This isn’t a minimum viable product (we had a couple of alternate takes on the site that we ended up scrapping), but it’s definitely a more basic version of what we have in mind. It’s still a little rough around the edges, but we would greatly appreciate any feedback HN might have.
We’ve gone ahead and seeded the site with half a dozen prizes of varying degrees of crazy, that we hope illustrate the range of projects you might see on FuturePrize – from absurdly ambitious, literal moonshots like the Icy Moon FuturePrize, to something pretty basic like “A Software Fix for Glowing Pet Eyes in Photos” that just represents an unmet consumer need.
We realize this site could be a bit controversial on HN, where the “Idea vs Execution” debate happens frequently, and usually leans pretty heavily towards “Execution” being everything. That’s mostly true, but it’s our view that ideas can definitely be very important. People seem to know this instinctively when they hang on to them like Gollum from Lord of the Rings, even if deep down they know that they may never get the chance to execute on them. It’s our belief that providing a platform that allows the free exchange and funding of ambitious or novel ideas - where people can get a bit of recognition for their idea, and maybe even choose to keep a very small portion of the funds raised - could be a very beneficial thing.
Also, just to clarify, when we picture our average prize creator, they look more like your average HNer with a folder full of side projects that they don’t have the time or exact skillset to take on, rather than your stereotypical “Idea Guy” - although there could definitely be a lot of diamonds in the rough from them as well.
If the site is successful, there will probably be a lot more “noise” than on Kickstarter or Indiegogo – unfunded prizes, or crazily unrealistic prizes that get a lot of pledges but have very little chance of being won. It’s our view that this is actually a good thing. These prizes would be more like crowdfunded moonshots… stretch goals for humanity. If no one wins, none of the donors are charged – no harm, no foul… but, if someone manages to pull it off, there are tremendous benefits for everyone.
Also, just wanted to post this before anyone else does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkGMY63FF3Q
;)