Mindstream Aquarium Monitoring System
- Thread starter dtaranath
- Start date
Coelli
New member
Oh wow - they really missed the boat with that booth, especially if the Kickstarter was going while they were there. I work in the video games industry and have been working shows for 10 years now. I've worked everything from folding tables to 40x40 booths.
Last year I contracted with an indie developer in Paris who had a project they were Kickstarting and I handled the booth for a show in Boston. The Kickstarter info was all over the booth and we had a computer where people could log in and back it on the spot. We had a 70" monitor looping the Kickstarter video. We had multiple people in the booth who could do energetic, enthusiastic on-camera interviews (sorry Jim...). We had swag we gave to anyone who backed it at the show. And, most importantly, we had a working prototype to demonstrate.
We beat our fundraising goal by $200k, and we had some tiers that were much more than the cost of the Mindstream.
I wish I had run this booth.
Last year I contracted with an indie developer in Paris who had a project they were Kickstarting and I handled the booth for a show in Boston. The Kickstarter info was all over the booth and we had a computer where people could log in and back it on the spot. We had a 70" monitor looping the Kickstarter video. We had multiple people in the booth who could do energetic, enthusiastic on-camera interviews (sorry Jim...). We had swag we gave to anyone who backed it at the show. And, most importantly, we had a working prototype to demonstrate.
We beat our fundraising goal by $200k, and we had some tiers that were much more than the cost of the Mindstream.
I wish I had run this booth.
acesq
Premium Member
Looks like Mindstream completed a new round of financing and are planning to launch this year. Here's the update they posted today on the Kickstarter page:
"New Update from SAI
Hi backers and supporters! We are very pleased to update you that we have closed a major round of financing for the MindStream monitoring system. Not only does this allow us to forge ahead towards launch with new momentum, it means we have solid support from committed investors to help get the innovative MindStream monitor to market. We are very fortunate to welcome these new investors to SAI, including the founder of a publicly held medical device company, owner of an aquarium service firm, five former executives from a major consumer products company, owner of a European-based aquarium business, an avid aquarium hobbyist and surgeon, and two very knowledgeable aquarists from New York. We are also thrilled to let you know we have begun expanding our team with numerous new full-time employees including CEO/CFO, (2) Mechanical Engineers, a Lab Manager/Technical Writer, and a Web Developer. With these new resources, we are accelerating towards product launch and will provide an update on the MindStream monitor beta testing and release date as quickly as we are able. We are still on track to hit the market this year, so stay tuned for another update soon!"
"New Update from SAI
Hi backers and supporters! We are very pleased to update you that we have closed a major round of financing for the MindStream monitoring system. Not only does this allow us to forge ahead towards launch with new momentum, it means we have solid support from committed investors to help get the innovative MindStream monitor to market. We are very fortunate to welcome these new investors to SAI, including the founder of a publicly held medical device company, owner of an aquarium service firm, five former executives from a major consumer products company, owner of a European-based aquarium business, an avid aquarium hobbyist and surgeon, and two very knowledgeable aquarists from New York. We are also thrilled to let you know we have begun expanding our team with numerous new full-time employees including CEO/CFO, (2) Mechanical Engineers, a Lab Manager/Technical Writer, and a Web Developer. With these new resources, we are accelerating towards product launch and will provide an update on the MindStream monitor beta testing and release date as quickly as we are able. We are still on track to hit the market this year, so stay tuned for another update soon!"
acesq
Premium Member
VC funding makes it more likely that (a) they put out a product that works (b) at a price point that will enable decent market penetration and (c) the company is around long term and continues to manufacture the consumable disks. All in all, its encouraging if you are interested in real time monitoring of the things they can test for.
It will be interesting to see if the retail price for the unit and the consumables moves at all. I was a buyer at the original listed prices.
It will be interesting to see if the retail price for the unit and the consumables moves at all. I was a buyer at the original listed prices.
Opus123
Member
I didn't take it as VC funding, just the backing from some wealthy people that are in the business. It could mean they just want a real product to get out the door and then sell the company to make a quick profit from their investment. I've had that happen to me with these small startup companies.
acesq
Premium Member
Not a major concern of mine. This is just a testing mechanism, not system critical. And I rarely lose internet anyway. I do agree that it's expensive. But if it's as accurate as advertised it will greatly simplify my testing process. And, more toys!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
soulpatch
New member
My main concern after seeing it at MACNA was size and the fact that they want it in the tank and not the sump. The cloud based nature doesn't bother me since I lose wifi perhaps a few times a year until a generator might power it all back up.
My larger concern honestly is that this company is asking us to shell out considerable money for a product that will NOT work without their cloud OR disks. Should they shudder their doors within a year this becomes an expensive paperweight.
I'm concerned many others will have this fear and thus it will be quite some time till the company is stable. I am greatly looking forward tot his product as I am horribly eratic in my testing but that said no way I would drop so much without a bit of stability.
Then you have products like the idip coming along that while not constant testing they are simply a strip with an auto log and such from a much more stable company.
I am in the market shortly for more testing automation and I hope Mindstream gets their act together but it has some major concerns of mine to hurdle before my money goes that way.
My larger concern honestly is that this company is asking us to shell out considerable money for a product that will NOT work without their cloud OR disks. Should they shudder their doors within a year this becomes an expensive paperweight.
I'm concerned many others will have this fear and thus it will be quite some time till the company is stable. I am greatly looking forward tot his product as I am horribly eratic in my testing but that said no way I would drop so much without a bit of stability.
Then you have products like the idip coming along that while not constant testing they are simply a strip with an auto log and such from a much more stable company.
I am in the market shortly for more testing automation and I hope Mindstream gets their act together but it has some major concerns of mine to hurdle before my money goes that way.
sayitfast
New member
Salty150
New member
Their site says they will start shipping to customers in Spring of 2017 - so 6+ months.
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