Seeking Funding To Mass Produce Glass Art

Opportunity Summary

We are seeking $500,000 mostly for the purchasing of equipment, the most expensive being a waterjet CAD machine. With the possibility of leasing the CAD machine we only need around $200,000 for raw materials, equipment and to execute our unique marketing strategy.

Aspen Glass designs and manufactures state-of-the art, sophisticated fused-glass products for homes and corporate offices. The combined beauty and long-term durability of fused glass places Aspen’s products in a unique niche. Fused glass is the process of bonding two or more pieces of glass together at extremely high heat. The process creates products with infinite variations and combinations of color, texture and opacity. By blending art and science while meeting the demands of high volume production, Aspen Glass will establish a competitive edge in a market occupied predominantly by "one-man" operations that produce their offerings manually. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Aspen Glass will become a leading player in the growing market for high-end furnishings and accessories.Keep in mind we are willing to relocate.

The market for fused glass products is littered with thousands of individual artists who create their pieces by hand and focus on very selective, localized markets. Today’s competitors view their products as a work of art, driving a small number of labor-intensive products into the market. Most competitors also focus on producing small pieces for individual collectors and jewelry. As a result, very few consumers have been exposed fused-glass products, creating a severely untapped market opportunity.

Aspen Glass’ competitive advantage comes in three key ways. First, products will be created in a volume production environment. Utilizing Waterjet CAD machines for cutting enables standardization and symmetry in shapes of the tiles to be used in many of Aspen’s product offerings. In addition, cast glass sculptures will allow for the creation of pieces that are mass produced without sacrificing artistic beauty or specific color schemes demanded by customers. Aspen’s manufacturing process will create labor productivity unmatched by any of the existing competitors. With Aspen’s process, a 30-hour creation will be accomplished in 1 hour. Second, Aspen Glass is uniquely skilled at fusing stained glass allowing for further intensity of colors and palates. Very few fused glass artists have the ability to fuse stained glass and none have the ability to produce it at high volumes. Third, Aspen Glass will be run as a business targeting a global marketplace instead of operating as a sole proprietorship focused on a select local market