After reading the proposal, I was: Why not? So I gave my vote to the proposal. Then I strated thinking further and checking the website FontAwesome and came to the conclusion this is gonna be a waste of money. At FontAwesome they promote the brand package as being visibile to other FontAwesome users. Will we gain traction through such channel? I dont think so. To be honest, I don't even know what this 3k$ will give us. A hosted HIVE icon at some SaaS service? Every brand has their brand material either on their own website available for others to use, and host this brand material at their own, or rented servers. Why would HIVE need to be different?
I very much believe the only way to grow HIVE is not by trying to get individuals onboard. We need to onboard complete communities! The only way to do so is to not only create tools to embed HIVE into existing community platforms, but also a team (or multiple thereof) of people selling, training, consulting, and even developing tools to onboard this communities and get integrated with these community platforms. When we initially go to the niche community platforms, we may have a chance. All starts with forming teams of professionals who take on the task of sales and consulting. Technology will trail, ie whatever needs to be done technically, will follow from what is required to onboard a community platform, or a community in itself.
Here at HIVE we continously try the route to success form the wrong angle, ie build technology and then hoping HIVE community members will take it to the market. Doesnt work like that. We need become professional, build business teams, work together with the developers in making things happening when we need developers to support onboarding a community and/or community platforms.
Whoever is in favour of my thoughts and ideas, I'm read to create team(s), contribute where needed and though that bring HIVE alive.