Don't want to wait any longer..

[ServiceXp]

Haha, yes that is one way of looking at it. But another is "When who-you-know doesn't determine your success" and I like that part of it. Corporations and the wealthy are keeping us down, man!

Perhaps that's partly the case, however there are many large companies not willing to put their own money on the line. Sony's First Flight, Kickstarter Like Platform, for some of the Sony possible offerings is one small example. Some say that having big companies getting involved in Kickstarter like platforms will 'poison the well'.. Not sure about that, but I do know they see the benefit of using the public's money (not company or investor) to fund their new idea's, succeed or fail.. It's a win-win for the company and investors IMO.

I like Anuvin's version !!!! The plain truth these days is that investors (like the Dragons) will not take on any venture with an element of technical risk. They simply want to pick the fully grown and ripened apple off the tree.

On the refund issue, I think it is actually 'naughty' to ask for one at this stage. After all, your contribution is to cover development as well as the final hardware and Rylan has already spent the development proportion of your money. If everyone demanded a refund it would be a bit like collapsing a bank and then no-one would get a printer.

You are 100% correct on the refund, there are no refund when investing.

The more complex (larger) the project, the longer the delivery date delay of finished goods will typically be. After you get outside of 8 months of delay (75% of finished goods typically get delivered), the wait only gets longer from there. The longer the delay the less likely the finished goods (as advertised) will ever be delivered. This will of course end with the company being weaker and less likely to stabilize, so the whole thing collapses on it's self.

Crowdfunding is not meant to be "selling" things. Kickstarter and Indigogo are not shops! And they dont call the things you can get "Products" or something like that. They call it Reward and Perk that you will maybe get if the campain is successful and the goals of the campain are reached. So Rylan had two choices. After getting over August 2014 he could say. "Oh sorry, the plan was bad. Sorry for not shipping anything. Bye", keep the money and sit under a tree drinking Whiskey and Wine. But he decided to bring this project to a good ending. And that ist wonderful.

TL;DR: If you give money to someone on a crowdfunding plattform your money is gone. With a little bit of luck, you get something...some day...

Synchron is exactly right. The problem is that most people don't understand this concept, the concept of investment. This is no difference than investing in the stock market. Here is the rub..... Unlike the market, people see these campaigns for products (you can call them rewards or perks, but in there eyes they are still finished products) and relate it to a purchase rather than an investment.

I'm not saying Crowdfunding is a bad thing, I do however stand by my statement "Crowdfunding Manufacturing... "When professional investors (sometimes established companies) wont put their own money on-line", because it's 100% true, especially now that larger companies are making use of these platforms. I've backed 2 campaigns, they were both very small <15K, and both delivered. Of those 2, only 1 delivered on time and was as 'advertised'. In both cases the companies are stronger and poised to create better products and services.

Just remember guys and gals, there are very few companies pitching products/idea's that gain national traction, and end up a stronger, more stable company. If you want to invest, you must be willing to loose, and IMO you must want the company to succeed (not just get a reward or perk). It's vitally important for the company to be stronger, more stable after they have completed the campaigns fulfillment or otherwise what's the point?