Author

Topic: First Colored Coin Initial Public Offering [Monthly Dividends] (Read 10994 times)

newbie
Activity: 3
Merit: 0
Hey vtropolis, are you still the one running the web store?  Apparently people think this whole thing is a scam now, because people aren't receiving what they paid for, and no one is returning emails.  The phone number isn't legit, and the directors for the parent company seem bogus
legendary
Activity: 1666
Merit: 1010
he who has the gold makes the rules
if you had done this on counterparty i would have considered it, as it stands i havent seen 1 exchange integrate one of these colored coin  implementation

i would advise anyone doing this that they not commit to specific platform but use them all
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Hey guys,

First off, thanks so much for all those who showed their support throughout this process. Unfortunately after some legal counsel, we believe that we are unable to continue to operate publicly with shareholders, due to financial regulations in our jurisdiction. We believe refunding our backers and ceasing public ownership and dividends is the the only fair course of action available to us at this point. We have refunded our backers the full Bitcoin amount of their initial investment. Each investor's funds have been returned to the Coinprism address from which the funds were originally sent, so please find returned funds in your Coinprism account. Thanks again for everyone's support and patience, if you have any questions or concerns please send us a PM.
legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1007
Quote from: vtropolis
Quote from: thehun on May 18, 2014, 12:45:59 PM

So is this another vaporware investment?   ? (sorry, couldn't resist the joke)

Have you tried other payment processors such as Skrill, Neteller, etc to accept CC payments? I find it hard to believe that it's so complicated for someone who isn't doing anything illegal.


Haha.  We're a legit business already up and running since November 2012.

All the big payment processors do not allow electronic cigarettes and drug paraphenelia.  Skrill has this under their terms and conditions. See here: https://www.skrill.com/en-us/siteinformation/terms-conditions/

They even strictly forbid sending and receiving payments for bitcoin in section 6.7 and 7.4

Have you tried to use a service like swipe? That would remove the middleman and it would still allow credit card payments.

Posted From bitcointalk.org Android App
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
Can you elaborate? how does the issuer of the shares track the movement of their shares on the blockchain? (i.e. I trade my shares with someone and send them to their prism address). I don't believe prism has this functionality.

This is something we are working on. You will be able to see all shareholders of a given coin, and send them dividends.

Awesome! Thanks for the info. Once a decentralized exchange is in place, it will be a pretty awesome ecosystem for asset sharing.
newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 2
Can you elaborate? how does the issuer of the shares track the movement of their shares on the blockchain? (i.e. I trade my shares with someone and send them to their prism address). I don't believe prism has this functionality.

This is something we are working on. You will be able to see all shareholders of a given coin, and send them dividends.
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
How are you gonna get track of all your share holders?

I mean how are you gonna the dividends ?

on the blockchain dude thats what these technologies are for

Can you elaborate? how does the issuer of the shares track the movement of their shares on the blockchain? (i.e. I trade my shares with someone and send them to their prism address). I don't believe prism has this functionality.
legendary
Activity: 1666
Merit: 1010
he who has the gold makes the rules
How are you gonna get track of all your share holders?

I mean how are you gonna the dividends ?

on the blockchain dude thats what these technologies are for
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1000
Impossible is Nothing
How are you gonna get track of all your share holders?

I mean how are you gonna the dividends ?
legendary
Activity: 1666
Merit: 1010
he who has the gold makes the rules
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Paypal doesn't let you sell ecigs?  That's really weird considering the one I'm using right now was bought off eBay...

Some people can get away with it.  We got away with it for about a year.  It's probably a matter of time before Paypal finds out refuses their services.

I didn't receive my colored coins:
TXID: 3a514519484001911778a4d733d7a2321815d8e5e82ad5116cf8b86c52f104ea

I sent them a few hours ago.  You should have received them by now.  
newbie
Activity: 27
Merit: 0
I didn't receive my colored coins:
TXID: 3a514519484001911778a4d733d7a2321815d8e5e82ad5116cf8b86c52f104ea
legendary
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1003
We are the champions of the night
Paypal doesn't let you sell ecigs?  That's really weird considering the one I'm using right now was bought off eBay...
newbie
Activity: 26
Merit: 0
骗子一枚,鉴定完毕
legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1007
So is this another vaporware investment?  Grin (sorry, couldn't resist the joke)

Have you tried other payment processors such as Skrill, Neteller, etc to accept CC payments? I find it hard to believe that it's so complicated for someone who isn't doing anything illegal.

