"I think if world events had been different, the timing would have worked out well for a resurgence of this kind of research." But surely you knew that before

"I think if world events had been different, the timing would have worked out well for a resurgence of this kind of research." But surely you knew that before you started the venture? Wouldn't it have been better then to produce a finished marketable product which allow you to actually keep going long-term which a project like this so require. I just don't really see what the strategy for success was here.