As someone who has been working on developing a product for several years, I can tell you that access to most traditional forms of business financing, especially for R&D in anything weapons related, outside of DARPA is very scarce. Companies that are trying to develop something bigger than adding a Viking face to a AR lower, or a reconfigured GLOCK pistol (see Glock 47 which for all intents and purposes is another 17) have tremendous development costs, and this sentiment that they should invest their own money at a risk is right out of the I don't own a business, but I know how it should be done song the perpetually employed have sung forever. The pittance provided by a few pre-sales doesn't come anywhere near the investment necessary to get anything through the insurance process, much less bringing something to market, but it is a good indicator as to what market interest is, and is the chief reason for soliciting such investment. Anyone can say that's a great idea I would fur shur buy one some day, but that's like wishing in one hand, and shitting in the other. One is sure to fill up first.
