Hivica P&L: -2.2 (≃ -27 USD)
/haɪvɪkə/ "Hivica" is derived from words "hive" and "vehicle" or "car", and is pronounced as /haɪvɪˑkə/ or "hive car".
This project is an approach to implementing the HiveCell idea, based on the original insights from The HiveCell Project.
Here, I'll be focusing on a proof of concept, but at the same time, the commercialization through licensing of the designs for manufacturing purposes. I.e., to make N units of Hivica, N licenses need to be bought.
I'm thinking open sourcing it once I reach the point, where I can demo the new kind of lifestyle. Till then, I'll share more abstract progress updates here.
$ 1 198 USD
For the 100 of future shares (out of which, 2.1 immediately)
Cover
I'll try to give an update on this project some time soon.
- ⬜️ Finalize designs of exo-"roll-cage" needed for structural integrity upon vehicle rotation.
- ⬜️ Finalize assembly of windows
One way to start selling quicker, is to focus on selling the simpler "independently-useful-components" of a modular product. For example, if your product is an electric toothbrush, you might develop an end-effector for existing devices, and start selling it first. I'd call this approach -- an "functional modularization" of products. In case of Hivica, it could be viable, because the "hive cell" because it has multifunctional components, that the unique kind of door, that doubles as a bed. However, to enable people to incrementally buy components of a hivica, the entire car needs to be prototyped with a long-term vision in mind, because once initial components are sold, it is harder to modify its dimensions in the future (without recall of products, sending new versions to all the customers).
Additionally, with the approach, where the customer self-assembles the car, by incrementally buying its independently useful parts, manufactured locally in each country, based on the provided drawings, by using supply chains in those countries, it becomes an imperative for the entire sale process to build a specialized app, that connects the part ordering with consumer orders. It requires maintaining partnering supplier network, similar to how people choose the delivery method, or payment method, they would be buying instance of the product to be made based on drawings, and able to choose the manufacturing shop, that will make and send the product. In such buying process, added complexity comes from the fact, that each single-part product has to be matched with different supplier, that specializes in one or other specific type of manufacturing.
In general, developing a buying experience of: "pay for our drawings, we'll submit them to your local manufacturer, and you'll receive the product" is worth a separate startup on its own. However, it's the kind of sale experience that I'd like to provide for the HiveCell buyers...