Analytical lab devices are essential for scientific innovation. As a global society, we offer tremendous rewards to entities that produce meaningful technological advances. However, many groups are unable to participate in this process because they lack access to the necessary equipment to do so. Essentially, anyone without access to a well-funded research lab is left “in the dark.” Therefore, potential innovators from underfunded and underserved communities around the world are unable to capitalize on their ideas.
This further perpetuates wealth-inequality, as wealthy entities are able to innovate more than others, and the profits from their innovation are returned to them.
The successful completion of this project will create global access to open-source spectrophotometers for a tiny fraction of the cost of a commercial (closed source) spectrophotometer.
Fledgling's profits will be from providing assembled devices and technical support, as well as perhaps upgraded features in the future.