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EcoFire - Green Building

Feedback

Positive Points:

Good=20 environmental benefit; Good beginning team=20
Interesting=20 idea. Not sure of the claims, but working prototype is a = positive.=20
People=20 love fire. This technology allows them to meet codes that will = be passed=20 in the near future.=20
Interesting=20 concept to make fireplaces more "efficient"=20
Team=20 has interesting collection of experience - some have direct = experience=20 in combustion technology.=20
Low=20 cost, low tech, practical product with easy to understand = benefits.=20 Price increases in natural gas (100% over the last year) will = drive=20 heavier use of wood fires, which will be good for EcoFire. =

Suggestions for Improvement:

Decorative=20 burning of wood is not compelling; wood=20 stoves, furnaces do very good job of high = combustibility=20 of feedstock.=20
Minimal=20 differentiation=20
Detailed=20 market discussion needed=20
Address=20 barriers to entry=20
More=20 believable financials=20
Better=20 discussion of the value proposition=20
The=20 enabling aspect of this technology is an electrical fan. This = was a=20 disappointment: was hoping that the heat of the fire would be = able to=20 power the fan.=20
The=20 "virtual shop" is not explained and it is difficult to determine = how the=20 numbers are calculated. The ability to handle the extraordinary = number=20 of orders with so few staff is difficult to ponder.=20
Unclear=20 how large their target market of fireplace users really is.=20
Team=20 would need local air ordinances to become more stringent for wood=20 burning fireplaces.=20
The=20 team does not appear to have experience ramping=20 a new business and should seek guidance from an advisor or = recruit=20 someone who has start-up experience.=20
What=20 will it cost a homeowner to install?=20
Need=20 to elaborate on manufacturing plan.=20
Has=20 the technology been validated as BACT by the EPA?=20
The=20 green story is a bit mixed. Reducing emissions from wood-burning = fireplaces is certainly good for the environment, but using = fireplaces=20 at all in urban areas is discouraged.

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