What problem do golf courses, parks and playgrounds, schools, public and public gardens all have in common?
Weed Control
Weed Control
The Solution
The HotZot is the first tool to effectively kill weeds organically with point-and-shoot ease.
Advantages
- Cordless convenience – uses propane to heat the water from a backpack tank.
- Safety – using only hot water, weeds are killed organically.
- Ease of Use – weighing only 5 lbs. it is easy to carry and use.
- Any Season, any weather – there is no drift and no overspray
- No toxic residue left behind – wildlife, pets and children are safe in a treated area
- The Garden HotZot is a patented solution to organic weed control. It sprays a jet of scalding hot water at the crown of the weed. The hot water kills the crown and root of the plant and - leaving no trace behind.
Market Size
Key factors driving growth;
• increased formation of single-family households
• Growth in the number of operational golf courses and sport fields
• Expansion of the size of the middle class
• The development of high-value new products, such as robotic mowers
• increased formation of single-family households
• Growth in the number of operational golf courses and sport fields
• Expansion of the size of the middle class
• The development of high-value new products, such as robotic mowers
Successful products in the US, Canada, and Western Europe:
• Develop novel features every few years
• Professional-grade equipment for landscape contractors
• Products targeting sports field maintenance
• Develop novel features every few years
• Professional-grade equipment for landscape contractors
• Products targeting sports field maintenance
Freedonia - Recommendations & Opportunities for Power Lawn & Garden Equipment Executives
The Competition
Roundup (glyphosate)
Inexpensive, toxic, and convenient with a low initial cost
Cost – Pennies/application
String Weeders
Fast, easy but they do not kill weeds, they only chop off the tops. Weeds will return.
Cost - $89 - $250
String Weeders
Fast, easy but they do not kill weeds, they only chop off the tops. Weeds will return.
Cost - $89 - $250
Flamers and Torches
Fast and easy but they do not kill weeds, they only burn off the tops. Weeds will return
Cost - $300 - $400 including propane tank, dolly, and fire extinguisher
Flamers and Torches
Fast and easy but they do not kill weeds, they only burn off the tops. Weeds will return
Cost - $300 - $400 including propane tank, dolly, and fire extinguisher
The Tertill
Kills weeds less than 2” tall in a 100’ sq. area. Gets stuck easily
Cost - $350
The Tertill
Kills weeds less than 2” tall in a 100’ sq. area. Gets stuck easily
Cost - $350
DynaSteam
Slow and doesn't kill the weeds, it only burns off the top
Weeds will return
Cost - $95
Competitive Advantages
Safety – no danger to pets, family or the environment from toxic herbicides
Ease – lightweight, ergonomic and handheld. Weed without kneeling, crawling or stooping to dig and pull weeds … just point and shoot
Speed – at the kill rate of 150 to 200 weeds/hour it is easy to spend a couple of hours weeding without breaking a sweat.
Ease – lightweight, ergonomic and handheld. Weed without kneeling, crawling or stooping to dig and pull weeds … just point and shoot
Speed – at the kill rate of 150 to 200 weeds/hour it is easy to spend a couple of hours weeding without breaking a sweat.
Features
Fast warmup (under 15 seconds)
Constant spraying – there is no “recovery” time necessary between applications
Works on moss, vertical walls, green roofs, snails and slugs as well as weeds.
The HotZot does not disturb the soil thereby discouraging new weeds.
The HotZot is effective any weather - there is no "drift" or over-spray.
The HotZot can be used on sidewalks, between pavers, in established garden beds and in any type of soil.
Unlike steamers or torches, there is no heat "bloom" that can damage nearby plants you want to keep.
Constant spraying – there is no “recovery” time necessary between applications
Works on moss, vertical walls, green roofs, snails and slugs as well as weeds.
The HotZot does not disturb the soil thereby discouraging new weeds.
The HotZot is effective any weather - there is no "drift" or over-spray.
The HotZot can be used on sidewalks, between pavers, in established garden beds and in any type of soil.
Unlike steamers or torches, there is no heat "bloom" that can damage nearby plants you want to keep.
