So by putting your own label on something that everyone knows is a "Big Thing" (kickstarter) you hope to create a self-fulfilling prophesy that it will become a buzzword, which you can then use to crow about how you predicted it, possibly even fuelling some speaking engagements.
To me, Kickstarter is just one example (or execution) of pre-commerce. I think there was a post on techcrunch recently about this too: Kickstarter is just scratching the surface. Vertical integration is the next step (think Quirky.com) that more startups will/should try.
This is similar to what Tim Ferriss describes in 4-Hour Workweek. He'd create one-page microsites (similar to what Launchrock offers nowadays), buy up proper domains, and then test his product idea by purchasing search engine ads.
Not only could he iterate on product idea by tweaking the search ads and reacting to CTR changes, but visitors to the sites were advised to leave their email, so by the time the product was ready to launch, he'd have a great opt-in list.
"One example of how an MVP can manifest is dummy landing pages."
This is not a minimum viable product, it is a minimum viable ad. A product implies you have actually built something. Please do not belittle the act of actually building something any more than it already is.
'In simple terms, pre-commerce is “buying stuff that doesn’t exist yet”. In more grown-up words, it’s a framework for companies to cheaply establish market demand for a new product idea and acquire the cash flow to produce it.'
[OP]
'Reported earnings on derivatives are often wildly overstated. That’s because
today’s earnings are in a significant way based on estimates whose inaccuracy may not be exposed for
many years. The errors usually reflect the human tendency to take an optimistic view of one’s commitments. But the
parties to derivatives also have enormous incentives to cheat in accounting for them. Those who trade
derivatives are usually paid, in whole or part, on “earnings” calculated by mark-to-market accounting. But
often there is no real market, and “mark-to-model” is utilized. This substitution can bring on large-scale mischief. As a general rule, contracts involving multiple reference items and distant settlement dates increase the opportunities for counter-parties to use fanciful assumptions. The two parties to the contract might well use differing models allowing both to show substantial profits for many years. In extreme cases, mark-to-model degenerates into what I would call mark-to-myth.'
When you make assumptions concerning something's value with no concrete immediate exchange of the goods you are valuing [simply put, you are finalizing transactions for things you are not shipping], you are in fact delaying market's feedback and the possible negative consequences this latter can produce to your assets. By employing Pre-Commerce in your model, you are not getting early feedback. You are just betting you will be able to provide in the near future the value you are paid for right now, and you are selling to your customers a burden-share of risks, along with the product you offer. Sure in some occasions you will be able to meet your users' expectations. But if and when you won't, bad things will hit you [and your company] with much greater impacts.
In theory this sounds interesting, but it runs up against a fundamental difference between startups and more mature organizations. Startups embrace failure and accept change; mature organizations reject failure and fight change. Therefore to give power to the consumer in this manner is simply not feasible for a major brand that is invested in its existing research and development programs. Outside of the one off marketing stunt, this mode of commerce will only exist in the fringes and by smaller, independent creators geared towards bespoke development.
this has been around for quite some time. why do you think some infomercials offer products that won't ship for 2 months? kick starter has just made it more obvious that it is a presale.
He's blogged a lot about food & recipes in the past. Built and sold a recipe site. It's his personal blog so I guess he can put whatever he wants on it?
Vacuous blog syndication at it's finest.