Hyperloop UPV
The Hyperloop UPV concept is a levitating rail-free pod design. Using magnetic repulsion and air cushioning for levitation is expensive and can produce unpredictable forces. The pod is equipped with a hybrid system of permanent magnets and electromagnet units, being able to control lift, so it can hover from the top of the tube. That way, the pod doesn't need so much electricity to be lifted by itself. Propulsion is obtained through expansion of the air with a nozzle, located at the rear of the pod, achieving speeds of up to 1000 km/h. The turbine recovers energy from the flow allowing a more efficient journey. This clean tube layout is said to cut costs in up to 30% of the whole Hyperloop project (about 180m USD) and the possibility to comfortably fit more passengers.
Jumpstarter, Inc
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, a research company organized to bring Elon Musk's idea of Hyperloop into reality is backed by JumpStartFund. After publicizing his concept of the Hyperloop in a white paper, Elon Musk declared he could not work to create a prototype because of his busy schedule and commitments to other projects with his own companies Tesla Motors and SpaceX. JumpStartFund considered it to be their first project and started work on it using their crowd collaboration platform.
On 27.02.2015, JumpStartFund announced plans to build a 5-miles test track in California, to be built from 2016 to 2019, and financed by an IPO in 2015.