Haha.  We're a legit business already up and running since November 2012.

All the big payment processors do not allow electronic cigarettes and drug paraphenelia.  Skrill has this under their terms and conditions. See here: https://www.skrill.com/en-us/siteinformation/terms-conditions/

They even strictly forbid sending and receiving payments for bitcoin in section 6.7 and 7.4

Can you show anything that proves the site is earning money at this point (and how much)? Would help out a lot when it comes to investing.

Also, what you stated does seem interesting, and it means that this could be a niche you hit on. But we need more information for due diligence.
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
So is this another vaporware investment?  Grin (sorry, couldn't resist the joke)

Have you tried other payment processors such as Skrill, Neteller, etc to accept CC payments? I find it hard to believe that it's so complicated for someone who isn't doing anything illegal.

Haha.  We're a legit business already up and running since November 2012.

All the big payment processors do not allow electronic cigarettes and drug paraphenelia.  Skrill has this under their terms and conditions. See here: https://www.skrill.com/en-us/siteinformation/terms-conditions/

They even strictly forbid sending and receiving payments for bitcoin in section 6.7 and 7.4
legendary
Activity: 1212
Merit: 1037
So is this another vaporware investment?  Grin (sorry, couldn't resist the joke)

Have you tried other payment processors such as Skrill, Neteller, etc to accept CC payments? I find it hard to believe that it's so complicated for someone who isn't doing anything illegal.
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Hi,

I sent some amount from my Main Coinprism wallet's address. But now I am not sure whether the Main address supports colored coins or not.

Best Regards,
Vlad

Yeah the main address supports colored coins.  You should be fine.  I sent the shares btw.
full member
Activity: 238
Merit: 100
Hi,

I sent some amount from my Main Coinprism wallet's address. But now I am not sure whether the Main address supports colored coins or not.

Best Regards,
Vlad
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Today's shares have been delivered to all recipients.  Pending transactions will receive shares once they have been confirmed.
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
The coinprism site isnt very helpful.

So how does this work? I send you btc, you send me (presumably) some dust that youve colored. Can i send this dust to an arbitrary address. Can I mix this dust with normal coins? To which address will dividends be paid?

Thanks!

Thanks for the questions, will try to shed some light.

The "dust" in this case would be Bitcoin. The Bitcoin blockchain is used as the mechanism for sending/receiving coins, and the coloring exists as a protocol on top of the blockchain. Coinprism uses the Open Assets protocol for coloring, https://github.com/OpenAssets/open-assets-protocol/blob/master/specification.mediawiki.

Colored coins must be sent to a wallet that is set up to accept them. From Coinprism, "If you are sending colored coins, please make sure the recipient is expecting them in that address. A colorblind client or wallet could uncolor coins if they perform a transaction on an address that contains colored coins." CP has a forum if you're interested in learning more technical details and/or connecting with other users - http://forum.coinprism.com/

Dividends will be paid to the address from which the Bitcoins were sent. For now, we recommend only sending Bitcoins from a Coinprism wallet. We are manually managing these addresses through spreadsheets with multiple backups, having the blockchain - https://blockchain.info/address/1LzUY9zPp1iSabwr4aUwUezSGe5aC4Wmhh as an ultimate authority on share amount and receiving address.

legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1007
I would have it professionally proofread and edited, also.  I see some typos.  Also, the information provided here looks pretty light.  Real investors expect more thorough and detailed information about the company, its founders, ownership structure, etc, etc.

Funny you should say that, as I noticed the same. Also, I'm a professional editor and proofreader (and would gladly take on this project). OP, send me a PM if you're interested! I'd work in return for pay or shares.
member
Activity: 76
Merit: 10
Enemy of the State
The coinprism site isnt very helpful.

