Were Well on Track to Parachutes!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Jun 23, 2021 at 04:43:12 AM

What an Awesome Rally Today!

Strong work today! With 53 hours to go, we're less than $3000 away from unlocking Parachutes. 

More Interesting Stats (Updated):

• Time since the last update: ~12 Hours
• Amount raised since last update: ~$1768.00
• New backers since last update: 17 at a rate of 1.4/Hr.
• Time left on the clock: ~53 Hours
• Hypothetical additional backers if we maintain the same rate: +74
• Current Average Pledge Amount: $65.59
• Backers needed at average pledge to reach $30K: 46
• Average amount of money raised per hour over the last 11 hours: ~$147/Hr
• Hypothetical Amount we could raise if we maintain the same rate: $7808.00 ($34,831 total)
• Amount left to raise until we unlock Parachutes: $2977.00
• Squad-tier backer count: 97 Backers
• Platoon-tier backer count: 117 Backers
• Potential we could raise if all squad and platoon backers upgrade to Company Early Bird: $5909 - for a total fundraise of $32,932
• With the Jeep Expansion: KS Price per piece at Company Early Bird tier: $0.49/pc
• With the Parachute Expansion: KS Price per piece at Company Early Bird tier: $0.41/pc
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Base 2nd Wave Set: $25 or $1.04/pc
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Motorcycle Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.00/pc
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Jeep Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.14/pc
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Parachute Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.14/pc
• KS price vs. Retail price of 1 set with all expansions: KS: $20, Retail: $49

Jeeps unlocked! Next up - Parachutes!
over 3 years ago – Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 01:47:52 PM

$25,000 Milestone Reached!

Talk about a red-letter day! In less than 24 hours, we managed to raise over $2,500 and unlock the Jeep Expansion Stretch Goal! Just let that sink in for a moment - $2,500 in less than 24 hours. Call me crazy, but parachutes are still on the horizon, and at the rate we've been going, they are easily within reach - we may even be able to unlock more colors or horses afterward!

For Your Consideration, Here's some Interesting Facts: 

(These stats were drafted a few hours prior to publishing this update and may be slightly outdated by the time you read)

• Time since the last update: ~19 Hours 
• Amount raised since last update: $2685.00 
• Average amount of money raised per hour over the last 19 hours: $141/Hr 
• Time left on the clock: 66 Hours 
• Hypothetical Amount we could raise if we maintain the same rate: $9306.00 ($34,474 total) 
• Amount left to raise until we unlock Parachutes: $4832.00 
• Squad-tier backer count: 100 Backers 
• Platoon-tier backer count: 127 Backers 
• Potential we could raise if all squad and platoon backers upgrade to Company Early Bird: $6155.00 - for a total fundraise of $31,323 
• With the Jeep Expansion: KS Price per piece at Company Early Bird tier: $0.49/pc 
• With the Parachute Expansion: KS Price per piece at Company Early Bird tier: $0.41/pc 
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Base 2nd Wave Set: $25 or $1.04/pc 
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Motorcycle Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.00/pc 
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Jeep Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.14/pc 
• Est. Retail price and $/pc. for Parachute Set (sold separately): $8 or $1.14/pc 
•  KS price vs. Retail price of 1 set with all expansions: KS: $20, Retail: $49 

 Kickstarter Savings are Real!

First of all, if you're already a backer - you're amazing. We really appreciate you and I hope that is apparent in how we're handling this campaign. To the extent possible, we really want to maximize the value that you're getting from your pledge. We are not getting any profit from this Kickstarter campaign and all funds will be directed into manufacturing. That means that as a Kickstarter backer, you are getting a HUGE value from your pledge. As you can see above, by backing this Kickstarter, you are easily paying less than half of what the retail price will be.

 Why is Your Retail Price So Expensive When Compared to LEGO?

If you've purchased from Brick Mini in the past, you know that our nano soldiers retail for roughly a dollar a piece depending on if you get them as a set or individually. We recognize that when compared to LEGO, this price-per-piece may seem high. Keep in mind that LEGO has the advantage of the economies of scale on their side. One mold for them will produce millions if not tens of millions of one part, and they will sell those millions of parts.  At the end of the day for LEGO, even after factoring in the cost of design/labor, molds, manufacturing, kit assembly, distribution, wholesale, etc, they are still able to achieve that low cost per part simply because they are dealing in the literal billions of bricks. 

We at brick mini believe in providing as high of value as possible in a sustainable manner. What does that really mean? To contrast the point about LEGO that we made above, we may only make a few thousand of any given part over the lifetime of a mold. Not to mention we may only make a few hundred of a given part in a given color at a time which means that we don't get the cost savings from producing hundreds of thousands of parts in one single go. 

