Mark Hatch, former CEO of TechShop, 2007 to July 2016 (9 years), was introduced on “Gary’s Book Club” at CES today as “the guy behind the maker movement” and “board member of Maker Media, which publishes MAKE magazine.” This is the first time I’ve heard Mark is considered the guy behind the maker movement. I also did not see the news that Mark is on the board of Maker Media, it’s not publicly listed on MakerMedia or in the magazine that I could find. Maybe today was the board position & guy-behind-maker-movement announcement.
In the video Mark announced he is doing an ICO (an initial coin offering) for a Maker Token Platform and a Maker Blockchain (makerrevolution.com). Mark says specifically:
“we’re missing some key pieces on the education front, we’re missing some pieces on funding makerspaces, both at the local and larger level. So, I’ve decided with some partners of mine and Network Society Ventures and labs, I’m gonna do an ICO this year, an Internet Coin Offering, a tokenization. This area needs a token…”
On the site…
Maker Token Platform Features
…Why a Maker Blockchain Platform Will Be Revolutionary
…
Certification will be recognized by makerspaces globally, and the public nature of the secure blockchain allows easy confirmation of skills. The currency token also provides an easy way to pay for related goods and services.
It was reported (here!) that TechShop has/had(?) $21 million worth of debt.
Mark’s “Maker Partners” has a few things cookin’ (domains registered).
makerpartners.com
makerpartners.org
makerrevolution.com
makerrevolution.org
makerspaceassoc.com
makerspaceassoc.org
makerspaceassociation.org
hatchventurepartners.com
hatchventurepartners.org
angelsfund.net
usmakerspaceassociation.com
Mark has a couple books The Maker Movement Manifesto & newly published The Maker Revolution, we’ll post up the reviews soon and will see if Mark will do an interview.
Related:
Statement on Cryptocurrencies and Initial Coin Offerings – sec.gov.
Update 2/8/18
There’s a new-looking site makertoken.com along with a video and sign up.
Hello!
Thank you for giving us your email address to be the first to know about the progress of our development of the revolutionary new platform for the maker movement. We will follow up with new information about the project soon.
Our Sincere Appreciation!
The Maker Revolution Team
Update, looks like http://www.makertoken.com went away some time between May of 2019 and December of 2019.
Mark Hatch, the man who help run Tech Shop into the ground by using Tech Shop as his personnel piggy bank.
To me it sounds like he misses having his private expense account and wants a new one that is paid by others.