said "Be the change U want to see" We say: "Donate the change instead" Support our prize here: http://bit.ly/39WxV6
(via tobyd)
Have you purchased your (yet to be designed) commemorative betacup yet? http://bit.ly/39WxV6 (expand) Help chip away at 58billion bad boys!
(via @thebetacup)
Rather than grabbing that afternoon caffeine pick-me-up how about doing this instead: http://bit.ly/39WxV6
(via @thebetacup)
i just hope you guys raise the needed funds. I also feel guilty throwing away those cups every time.
(via @FREAKCAST)
Stopping the 58b paper cups thrown away every year is the same as removing 500k cars from the road http://bit.ly/39WxV6
(via @thebetacup)
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on October 30, 2009
Toby
Posted project update #1betacup update: A great start but it's marathon not a race
Post CommentWe're four days into our Kickstarter prize challenge and we're really excited by the response so far!
Thanks to all of you who supported us this week. No matter how large or small your contribution, every single dollar counts towards our goal of eliminating paper cup wastage!
As you know the goal is to raise $20,0000 in 66 days, which amounts to a daily target of roughly $300. So far we've managed to rustle up $1,102, which although slightly below where we need to be, is a really solid start.
However, this is no time to sit back and be all self congratulatory. We have a massive challenge ahead of us and we need all the help we can get!
Please let all your friends and coworkers know about this initiative. You can Tweet about it, email, Facebook, heck, for all we care you can use semaphore or carrier pigeons to get the word out!
Here's a link to the betacup Kickstarter page:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tobyd/fund-the-betacup-prizeThanks again for you support!
Toby & the betacup team
@thebetacup -
on October 26, 2009
Toby launched a project
the betacup prize "eliminating paper cup wastage through collaborative design" by Toby
We throw away 50 billion paper cups a year. Current solutions are not working. Help us fund the prize for a design contest to stop the waste.
Funding Unsuccessful (01/01/2010)
Toby
New York, NY
Toby joined Kickstarter on October 15, 2009
Congratulations, Toby!
I'm following you in Twitter and look forward to your updates.
Warmly,
Sherry