Traction
We’ve met with and received support from Congressman Kurt Schrader (D. Oregon 5th Congressional District) and from the Deputy Director for Earl Blumenauer (D. Oregon 3rd Congressional District). Both said that it was “the right tool at the right time.”
Rainbird Golf and Contractor Divisions are interested and have followed development of the HotZot
Aliabiosys a major agricultural supplier in India requested details and pricing. They are interested in using the HotZot for weed control in tea, coffee, palm and spice plantations.
Requests to test the HotZot include;
· Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Health Safety
· Trillium Primary School, West Linn, OR
· City of Irvine, CA
· Denver “March Against Monsanto”
Rainbird Golf and Contractor Divisions are interested and have followed development of the HotZot
Aliabiosys a major agricultural supplier in India requested details and pricing. They are interested in using the HotZot for weed control in tea, coffee, palm and spice plantations.
Requests to test the HotZot include;
· Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Health Safety
· Trillium Primary School, West Linn, OR
· City of Irvine, CA
· Denver “March Against Monsanto”
Testers Comments
“This is more about a disruptive technology than a change in weed killers!”
“ Such a great idea now that can’t get on my knees anymore”
“I used Roundup for 30 years and this is a great alternative.”
“This could be a game changer!”
“ Such a great idea now that can’t get on my knees anymore”
“I used Roundup for 30 years and this is a great alternative.”
“This could be a game changer!”
Business Model
Revenues will initially be generated through ecommerce with a starting retail price of $200. Manufacturing costs are estimated to be $50 range in volume.
We see this as a scalable product which can span the Lawn and Garden industry from commercial use to the urban, residential gardener.
Our goal is to license different models of the HotZot to different segments of the Lawn and Garden industry. Therefore we intend to focus on backpack spray tank manufacturers, golf cart manufacturers (cart mounted tanks) and residential power tool manufacturers.
We see this as a scalable product which can span the Lawn and Garden industry from commercial use to the urban, residential gardener.
Our goal is to license different models of the HotZot to different segments of the Lawn and Garden industry. Therefore we intend to focus on backpack spray tank manufacturers, golf cart manufacturers (cart mounted tanks) and residential power tool manufacturers.
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Bonnie Bruce – Co-Founder and Instigator
Bonnie Bruce, Prof. Member of APLD, LEED AP, Master Gardener, FIIDA, is a landscape designer who, after many years of practicing commercial interior design, stepped across the threshold to apply her design talents to the landscape. She brings over 30 years of plantsmanship and 20 years of focus on environmental stewardship to this new career. Education: BA in Sociology, AA in Interior Design, post graduate work in Horticulture. Experience: Interior designer for large commercial projects, adjunct university instructor, now landscape designer, lecturer and landscape coach. |
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Michael Peterson – Co-founder and Chief Tinkerer
Education: BA Psychology, MA Management Experience:
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Kasten Spethman
Working with founders and internal teams to increase revenue, scale, lean up systems, create strategic partnerships, enter new markets, communicated more effectively and refine their brand.
From 25 years of working with hundreds of companies I bring insight, experience and a fresh set of eyes to analyze where a business is at and how to make it better.
Working with founders and internal teams to increase revenue, scale, lean up systems, create strategic partnerships, enter new markets, communicated more effectively and refine their brand.
From 25 years of working with hundreds of companies I bring insight, experience and a fresh set of eyes to analyze where a business is at and how to make it better.
Josiah Cain - Josiah Cain is a landscape architect and ecological design consultant with over two decades of experience working at the nexus of ecology, infrastructure, and urban design. Program Director for UC Berkeley’s Professional Certificate in Sustainable Design. He has also led workshops at Esalen, trained Sustainable Business Advisors (SBA), and was a founding faculty member at Sonoma State University's Ecological Landscape Professional Program.
In addition to a BS in landscape architecture from UC Davis, Josiah holds an advanced degree in Design, Technology, and Environment from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He holds design certificates in Permaculture, Green Roof Design, Rain Harvesting, and Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems.
In addition to a BS in landscape architecture from UC Davis, Josiah holds an advanced degree in Design, Technology, and Environment from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He holds design certificates in Permaculture, Green Roof Design, Rain Harvesting, and Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems.
Contact Us
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