HarkinBanks
Well-Known Member
Seems like many crowd funded projects don't really have any experienced engineers. It used to be venture capitalists would provide or demand a few proven people in the right positions. Now startups get funded solely by how "cool" the video concept is.
The result is no longer fast 6-9 month product cycles with no defects, but 2-3 year development times with what is really beta units pretending to be production.
I think you are spot on. Personally I contacted the head of brewie before taking the plunge on indiegogo, asking questions, sharing my build knowledge. I had taken my system as far as I could and wanted complete automation because of increasing family demands. I knew my "investment" was a gamble and I was willing to lose it. I couldn't build something like this for the "early adopter" price that I paid. Heck, I spent about double on my hand built system over the years of trial and error.
Same thing went for my Vessi "investment". I contacted the head of Vessi, had some back and forth, saw that they were backed by Whirlpool and decided to go for it. A few short months later I had my Vessi and it works perfectly. Having Whirlpool backing you has to help.
So as the saying goes, caveat emptor.
PS-I have no affiliation with either product.