Aside from the cost of production, there is a huge cost of personal time invested in design. A square brick is fairly simple to design in CAD software - straight lines and 90 degree corners are what they do best. Organic figures, on the other hand, in dynamic poses that need to be able to freely release from a metal mold are much more difficult to design. Although we've made huge strides in how we design each figure, it can still easily take 20, 40, 60, - even 100 hours or more to fully flush out a figure design properly. The Jeep alone being as complex of a shape as it is took weeks of time in front of a computer screen, and many a night lying awake in bed with eyes closed trying to envision how each piece needed to be designed in order to function as an injection-cast part.

These points are only a few of the things that need to be taken into account, but ultimately "Sustainability" is the key word.  We want to be around for a long time. Our retail prices are calculated to provide a growing level of quality that meets our costs while providing the highest value we can offer to our growing community of supporters.

All this information is really to drive home a point - We see your confidence in us and we don't take it for granted. The Kickstarter discounts and the bonus exclusive gifts are our way of showing gratitude to you for believing in this! 

Let's Finish Strong

A Note to Backers:

Remember, you will only get the exclusive "Dark Stud" figure if you've backed at the Company - Early Bird reward tier or higher. If you have backed at the Squad or Platoon tiers, please consider adjusting your tier to the Company level. I am not joking when I say that parachutes are a very real possibility. Your decision to upgrade your pledge could very easily be the difference needed to unlock parachutes. By backing at the company tier with the exclusive gifts, you are getting roughly 3 times value for your money than if you bought these parts at retail.

A Note to Followers who Have Yet to Back:

This is it! Less than 3 days left. Back and you won't regret it!

• Save over 50% off retail!
• Exclusive "Dark Nan-ight" and "Dark Stud" Figures FREE for Company-tier backers or higher!
• Access to discounts on all products in the Add-on store!

WE NEED YOU! Let's unlock parachutes together!

Much Love,

-Matt, Brick Mini

Secret Stretch Goal #2 Revealed
over 3 years ago – Mon, Jun 21, 2021 at 02:22:13 AM

TL/DR and other topics covered in this update: 

• Secret Stretch Goal #2, "The Dark Stud" is unlocked as long as we stay above $22500 - This free gift is only available to backers at the Company Reward Tier or above. Quantity limits for the "Company - Early Bird" reward tier has been increased to allow for early-bird backers at lower tiers to upgrade while keeping their early bird price, if they so desire. If you are an early-bird backer and there are not enough Company early-bird slots to upgrade to, let us know and we will adjust the limits for you.
•  Why are we making random pop-culture tribute nanos instead of focusing on the jeeps and parachutes? Answered below.
• We've decided backers can purchase additional  "Dark Nan-ight" and "Dark Stud" figures with some caveats explained below
•  How do Add-ons factor into stretch goals? Answered below.
• Will We ever make Horses? Answered below.

Secret Stretch Goal #2 - "The Dark Stud"

having reached a milestone of $22500, we're announcing the unlock of secret stretch goal #2 - The Dark Stud! This figure is a complex nano that will be assembled from 3 pieces (solvent welded together for lasting strength) and featuring a painted blade (if you prefer a black, unpainted blade, that can be arranged). Due to the extra work involved in manufacturing this figure, it will only be gifted to backers at the Company - Early Bird Reward Tier or above.

Why the Pop Culture Tribute Figures?

Certainly a legitimate question! You did not come to this campaign for Bats and Heavy-breathers! You want Jeeps and Parachutes! 

The Short Answer:  1.) The mold that we're buying for the machine guns and wheels will support these extra cavities. 2.) We are covering the cost to machine the cavities for these pieces at no cost to you. 3.)

The Long Answer: The cost of an injection mold is highly subjective depending on the complexity of the parts being cast. In our case, Injection molds have a high initial cost - and a low marginal cost. Essentially, we've committed to buy a mold for the black-colored parts - the machine guns and the vehicle wheels. The initial cost to purchase said mold is high and we'll already be paying a lot for the machining of the cavities. Reaching significant funding milestones gives us confidence to invest a little more on our side to produce an extra piece or two. Also, there would still be room in the mold to support a few additional pieces - but it only makes sense if those additional pieces are only meant to be cast in black - hence, the "Dark Nan-ight" and "Dark Stud" figures.

Why not put the Jeep, parachute or bicycle pieces in the black mold instead of these random figures?

As mentioned above color is a big part of the decision. While there are certainly some people that might want green wheels and machine guns, the reality is that the cost to produce parts in an obscure color outweighs the potential profit from the few people who might want that obscure color. If we decide to produce green tires and machine guns in the future, we can do so with far less waste by keeping them separate. 

Another factor is size. the jeeps and parachutes have bigger parts that require a much greater portion of mold real estate.

