Group Exploration · v3
How We Could Work Together
Catalyst ideas for the group — MI + PA shared infrastructure, real revenue paths, lowering risk for everyone considering exits
🎯 Target meeting: Thursday June 4, 2026
What this meeting is about
Reframed 2026-05-11 04:30 AM: This is NOT Sam's career decision meeting. This is a group of friends exploring how we can work together with catalyst ideas — real revenue paths, shared infrastructure between MI and PA, lowering individual risk by combining what we each already have.
Everyone in this group is somewhere on the spectrum of "thinking about exit options." Tony, Luke, possibly Adam and Skibba may also be considering whether corporate is still the right answer. The catalyst ideas here serve everyone who's wondering — not just Sam.
Where we are
~40%
Overall prep complete
4-6
Potential participants
June 4
Target meeting date
The participants — who's in this meeting
| Person | Background | What they bring |
|---|
| Sam (you) |
Same Solutions LLC, EV/battery engineering, 3D printing |
Active LLC, technical breadth, MI location, family network |
| Chris |
Ford Racing mechanical engineer |
Machining, motorsport network, may sell house (large garage could be PA hub) |
| Tony |
GM engineer |
GM network, possibly considering exit, MI base |
| Luke |
GM engineer |
GM network, possibly considering exit, MI base |
| Adam (potential) |
GM, friend |
Sam to gauge interest before invite |
| Skibba (potential) |
GM, friend |
Sam to gauge interest before invite |
Sam to decide who's invited: Core 4 (Sam, Chris, Tony, Luke) is locked. Adding Adam/Skibba expands the group to 6 — better diversity of perspectives, more potential for shared infrastructure economics, but harder to coordinate. Recommend gauging interest in 1-on-1 conversations before inviting.
The geographic reality — MI + PA
Key insight: The group is already split between MI and PA. Several members have family/friends/property in both states. This isn't a constraint — it's a feature. We can build a venture with hubs in both states from day one.
PA hub — Chris's house OR Sam's dad's garage
Option A: Chris's house (if he sells/relocates strategically)
Large garage. If Chris sells his current house, he could buy in a way that creates a PA hub for the group. Discussion item — Chris's choice.
Option B: Sam's dad's PA garage purchase (REAL OPPORTUNITY)
Sam's dad evaluating buying a heated garage in PA — $115K, 14 storage spots.
The math:
- Purchase: $115K
- 14 spots × $125/month rental = $21,000/year max revenue
- Dad uses 4 spots (saves $500/month = $6K/year vs current rental)
- 10 spots rentable = $15K/year revenue
- Total value: ~$21K/year on $115K = ~18% cap rate (very strong)
- Simple payback: ~5.5 years
If Sam invests with dad (50/50):
- $57.5K from Sam
- $10.5K/year value to Sam
- Equity in commercial real estate
- Get spots for venture use
For venture context:
- 4 spots for dad
- 4 spots venture members (Sam, Chris, Tony, Luke?)
- 6 spots rent out at $125/month = $9K/year cash flow
- That's the PA hub
MI hub — Sam's house OR space to find
MI hub identification needed
Sam currently using own house for limited ops. Needs space for pontoon/trailer projects, excavator storage (for rental).
Options:
- Industrial space rental in Commerce Twp / Pontiac / Auburn Hills
- Shared with existing operation that has spare capacity
- Outdoor lot for trailer/equipment storage
Iterative chat deliverable: SE Michigan geography analysis (May 27-29)
4 catalyst ideas — concrete small-stakes starts
The thesis: Each idea is low capital, real revenue, easy to test with the group before committing to bigger plays. Anyone considering exit can pilot one as a side venture. Successful pilots can compound into bigger operations together.
1. Blade/Shear Sharpening Service
Captive customers built in: CeCe's salon, butcher neighbor. Expand to commercial accounts. MI + PA dual-location compatible.
2. 3D Print Custom Gifts/Merch (Bambu A1 scale)
Sports medallions, custom keychains, awards, local team gear. Sam's existing Pirates/Phillies print validates the workflow + cost.
3. Vehicle/Equipment Storage (Sam's dad's PA garage)
Real, available opportunity. $115K total investment, 14 spots, recurring rental revenue. Group could co-invest or rent spots.
4. Trailer/Equipment Rental (MI side)
Boats, pontoons, excavators. Sam already uses some of these for own projects. Rentals to neighbors/network/seasonal users.
