Failed Indiegogo startup now charging backers more to get their cameras

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When Panono went bankrupt earlier this year, its 2,600 Indiegogo backers who raised $1.3 million for the project were out their money -- and the camera they thought they were getting.

Now, the company that bought Panono's assets wants the investors to shell out a little bit more to finally receive their 360-degree camera.

Bryanston Group, the Swiss firm that bought Panono's assets, wants investors to pay for the Panono sets -- offering them a 50% discount on the retail price for the cheapest set. The discount amounts to about $1,000, which means backers will have to pay between $1,000 and $3,200 more.

When the Panono cameras were listed on Indiegogo, backers paid at least $550 to get one. They now retail for 1800 euros in Germany.

Panono will offer the discount only to customers who buy a camera set, which come with additional camera gear. The sets currently sell for between 1900 euros and 3600 euros.

Bryanston says it has a "moral obligation" to give its backers an opportunity to finally get the cameras.

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Panono introduced the gadgets in 2013 as black and green spheres embedded with tiny cameras that can take a panoramic picture when tossed in the air.

As part of Bryanston's offer, investors will also have access to the camera's cloud-based service features, which it says adds another $600 in value.

"We are glad to finally end the Indiegogo supporters' years of waiting and uncertainty," a company spokesperson said in a prepared statement.

Panono only shipped about 400 of the cameras, leaving 2,200 backers in the lurch.

Bryanston says it's fair to ask investors to pay an additional price because the company, now called Professional360 GmbH, won't be earning a profit on the company and that the initial backers will be paying less than the public.

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However, the technology is far from revolutionary anymore.

There are now many cheaper 360-degree cameras on the market, including competitors from companies like GoPro, Samsung and Garmin.

Still, the company says most of the investors it reached out to were excited about the prospect of finally getting their hands on the cameras.

"We are working hard now to ship the cameras the same day the order is received to hopefully have all cameras delivered before Christmas," says Maxim Schwarz, Head of Support at Panono.

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