Year One Budget — Combined Summary
Augmented Traveler, year one (M0–M11): studio setup plus the Maria Mitchell production, in two staffing scenarios. Built from two notes that stay separate:
- Hardware, software and contingency: Year One Budget — Draft (from Hardware — Price List and Acquisition Schedule)
- People: Year One Budget — Personnel
Summary
| Line | A: full-time studio | B: lean core + contracts |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware and capture (core) | $74,792–$117,143 | $74,792–$117,143 |
| Software and services | $13,654–$31,054 | $13,654–$31,054 |
| Contingency on hardware/software (10–15%) | $8,845–$22,230 | $8,845–$22,230 |
| Personnel, excluding founders | $978,364–$1,619,004 | $567,806–$1,104,792 |
| Total, year one | $1,075,655–$1,789,431 | $665,097–$1,275,219 |
| Full-time people incl. founders | 13 | 5 |
By quarter (before contingency)
| Quarter | Hardware + software | A: personnel | A: total | B: personnel | B: total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $44,814–$69,414 | $85,381–$150,034 | $130,195–$219,448 | $55,151–$117,259 | $99,965–$186,673 |
| Q2 | $18,600–$35,000 | $259,804–$447,493 | $278,404–$482,493 | $186,802–$378,499 | $205,402–$413,499 |
| Q3 | $25,032–$43,783 | $324,140–$532,688 | $349,172–$576,471 | $183,055–$355,477 | $208,087–$399,260 |
| Q4 | $0 | $309,040–$488,788 | $309,040–$488,788 | $142,798–$253,558 | $142,798–$253,558 |
The hardware and software lines are the same in both scenarios. Scenario A needs roughly the same number of workstations as B needs contractor seats; contractors mostly use their own machines, so B could buy a little less hardware (not modelled).
Not yet included
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Founder compensation (CEO, CTO) | Set by founders |
| Rights counsel retainer | Quote needed |
| Collections licensing and reproductions (MMA, NHA, Vassar) | Partner terms |
| Venue costs (install, insurance, docent hours) | Partner terms |
| Marketing, methodology page, launch | Estimate needed |
| Optional devices (Vive, Vision Pro, Galaxy XR, Looking Glass) | Up to $29,447 |
| Optional visionOS developer | $9,000–$24,000 |
Compared with the pitch
The pitch shows about $230k–$400k for studio setup plus the first production. Scenario B comes to $665,000–$1,275,000 and scenario A to $1,076,000–$1,789,000, both before founder pay. The pitch figure needs to move up to at least scenario B's low end, or the first production needs a smaller scope.
Sources: Sources — 2026-09-19