Why catalyst ideas matter for this group
Each catalyst idea is something any participant can pilot solo while staying in their current job. Successful pilots become the proof needed to take bigger steps. Multiple pilots = multiple revenue streams that combine. The group can compound by sharing infrastructure (storage, equipment, customer networks) even if each person operates independently.
This is fundamentally different from "let's all quit and start a metal 3D printing service bureau together." It's "let's identify low-stakes ways to start making money on the side, see what works, share what we learn."
The bigger picture (Phase 2+)
| Phase | Timeline | What it looks like |
|---|
| Phase 0 (now-6mo) | 2026-05 through 2026-11 | Catalyst pilots: sharpening, 3D print custom, dad's garage, equipment rental |
| Phase 1 (6-12mo) | 2026-11 through 2027-05 | Whoever's making real revenue compounds — bigger equipment, formalized operations |
| Phase 2 (12-24mo) | 2027-05 through 2028 | Shared facility decisions, partnership structures, real corporate exits |
| Phase 3 (24mo+) | 2028+ | Full venture operating at scale across MI + PA hubs |
Deliverables for the meeting
| Deliverable | Owner | Progress | ETA |
|---|
| Pre-read brief (revised for group exploration framing) | Planning chat | 20% | May 30 |
| Slide deck (revised — group exploration not Sam pitch) | Planning chat | 15% | May 31 |
| Sharpening Phase 0 deep-dive | Metal 3DP chat | 0% | May 24 |
| 3D print business model (Bambu scale) | Planning chat (new) | 30% (Pirates data validates) | May 26 |
| PA garage investment analysis | Planning chat (new) | 40% (numbers above) | May 25 |
| Equipment rental model (trailers, excavator) | Planning chat (new) | 15% | May 28 |
| Geographic synergy MI + PA | Iterative chat | 10% | May 28 |
| Partnership structure menu (revised) | Iterative chat | 40% | May 27 |
| Healthcare/retirement for self-employed | Iterative chat | 20% | May 27 |
| Risk patterns | Iterative chat | 30% | May 25 |
| Career transition framings (multiple paths, not just Sam) | Iterative chat | 15% | May 25 |
What Sam needs to do
Answer iterative chat's 8 questions (post-Pittsburgh)
60-90 min focused session May 18-19. The "GM fork" answer can be more honest now — it's not THE driver, just one option among many for one participant. Same for Chris, Tony, Luke's similar questions.
Talk to your dad about PA garage
Confirm details: actual address, timeline, his openness to co-investment, what he envisions. Real numbers needed for the meeting brief.
Have informal 1-on-1s with Tony and Luke
Before the meeting. Gauge their actual interest level. Are they exploring exit, or genuinely happy at GM and helping Sam with HIS decision? Determines if this meeting is "4 people considering exits together" or "Sam + Chris exploring, with Tony+Luke as honest brokers."
Decide on Adam and Skibba
Invite to the meeting? Or wait for follow-up? Depends on Tony+Luke's interest level and total group size desired.
Talk to Chris about house
Is selling/relocating real plan? When? Does PA make sense as relocation target for venture purposes?
Meeting format reminder
| Component | Detail |
|---|
| Pre-read brief | 10-15 pages, sent May 31, 4 days before meeting |
| Slide deck | 10-12 slides, screen-shared during call |
| Interactive matrix | Equipment/cost comparison HTML for live discussion |
| Format | Google Meet, 90 min scheduled (60 active + 30 buffer) |
| Sam's role | Moderator, not presenter |
| Note capture | Shared Google Doc, live during meeting |
| Post-meeting | Decision capture within 48 hours |
Timeline
| Date | What |
|---|
| May 12-14 | Sam: prints, paint work, Pittsburgh prep |
| May 15-17 | Pittsburgh trip (recon sharpening, PA garage scouting if applicable) |
| May 18-19 | Sam answers iterative chat questions + talks to dad about garage |
| May 20-22 | Sam 1-on-1s with Tony, Luke; conversation with Chris |
| May 22-29 | Research chats produce deliverables |
| May 30 | Planning chat assembles pre-read brief + slide deck |
| May 31 | Pre-read brief circulated to participants |
| June 1-3 | Participants read, prep questions |
| June 4 (Thu) | MEETING (90 min Google Meet) |
| June 4-6 | Decision capture, follow-up assignments |
Friends Meeting Prep v3.0 · 2026-05-11 04:45 AM · Reframed as group exploration, MI+PA hub model, 4 catalyst ideas