The 10% solution

Since the economy is so lousy in Rockford and our biggest high tech employer (Sundstrand Aerospace) is leaving town, I have been spending my spare time designing products. Energy savers mostly.

A flashlight. Some automotive stuff. Power grid stuff. Military vehicle stuff. Telco stuff. I've had it looked over by other engineers. I've had the preliminary business plans looked over by investment bankers. And what it comes down to is this. It seems like there are no risk takers left in America.

Every one I have talked to said the plans had merit. The market was there. Patents are possible. Manufacturing processes were all standard. Time to market varied from three to nine months. Several project go/no go points were suggested in order to limit the risk.

So what is the problem? The problem is the 10% solution. In this market what investors want is to make a "guarenteed" 10% on their money. In a word, real estate. The kind of deals I am suggesting are the double or nothing kind. If the projects fail there is no residual value.

Now if it is happening to me it must be happening to many others as well.

So what I want to know: any ideas for solutions?

Given the amount of money spent on political campaigns where there is no residual value (possibly even further losses) if you are on the losing side, it would seem that there ought to be resources out there for this kind of venture.

Well if you know of any, you know where to reach me.