However, if we get enough funds to do something really interesting, I have a house that I'm nearing end of construction that I'd be willing to keep for a certain ammount of time just to experiment with IoT type projects linked into blockchain based RISE. Because... that's what we do!

Forget IOT stuff. That's what Slock.it is doing. You should make this different from everything else if you want to increase your chances of success. Emphasise what makes this different.