I'm not convinced that it's an easy space either, but that's really all about the distribution channels. If you wanted to do this as a startup what you'd need to do is to lure away someone who's specifically connected in the lighting industry. I think access to the distribution channels would be much more important than money -- and I'm not even convinced that if you did have money that you could automagically solve the distribution problem. There are of course fabrication expenses, but I can only assume that the original poster has taken those into account.
Yes, you're right of course, distribution is another problem. I really don't see how something like this would work - if someone made me head of a light bulb startup and gave me $500 million, I'd still be quite lost as to how to go about doing things. I'd probably burn through a lot of money on consultants and all that.
I think some types of business are better suited to big companies, and some are better suited to smaller companies.