So how does this work? I send you btc, you send me (presumably) some dust that youve colored. Can i send this dust to an arbitrary address. Can I mix this dust with normal coins? To which address will dividends be paid?

Thanks!
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Quote
The funds will be used accordingly:
1.   Set up U.S corporation, virtual office, merchant account, U.S bank account to be able to accept credit card payments again.

Looks like you need to hire a lawyer and rethink your budgets. Have you ever heard about state licenses, FinCen etc? And what bank are you planing to use for opening merchant account for "US corp" with virtual office?

Maybe you are skilled in software development, but your business model sucks ass, sorry. You should start from finding someone who understands legal matters, have you heard about e-gold and others?

This is our top priority right now and we have talked with about dozen merchant providers who specialize in e-cigs.  This is the best solution for online Canadian retailers to be able to accept online credit card payments, and is a common business practise.
hero member
Activity: 870
Merit: 500
Trading will make me rich)
LOL, did not noticed about vaporizers, marijuana etc)) Well then, try to design a new plan when (if))) you'll be sober)
hero member
Activity: 870
Merit: 500
Trading will make me rich)
Quote
The funds will be used accordingly:
1.   Set up U.S corporation, virtual office, merchant account, U.S bank account to be able to accept credit card payments again.

Looks like you need to hire a lawyer and rethink your budgets. Have you ever heard about state licenses, FinCen etc? And what bank are you planing to use for opening merchant account for "US corp" with virtual office?

Maybe you are skilled in software development, but your business model sucks ass, sorry. You should start from finding someone who understands legal matters, have you heard about e-gold and others?
member
Activity: 71
Merit: 10
Is there a detailed profit model?

I had a discussion with the OP over Skype and he did forward this profit model over.

http://pastie.org/pastes/9180306/text?key=v07ggj5tf6bjtgcdjzkjvg


Looks legit.
hero member
Activity: 588
Merit: 504
Is there a detailed profit model?

I had a discussion with the OP over Skype and he did forward this profit model over.

http://pastie.org/pastes/9180306/text?key=v07ggj5tf6bjtgcdjzkjvg
sft
newbie
Activity: 53
Merit: 0
Is there a detailed profit model?
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 254
Editor-in-Chief of Let's Talk Bitcoin!
Will the Vapetropolis.ca store accept VAPE, valued at market rate, for its products?
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Thanks for announcing that.  We will do our best to make a return on your investment.

More shares will be delivered tomorrow, or possibly later tonight.
member
Activity: 71
Merit: 10
I sent a transaction from coinprism this morning. It currently has 62 confirmations but I have not received colored coins on my coin prism account.

I'll update this post if that changes, but I would encourage you to wait until you see proof of delivery first.

I am clear that coins are sent once per day, I just want to make sure it works.

UPDATE: Shares delivered as promised, several hours later in the same day.
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Hi guys,

We made a blog post on our website, since there was no mention of it on our website.  More details will be added later tonight.  And a proper banner will be made on our site to assure people that this post is legit and indeed from us.  Any more questions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks.
newbie
Activity: 32
Merit: 0
I would have it professionally proofread and edited, also.  I see some typos.  Also, the information provided here looks pretty light.  Real investors expect more thorough and detailed information about the company, its founders, ownership structure, etc, etc.
newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 2
Really nice use of colored coins!

Here is a tip about your colored coin profile: you should actually put all that description inside the profile (in the description field).

The description field supports markdown formatting (see here for details on the syntax).
newbie
Activity: 35
Merit: 0
Vapetropolis Colored Coin IPO


Instructions for buying IPO shares (process is very simple):

1.   Create a Colored Coin Wallet at http://www.coinprism.com
2.   Fund your Colored Coin Wallet with bitcoins
3.   Send Bitcoins from your Colored Coin Wallet to 1LzUY9zPp1iSabwr4aUwUezSGe5aC4Wmhh
4.   Wait for shares to be sent to your Colored Coin Wallet.

