Usually when we don't get something there is much stamping of feet and throwing of toys out of prams; I don't take rejection well. I also don't like missing out on a no-strings forty grand, which would have got us a lot further in our mission.
As you may recall (see a previous blog), we applied for some funding via the Shell Springboard initiative.
Well, ho-hum, we didn't make the shortlist. And it's hard not to be disappointed. But they were just so gosh-darned nice about it, and on top of the fact it was free to enter, with a really easy entry form and all, I really can't do much more than shrug and put it down to experience.
And I really recommend any out there who may be eligible to give it a go next time. As they wrote to us:
"We do hope that you will continue to follow this first, pilot year of the Shell Springboard fund and perhaps respond to future requests for entries. Your application remains confidential and will be disposed of securely after the first winners have been announced. Therefore, should you wish to enter in the future, the independent assessors will have no record of your previous application.
Updates will be available on the Shell Springboard website where you can also subscribe to our mailing list and find links to other funding sources that may be of help to you."
I think we will. And we'll pop it on the website under funding or whatever category we have for such info.
The only frustration is that we can't find out why we made the cut, which makes it hard to do better next time. My only fear is the 'widget from Wigan' factor, where such monies ALWAYS seem to go to tangible 'things', where we are just a little too virtual for judges to get their heads around.
They do seem to like an invention they can see getting designed, prototyped, made and sold for a tad more than it costs to make.
So, as I told them we will, we'll be monitoring those who did apply and get featured, and happily put their stuff on our site if it falls in our re:mit.
Least we can do.
Here they are so far:
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