Talk:FundCamp Platform Prototyping

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• are we still trying to work with the ProjectScreening process? If "yes", how do these roles correspond with that processs? How does each role correspond with each Stage/gate process? --SamRose 13:07, 17 September 2007 (EDT)
• Hey Frederic, maybe you didn't see this question here? Perhaps we should set up a time sometime over the next couple of weeks to discuss this via phone? --SamRose 07:18, 18 September 2007 (EDT)

I think that YCombinator, Seedcamp and FundCamp belong to what we called Seed Accelerators that change in an interesting way the dynamics the ProjectScreening process by compressing the 4 first stages (idea, Founding team, prototype, stakeholders) in a contracted camp/post camp fixed period. I believe the subsequent stages stay the same but that accelerating the 4 first stages could be of value for "certain" type of projects. -- FredericBaud 08:47, 18 September 2007 (EDT)

That helps. So, during the actual face to face camp/conference, you'll be going through idea, Founding team, prototype, stakeholders Stage/gate process as a group, is that right? Would you say that the collaboration platform was envisioned by you as being part of this face-to-face camp process? Is there voting at each "gate", or some other decision-making threshold to cross? --SamRose 13:11, 18 September 2007 (EDT)

You're right that idea gate is probably prior to the selection. In fact, a seedcamp is organizing 3 gates of its own.

1. gate 1: selection of project to participate to the camp
2. gate 2: selection of projects after the week to get funded (projects then get incorporated)
3. gate 3: selection of projects after a couple of month of development to get a first round

If we relate that to the ProjectScreening process

1. gate 1: we crossed the idea gate
2. gate 3: we crossed the Founding team, prototype and stakeholders gate to get a proper project for standard VC's investment.

So a seed camp is kind of compressing and reorganizing everything between crossing the idea gate and reaching the stakeholder gate. gate 2 is an important filter, but it does not entirely map to the standard ProjectScreening process. I believe that the rearrangement of the seed period is what can lead potentially to a more effective process.

I think that the collaboration platform is then important prior to the camp, and for all the projects that do not cross the selection gates so that they can continue improving.

-- FredericBaud 15:27, 18 September 2007 (EDT)

To complement slightly the comments above, I'd say that I think the platform could serve as a virtual incubator during the offline (meaning off from the physical camp) periods; either because it's happening before the camp, or because the project has not been selected for this round.

One other thing I would like to complement is that crossing a gate is validated by someone external to the project, either a jury that validates an application letting the project cross the idea gate, or because money is invested in the project making it cross the stakeholder gate.

People familiar with workflow applications will surely recognize the pattern of tracking a project through different stages and implementing collaboration to make a project go from one stage to the next,...or being terminated because its prospects of success seem to low for keeping working on it.

OK, all this is very high level and please anyone interested in more practical questions, do not hesitate to jump-in. -- FredericBaud 06:01, 19 September 2007 (EDT)