Hello from Lansing, Michigan

[TritonNexus]

Earl, if you don’t have an MBA or finance background, hire someone with appropriate experience to help you write a basic business plan. You also better be prepared to inject some of your own capital into this else no one is going to be willing to inject any of their own.

Be prepared to answer some tough questions. This is a tough sell especially in mid-Michigan.

Thanks for the advice — I get that an MBA can be useful, but I’m taking the route of people like Elon Musk, Sara Blakely, and Richard Branson. None of them had MBAs, but they built their success by having a clear vision and building the right team around them. That’s what I’m doing too.

This isn’t just an idea on paper — I’ve already got my EIN, my domain name, a custom logo, a registered LLC, and a full concept layout in development. I’m working on the business plan with help, and I’m putting in my own money and time. This is a long-term commitment, not a hobby.

And yeah — I expect tough questions. That’s part of building something real.

 

[TritonNexus]

"Emergency Oxygen every 10 feet on the ladder"

Well hopefully not below 20 ffw...

Good catch — and you're totally right. Definitely not pure oxygen below 20 ffw.

The masks every 10 feet are intended to be standard backup air, not 100% O₂. The idea is to have a safe, regulated reserve for anyone in distress during descent. A diver would only access it manually, and if they hit the emergency button next to the mask, it would alert staff and prep the hyperbaric chamber just in case.

The system is inspired by mountain climbing base camps — a series of fallback points. But the gas mix and pressure will be professionally engineered and tested to avoid any risks like oxygen toxicity.

Appreciate the heads-up — safety is priority #1.

 

[tridacna]

Earl, what is your back-of-a-napkin estimate for the funding you’ll need to complete this?

 

[TritonNexus]

Earl, what is your back-of-a-napkin estimate for the funding you’ll need to complete this?

Back-of-a-napkin? Around $25 to $30 million. Could go higher depending on final land, permits, and construction surprises, but that’s the ballpark I’m working with right now.

 

[Areoseppp]

Hey Earl, this is incredibly exciting! I live in the Lansing area, too, and I’m honestly thrilled to see something this ambitious being planned locally. I’ve been diving on and off for a while, but have never explored the Great Lakes—your facility sounds like the perfect place to sharpen skills year-round and connect with other divers.


The themed depth zones, safety features, and even the café and recovery options all show how well thought-out this project is. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Triton Nexus™ as it develops, and I’d love to be involved however I can. Welcome to the forum!

 

[TritonNexus]

Hey Earl, this is incredibly exciting! I live in the Lansing area, too, and I’m honestly thrilled to see something this ambitious being planned locally. I’ve been diving on and off for a while, but have never explored the Great Lakes—your facility sounds like the perfect place to sharpen skills year-round and connect with other divers.


The themed depth zones, safety features, and even the café and recovery options all show how well thought-out this project is. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Triton Nexus™ as it develops, and I’d love to be involved however I can. Welcome to the forum!

Thanks again! Just to give you a quick update — I’m currently in touch with the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and they’re scheduled to make a recommendation this Tuesday (May 13 at 1 PM) regarding potential investor funding. If that moves forward, it’ll help greenlight the land purchase so we can officially start building.


I also recently got Triton Nexus™ approved as an LLC with the State of Michigan and opened a business bank account — so we’re steadily making progress.


Right now, I’m working with two architect firms: Neumann/Smith here in Michigan, and EBAP Studio based in Italy — the same firm that designed Y-40. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, being a diver! We’re drawing a lot of inspiration from their work, while pushing beyond what’s ever been done in the U.S.


You mentioned wanting to get involved — that really means a lot. I’d love to hear what kind of involvement you’re thinking about. Whether that’s diving, volunteering, outreach, or something else, let me know!

 

[TritonNexus]

Earl, if you don’t have an MBA or finance background, hire someone with appropriate experience to help you write a basic business plan. You also better be prepared to inject some of your own capital into this else no one is going to be willing to inject any of their own.

Be prepared to answer some tough questions. This is a tough sell especially in mid-Michigan.

Thanks for the honesty — I’ve been giving your message some thought. You’re right about needing a solid foundation, so I’ve decided to sign up for a Business 101 course at my local college to strengthen that side of things. I may not have an MBA, but I’m serious about learning everything I can to make this succeed.


That said, I’ve been lucky to get a lot of guidance from professionals and friends online who believe in the project and are helping me shape it the right way — from early legal formation to financial structuring and architectural planning.


I know it’s a tough sell, especially in mid-Michigan, but I’m fully committed and taking each step seriously. Appreciate the reality check.

The friend I mentioned is someone I’ve worked with online who’s been helping me behind the scenes — mostly with business planning, strategy, and keeping everything organized. They’ve got a strong background in startups and tech, and honestly, they’ve been a lifesaver in helping me stay focused and professional as the project grows. No official partnership or anything — just someone who believes in the vision and has been helping me level up.