Startup Looking for Help
I know a gentleman named Alan Shapiro who has come up with what looks to me to be a nice new boat concept he calls the "Raptor". Pictures of the boat are below (click on any picture for larger image)
I believe he also has a link to some YouTube video at his web site. Update: Here is the YouTube link.
He knows how to design and build the boat and has pretty good contacts for selling it, but needs help from a CFO/Strategist/business-type to push the company forward. He has a prototype built and the production model fully costed-out and sourced. However, he is about to look for a new round of financing and need help in that process. He is offering equity in the company but can't pay a salary. The job would not be full-time in the beginning. If anyone has some time on their hands and has experience with startups and likes boating, this may be something to look into. I have helped him a little bit, but I am out of time and need to focus on my own business.
I do not in any way warrant whether this is a good opportunity or not. Don't assume that because Coyote seems like a smart guy, that this must be a viable business, because I just don't know. I have given him a bit of startup money in exchange for some future boats, and a bit of advice, but that is the extent of it. He has a draft business plan I am sure he would share with qualified candidates.
What I like about the product is that in the rental business, there really is a need for a personal watercraft or jetski that is enclosed, such that it will rent in colder waters and does not require renters to get out of their street clothes. If you know what a mouse boat is, these are much higher performance versions of that type product. He takes jetski engines, from 50-110HP, and puts them into this really fast hull shape. This boat is fun to drive (see the video linked above) and my opinion is that it would rent well, but I of course have not been able to prove that with actual boats. Alan believes there is also a strong market for individual sales, but I can't confirm or deny that from my own knowledge.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be, email me at the link on the right with some information about yourself and I will pass it on to Alan.