Buying Additional Dark Nan-ight and Dark Stud Figures

This question has come up a couple of times. We weren't sure how we wanted to address it, but this is what we've decided:

As a campaign backer, you will receive 1 "Dark Nan-ight" figure as a gift. In order to receive both the "Dark Nan-ight" and "Dark Stud" figures as gifts, you will need to back at the "Company - Early Bird" reward tier or greater. 

The option to buy additional "Dark Nan-ight" and "Dark Stud" Figures (as well as possible other secret stretch goals) will be reserved for backers who have pledged at the "Company - Early Bird" reward tier or greater. 

Quantity limits for the "Company - Early Bird" reward tier has been increased to allow for early-bird backers at lower tiers to upgrade while keeping their early bird price, if they so desire. If you are an early-bird backer and there are not enough Company early-bird slots to upgrade to, let us know and we will adjust the limits for you.

Add-on pricing for these figures is higher than our per-soldier cost for wave-1 figures due to the complexity of manufacturing them. These pieces will not be available for purchase on our website, though they may be similarly available in future kickstarter campaigns.

• Dark Nan-ight Add-on price: $3 
• Dark Stud Add-on price: $5 

How do Add-ons Factor into Stretch Goals?

The Revenue raised from add-ons in the pledge manager is a legitimate way to unlock stretch goals. However, there are a couple items that need to be considered in calculating what amount of add-on revenue can go toward stretch goals.

First Item: While being fiscally conservative with our funding calculations for this campaign, we have also placed our funding goals as low as possible. We have allocated our own money to supplement a portion of the true cost to fund this campaign. The stretch goals, as currently defined, only work for funds received through kickstarter. 

Second Item: Add-ons have unique costs associated with them which makes it difficult to estimate profit from a general standpoint. We will have to assess stretch goal viability based on what add-ons are purchased. Certain add-ons have a cost that has already been paid, so essentially 100% of the revenue for those add-ons can go toward unlocking stretch goals. In contrast, other add-ons have a very high cost associated with them that will have to be paid after we receive all orders. Those costs will never take away from what is raised explicitly in the kickstarter, neither will they ever be greater than what is raised through add-ons (there is no add-on that has a net negative cost for us). Nevertheless, those add-ons that have a higher cost will affect how much money we have left to put towards stretch goals.

Hypothetically Speaking....

What might each backer need to spend in add-ons to be able to unlock Parachutes and bikes? (parachutes and bikes should fit together in the same mold)

In order to answer this question, we need to make some assumptions:

• Assuming final campaign funding is $25K
• Assuming a final backer count of roughly 430
• Assuming a conservative estimate that only 25% of add-on revenue can be applied to stretch goals

We should be able to unlock parachutes and bicycles if every backer spent an average of $50 on add-ons. This is purely a hypothetical calculation and we cannot guarantee that this is how add-on funding would turn out.  

All this being said, we will provide updated estimates at the end of the campaign and beyond. 

Will We Ever Make Horses?

Absolutely. Even though it is unlikely we will be able to make horses and dogs as a part of this campaign, they are certainly something that we want to pursue. As with every Brick Mini product, a significant investment of time and money was applied to the R&D of the horses and dogs prior to this campaign. Much of the difficult work has been done, and now it simply comes down to raising the funds to produce the molds and to order the production runs. We can't promise at this time when they will be made, but it is something we want to see happen.

Secret Stretch Goal #1 Revealed -- a Backer-only Exclusive
over 3 years ago – Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 08:09:08 PM

Be A Vigilante for Nano Justice! 

Be prepared to strike fear in the heart of criminals everywhere - at least the really really tiny ones.

Introducing: The Dark Nan-ight, a kickstarter exclusive nano-figure that all backers will receive as a gift for supporting the Nano Soldiers Second Wave campaign! This figure will not be available for purchase on our website, and the only way you can receive one will be by backing the campaign. All reward-tier levels will receive the Dark Nan-ight as a gift along with the regular pledge reward. 

Why make the Dark Nan-ight?

As a Secret Stretch Goal for hitting $21000, We want to thank everyone who has supported us this far with this exclusive gift. As stated above, this is just a quick concept. The final model will ultimately be far cleaner and will feature a few additional details to really make this Nano shine and be something that you'll be really excited for!

The production of this part will not affect the funding of the rest of the parts from this campaign, and the added cost for their production is an investment that we will be funding ourselves. 

Thank you all for believing in this Nano revolution! Continue to share your affiliate links - we've had a few people earn themselves some free affiliate swag already. Now you can make your friends all jealous and perhaps get them to back using your link by showing off the cool new Nano figure you'll be getting!

Best Regards,

-Matt, Brick Mini

Stretch Goal Preference Survey Results
over 3 years ago – Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 11:12:45 PM

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