Best line in that story: "That's why it's essential to have founders that are truly passionate about the problem you're trying to solve and not just ambitious about its success."
Several times I've been too far ahead of the market and even in a reasonably small niche, it's impossible for a smallish start-up to move a B2B market towards a new solution or technology. Except for my last attempt, I've been lucky enough to have other products to sell.
What's most interesting to me is that he had both the foresight AND tenacity to wait for the market to come to him. Of course, there's some luck involved too ... what if Apple had waited even another 12 months? Would we be hearing the same story?
Anyway ... thanks for sharing a very interesting story.
That's real perseverance, way to hold out. In 2012 I also thought NFC was just about the coolest thing ever when I got my Galaxy Nexus. I started working at night with a friend on an NFC rewards system for Android and was really passionate about it. I was sure that the upcoming iPhone 5 would definitely have NFC support. Why would it not?
Anyway when it came out and had no NFC support I just stopped working on my side project. I know this is not at all on the scale of your story (mine was a few hours a week, this was your life) but I can relate.
Anyway I'm glad Apple went ahead and "invented" NFC again, because the tech is awesome and I'd like to see it wide spread.