Hey man, I am working on a blockchain product that will enable small-scale, self-governing neighborhoods to reach energy independence, and revitalize local economies. All using a blockchain platform that creates a locally specific coin for each neighborhood. This coin will be tied to the neighborhood's land values, and the residents will be given a share of the ICO to use as voting power in collective decision making.
This project is in the very early phases. I am looking for people who have more experience than I to help move this thing forward. Check out my article here:
https://steemit.com/blockchain/@tidnull/ut-arlington-s-engineering-challenge-my-proposal-rough-draft
Thanks
Honestly brother I'm not particularly enthused by your project. I think it's stupid. But that's just me.
That said, once you get things going I might be able to help you raise money. Let me know when you're getting ready to launch your ICO.
Thanks for your time at any rate! This would probably be years in the future that I could even think about launching an ICO.
Can you give more specific criticism?
Yes. The problem with ideas like this is that they depend too heavily on beareaucracy and existing institutions to get any traction. Not only are you dealing with energy, but you’re also going to go around to local governments and try and get them to adopt your token? Call me in 20 years. Healthcare, insurance, energy.. they all have this problem.
The best projects are ones that develop platforms for people to create projects on. What you’re doing is just a bunch of ERC20 tokens. I could go do that right now, anyone could. It’s not special.
Look at projects like ethereum, Lisk, even steem is a good example. Look at all the new stuff coming out on the steem blockchain. These people aren’t being paid to create it, they’re just doing it to support the ecosystem. For all the problems on steemit you can’t deny that the steem project is growing and getting used by developers. Not sure what your background is and whether you’re a developer or not, but if you are then I’d say go for the good and try and create a full platform.
If you can’t do that, then just fork monero and make a new privacy coin.
First of all, thanks, this is hugely valuable feedback. So what you're saying is that the platforms already exist to create something like a locally specific coin?
I envision people using blockchain based, self-governing neighborhoods as a way to eventually escape bureaucracy. Sure, it will take years of working within city governments, but eventually I see decentralized micro governments replacing large-scale, sprawling municipalities--I believe that's the ethical direction to go. I expect to spend at least twenty years working on a half-perfect product. But I cannot do this alone.
I am not a developer. My background is in construction and I am studying civil engineering. I am just now learning basic programming. Am I too late in the game to start studying blockchain development and make a platform specific to community building?
Brother... I don't know what to tell you man. You can make a coin right now if you want. Make an ERC token or do it on the Waves platform. Not that hard.
You're never too late and anything is possible. I mean look at Coca Cola. That shit dissolves teeth in 3 days and is used to clean blood off the streets, yet it's more consumed than any other beverage in the world.
My personal preference is for ideas that can find traction immediately and become profitable with little effort. I would recommend you leverage your strengths and create something that could be adopted in the next few months. Shorten your timeline.
As far as micro governments... who exactly are you going to pitch this to? Governments won't like it. No institution is going to back something that implies its demise. You going to go around to local neighborhoods and try and convince them why you should use their fake internet money? I don't know man... if you can make it work, good for you. I have no idea how that would happen though. Doesn't mean it's not possible, just means I don't know how it would work. Good luck.