ı still do not understand why u need ICO ? The project is good enough te get privat funds. May be you should try to get investors from the privat sector who is related with the project.
Probably the developer did not find money and decided to conduct ICO, I think he might have a desire to continue the project on his own or on another ICO.
When you fail at an IPO, then I guess best bet is to do an ICO. Not much regulation and you get paid in crypto which you can cashout for funds
