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This is going to be the most overhyped and underwhelming web project ever. This entire group looks like they have vaporware written all over them.

andreyf 16y ago
Well, if nothing else, this is certainly proof of an innovative fundraising strategy. Why sell equity in your company when you can appeal to masses of tiny investors with a "battling evil" story? I don't think Facebook has anything to worry about from a product perspective, but from a PR perspective, this shows that a lot of people hate them enough to put money down.
- natrius 16y ago
  This isn't trivially reproducible.
javery 16y ago
If I was a journalist I would start stalking them right now, it's going to make a great cover story or book in 12 months whichever way it goes.
milod 16y ago
Is anyone else mildly depressed by the inequality between money raised and reality here? It's great that these guys are raising money, I'm all for it. They should take what they can get. But, what about all the brilliant open source projects out there, that people are actually enjoying and using today, not sponsored by large organizations that accept donations from the community. I'm willing to bet that _none_ of them have raised even close to this much money. It saddens me that society is more willing to financially support a statement than something actually useful and real. Perhaps this turn of events was destined to happen eventually and these lucky guys hit the media jackpot. I still can't be happy about it.
- pstinnett 16y ago
  Is that necessarily the case though? I'm hoping to see a lot more open source projects popping up on Kickstarter. While I'm not donating to Diaspora* (yet) I think I would be happy to donate to plenty of open source projects and Kickstarter seems to be a great platform for collecting those donations.
  - dustrider 16y ago
    kickstarter isn't about donations, it's supposed to be about microfinancing startups. They are investments. I'm with GP, these guys wouldn't get an inch with any angel or VC's so why are the general populace giving them their money? just because it's $20 it doesn't mean you shouldn't consider it in the same way as a $20000 investment. A punt is a punt, but you don't put money on a statement, that's what lobby groups are for.
    - anigbrowl 16y ago
      Ah, they are explicitly not investments, so as not to fall afoul of securities laws. Kickstart donors get exactly zero property interest in any IP - check the FAQ. It's a sales outlet for custom products offered on a promissory basis.
- synnik 16y ago
  Is it great that these guys are raising money? I don't know them, but if the issue is a major fundraising effort to replace Facebook, I would think that selecting teams to implement the new system would need some serious due diligence. Should someone raise money? Absolutely. Is it these guys? I honestly do not know. More information is needed...
  - jeebusroxors 16y ago
    The fact that more information is needed makes me lean towards the "no" side of the house.
- orblivion 16y ago
WesleyJohnson 16y ago
Am I the only one that finds this statement distasteful? I would understand if you said the project looks like it has vaporware written all over it, but saying the "group" looks like they have vaporware written all over "them" suggests you're basing your opinion on their physical appearance. I expected more out of HN.
- varjag 16y ago
  The same guys who said "we are four talented programmers" in their statement? There is certain feel of grandeur oozing from them, and no deliveries yet.
rue 16y ago
I will be highly impressed if the project produces anything.

andreyf 16y ago

Well, if nothing else, this is certainly proof of an innovative fundraising strategy. Why sell equity in your company when you can appeal to masses of tiny investors with a "battling evil" story? I don't think Facebook has anything to worry about from a product perspective, but from a PR perspective, this shows that a lot of people hate them enough to put money down.

natrius 16y ago
This isn't trivially reproducible.

javery 16y ago

If I was a journalist I would start stalking them right now, it's going to make a great cover story or book in 12 months whichever way it goes.

milod 16y ago

Is anyone else mildly depressed by the inequality between money raised and reality here? It's great that these guys are raising money, I'm all for it. They should take what they can get. But, what about all the brilliant open source projects out there, that people are actually enjoying and using today, not sponsored by large organizations that accept donations from the community. I'm willing to bet that _none_ of them have raised even close to this much money. It saddens me that society is more willing to financially support a statement than something actually useful and real. Perhaps this turn of events was destined to happen eventually and these lucky guys hit the media jackpot. I still can't be happy about it.

pstinnett 16y ago
Is that necessarily the case though? I'm hoping to see a lot more open source projects popping up on Kickstarter. While I'm not donating to Diaspora* (yet) I think I would be happy to donate to plenty of open source projects and Kickstarter seems to be a great platform for collecting those donations.
- dustrider 16y ago
  kickstarter isn't about donations, it's supposed to be about microfinancing startups. They are investments. I'm with GP, these guys wouldn't get an inch with any angel or VC's so why are the general populace giving them their money? just because it's $20 it doesn't mean you shouldn't consider it in the same way as a $20000 investment. A punt is a punt, but you don't put money on a statement, that's what lobby groups are for.
  - anigbrowl 16y ago
    Ah, they are explicitly not investments, so as not to fall afoul of securities laws. Kickstart donors get exactly zero property interest in any IP - check the FAQ. It's a sales outlet for custom products offered on a promissory basis.
synnik 16y ago
Is it great that these guys are raising money? I don't know them, but if the issue is a major fundraising effort to replace Facebook, I would think that selecting teams to implement the new system would need some serious due diligence. Should someone raise money? Absolutely. Is it these guys? I honestly do not know. More information is needed...
- jeebusroxors 16y ago
  The fact that more information is needed makes me lean towards the "no" side of the house.
orblivion 16y ago

WesleyJohnson 16y ago

Am I the only one that finds this statement distasteful? I would understand if you said the project looks like it has vaporware written all over it, but saying the "group" looks like they have vaporware written all over "them" suggests you're basing your opinion on their physical appearance. I expected more out of HN.

varjag 16y ago
The same guys who said "we are four talented programmers" in their statement? There is certain feel of grandeur oozing from them, and no deliveries yet.

rue 16y ago

I will be highly impressed if the project produces anything.