I am starting a new public-access prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, called MindGear Labs, based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new public-access prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, called MindGear Labs, based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is …
Continue ReadingIts only been today that I can laugh about this. (Both injuries are on the right so I tell folks that I hobble around in circles.) If you work at the same government agency I do you’ll probably hear about …
Continue ReadingThere is a lot more to research about the globe option. How many projectors will I need? If I only illuminate around the equator then then the top and bottom of the globe will see little light. How will I …
Continue ReadingI see all of these benchmarks as knobs to turn and adjust to maximize the effectiveness of MindGear. In reality though I don’t know ahead of time where these knobs should be set. The data I’ve collected gives me some …
Continue ReadingI’d like to finish the process of registering a new business. I started this discussion two weeks ago but only covered how I decided on which organizational format (Limited Liability Company or LLC) and IRS filing format (subchapter S). I …
Continue ReadingSo the slow progress may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I’m getting a crash course in business, which has been much more fun than it would have if I wasn’t motivated by starting a business. I’m slowly …
Continue ReadingI’ve left off a lot of stuff off here, so maybe this needs to be a two – parter. Oh, and here is the bad news. It looks like the deal will fall through for the space I was going …
Continue ReadingSo in summary creative time is good. Here I was able to work out the interactions of the different aspects of MindGear, and develop my drawing skills a little. I have to put off doing a better sketch because financial …
Continue ReadingWhen I was building my financial projections I searched high and low for a way to estimate marketing costs and found very little. I ended up assuming a value for how much I had to spend for each new membership. …
Continue ReadingTo recap, I have enough funding to start MindGear, but not quite enough to do the full lab pictured here. I’ll look at my financial options and at doing a crowdsourcing campaign soon. My attempt to economize by doing work …
Continue ReadingBack in 2009 Paizo Publishing released Pathfinder, a table-top roleplaying game that extended the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 ruleset. Pathfinder has gained considerable popularity in the ensuing years, and now the team at Paizo is embarking on a new project, …
Continue ReadingThat was this week’s theme as I rush around trying to start a business from scratch. And the marketers have told me to not forget the kids. Kids may not have most of the money in our economy, but pretty …
Continue ReadingA friend of mine introduced me to gantter.com for one of my day job projects. If you’re not familiar with Gantt charts or need a free way to build one I suggest you check them out. Briefly, a Gantt chart …
Continue ReadingI’m pretty comfortable talking in front of a group of engineers: I’ve done it hundreds of times in giving papers/presentations, speeches, and leading meetings. And yet walking into a room of businessmen and women who make a living from their …
Continue ReadingSteve Jackson Games is halfway through a Kickstarter effort to republish this timeless classic, but the new set is oh so slightly larger than the pocket box of 1977. Steve Jackson himself was kind enough to answer a few questions …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new public accessible prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, called MindGear Labs based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this …
Continue ReadingCreating a start up is a lot like a video game. Well not really, but strangely I found developing my financial projections pretty fun. I guess not many people have had that particular observation. Trying to figure out how to …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is my first attempt at …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is my first attempt at …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new prototyping lab in Huntsville, Alabama, based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is my first attempt at …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new prototyping lab in Huntsville, AL based on the fab lab model. I’ve dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur and have done a fair amount of research on the topic. But this is my first attempt at …
Continue ReadingI am starting a new prototyping lab in Huntsville, AL based on the fab lab model. While I’ve done a lot of reading over the years while dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, this is my first endeavor. This weekly article …
Continue ReadingI’m starting a business. That’s a difficult thing to say out loud, much less announce to the entire internet (or at least the intelligent, sophisticated and lemony fresh corner of it that reads GeekDad). For years I’ve contemplated this fateful …
Continue ReadingSeveral months ago, before I became a GeekDad contributor, I was at a conference presenting my team’s work on mitigating asteroid threats. Part of my presentation mentioned a rather obscure maneuver for a spacecraft to escape the orbit of a …
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