Fund me KC: COPR Security Innovations

Startland News is continuing its new segment to highlight area entrepreneurs’ efforts to accelerate their businesses.  This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their stories to gain a little help from their supporters. If you or your startup is running a crowdfunding campaign, let us know by contacting news@startlandnews.com

Who: Geoff Miles, Founder of COPR Security Innovations

What: We specialize in protecting and maintaining vacant properties nationwide with an emphasis on the needs and challenges of real estate investors. Our VP SmartTower is a wireless, automated, security system, custom-built for residential real estate investors.

The tower is a transportable security system that allows investors the flexibility to move it from place to place so they get the security where they need it, without complicated installation or long-term contracts.

How much: We hope to raise $100,000 in 30 days.

How will you spend it: Tooling and manufacturing of the VP SmartTower; reducing our costs through large order quantities; funding security systems and monitoring services for non-profit community development organizations, like Habitat for Humanity; and providing our supporters with their security and automation systems.

How’s it different from other campaigns: We are differentiating our campaign through our social mission. Community non-profits (like Habitat for Humanity) who are devoted to restoring blighted neighborhoods have lots of vacant homes on their books that are targets for copper theft, drug crime and vagrancy. If a home is vandalized, it creates an enormous additional expense for these small non-profits and contributes to the decline of the neighborhood. For these reasons, we are donating $30,000 of in-kind security equipment to neighborhood non-profits upon a successful campaign, allowing them to easily secure these homes and reverse the spread of blight.

Quirky of fun facts with the campaign: We’re donating systems in the Manheim Park neighborhood of Kansas City. Five years ago, Manheim Park was a “no-go zone” and had been overrun by blight. But now, thanks to the work of some amazing residents, it’s turning around. As part of our campaign, we’re sharing the story of that neighborhood as a blueprint for other communities looking to fight the spread of blight.

Advice on crowdfunding campaigns: People tend to contribute for two main reasons: they love (and want) a perk you’re offering and/or they want to become a part of your story. So, the core of your campaign involves offering people perks they want and then telling your story in as many places as possible.