<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi gang,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many years ago, I posted an inquiry to this list to see how much interest there would be in a new kit company like our beloved Heathkit. You all gave me a lot of support for this effort. In fact, many of your comments wound up in our business plan! Well, it’s going now, as DZKit (the DZ coming from my call, W0DZ). Sienna and Sedona and the HT-7 are our first three products. You may have seen our ads in CQ and QST. But we need to take it to the next level. Now that the basic infrastructure of a full-blown kit manufacturing company is in place and we are successfully selling products, we want to raise some capital to retire our debt, pay for a year’s worth of full page ads in QST and CQ, build up inventory of Sienna and Sedona, and finish development of some new features. (If you aren’t familiar with us, see <a href="http://www.dzkit.com">www.dzkit.com</a>, which is our info site and <a href="http://www.valleyhamshack.com">www.valleyhamshack.com</a>, which is our ordering site).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are considering applying for a crowdfunding campaign through an organization such as Kickstarter, which is one of several out there designed to help small companies get the funds they need to “do it right”. The basic idea is that ordinary folks contribute whatever they want to help the company, and in return they get a small token of appreciation. You don’t get stock in the company, just the satisfaction of knowing that you were part of something that might turn big. By getting thousands of people to contribute a small amount each, the total can add up to a lot of money. (See <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com">www.kickstarter.com</a>) The trick, of course, is getting the word out during the campaign.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The way it works is, a fundraising goal is set and then the project “launches”. If the goal is reached in about a 30 day period, everyone’s credit cards are charged. Kickstarter takes 5% and the credit card companies get their 3-4% cut, and the rest goes to the company, which then sends out the rewards and uses the funds for the stated purpose. If the goal is not reached, no one is charged. Although Kickstarter was formed to help aspiring artists and musicians, it has grown to include many other areas, including “Technology”. (In fact, what got me thinking about this was a successful Kickstarter project in Australia to make a mini-ITX PC motherboard that could hold a Raspberry Pi. Our Sedona holds a mini-ITX motherboard, and I thought this would fit right in with our desire to get kids into electronics and ham radio.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We’re trying to determine if there would be enough interest for us to pursue it. DZKit’s fundraising goal would be, say, $100K. We think the reward breakpoints would then be $100, $500, $1000, $5000 and $10K. There could be more if we can get a handle on what people would be willing to spend. Rewards might be things like a signed copy of Vintage Radio (I’m on the cover), an ARRL Handbook, Alpha-Delta antenna switches, Kent Keys, Heil mics, etc. We even have some Heathkit gear, including an unbuilt SA-2060A antenna tuner and unbuilt VF-1 VFO, both in the original boxes, that could be included at the higher contribution levels (to the first contributor at that level – we only have one of each!). The value of the reward would go up the more you donate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are no guarantees that Kickstarter would even be interested in us. But I think it would help to be able to tell them that we already have interest and/or commitments from people. Please let me know if you would like to help out with this. No obligation. Just trying to gauge feasibility.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Brian, W0DZ<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>