IPO Details

The sale will last 30 days or until all units have sold out. Backers will receive additional shares based on the following incentive structure:
1st week:  30% bonus units
2nd week:  20% bonus units
3rd week:  10% bonus units
4th week:  no bonus

300,000 public shares represents 30% ownership of Vapetropolis.  
1,000,000 Total Shares
1 share = 0.0002 BTC
Dividends – All profits from bitcoin sales will be distributed as dividends to shareholders on a monthly basis. Please note our dividend strategy may change in the future. (currently all sales are in bitcoin, however we are adding credit card payment solution asap.)
As a shareholder, you will be entitled to a portion of all profits generated from Vapetropolis and any future entrepreneurial activities.

Minimum investment to receive dividends is 100 shares = 0.02 BTC

edit: Shares will be distributed at the end of each day.  So Please make sure you have sent bitcoins from a coinprism wallet. http://www.coinprism.com

About

Vapetropolis is an online retailer of vaporization products. Vaporization is a technique for avoiding irritating respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke by heating cannabis to a temperature where the psychoactive ingredients evaporate without causing combustion. The company is based in Canada but provides shipping of its products to the United States, United Kingdom as well Europe and Australia.  It began doing business in November of 2012.  Sales have grown significantly since then and in February of 2013 we began accepting bitcoin. We have generated over 70 bitcoins since then.  However, in late October, paypal refused to do business with us, saying they do not allow the sale of e-cigarettes and vaporizers.  Vapetropolis then turned to the payment processing company Stripe, to process credit card payments, but they also refused to do business with us after a few sales.  Our website has been surviving on bitcoin sales, but the volume is not near the volume we were doing prior to the paypal event.  

Growth Strategy

Our strategy to grow the business is to set up an online credit card payment solution immediately and focus more on gaining international sales.  In Canada, e-cigarettes and vaporizers are sort of in a regulatory grey area at the moment.   Currently we have been struggling to open a merchant account that will process vaporizer sales as Canadian banks have been denying e-cig and vaporizer retailers.  From all the merchant providers we have talked to, they have suggested we open a U.S corporation and virtual office.  This will allow us to open a U.S merchant account in which we can process online credit card payments as they are less strict in the U.S.

Our marketing strategy will be to focus on search engine optimization and new forms of paid advertising.  Starting an affiliate program is also high on our agenda. We may also hire a professional marketing consultant to help come up with a viable marketing strategy that produces optimal ROI.  

We are also interested in marketing towards the bitcoin community as conversion rates are fairly high.   Buysellads.com has a growing number of bitcoin sites that we can advertise on, and we are specifically interested in coinmarketcap.com


Vaporizer Market

The market size for vaporization products is difficult to estimate because of how quickly it is growing and a lack of consolidated statistics. The e-cigarette market for example is on target to have doubled in size this year; to $2 billion.  TAM (total addressable market size) for portable vaporizers, not counting e-cigarettes, is likely to be around $500 million.

Top Brands are Volcano by Stors & Bickel, Arizer, Davinci, Magic Flight Launch Box.  Many new vaporizers seem to be entering the market almost every month indicating a lot of hype around the industry particularly because of new favorable regulations in the U.S. decriminalizing the use of marijuana.  

Operational Costs

Currently our only operational cost is web hosting.  We use xpcwebhosting.com at 19.95 per month.  However, we are considering upgrading to cloud hosting to provide better service to our international customers.

Use of Funds

The funds will be used accordingly:
1.   Set up U.S corporation, virtual office, merchant account, U.S bank account to be able to accept credit card payments again.
2.   Revamp marketing of website to increase website traffic and conversions.
3.   Upgrading infrastructure to support worldwide shipping and optimize website.
4.   Possible development of new portable vaporizer.  
5.     Implement future strategies to grow the company.

Bitcoin Sales since April 2013:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cLjBa3DwxeepkahVtRzLgzPXtugPqvH67xFIzcrr24Q/pubhtml
*we've used mtgox to process bitcoin payments prior to using bitpay, but we do not have that data available.
Website Revenue to date: http://imgur.com/Hybu6ZC

If you have any further questions please ask them below or contact us at [email protected].  Thanks!
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