Feb 8, 2023·edited Feb 8, 2023Liked by Devin Thorpe
As you pointed out venture capital isn't always as great as it sounds. It's also typically entirely focused on massive payback, which, as you have shown, doesn't happen consistently.
There are also other reasons to invest via crowdfunding. Maybe those choosing to fund a project just want to be altruistic and don't expect any payback whatsoever.
And maybe the answer is somewhere in between. I am considering and investment in Aptera (https://aptera.us/), a solar electric ultra-efficient vehicle (10 miles/kWh for the energy nerds), because I think it's the right direction for efficient mobility (contrasted with a trophy truck like a Hummer EV [1-2 miles/kWh]). Do I also want to see them succeed and make a few bucks along the way? Sure. But fundamentally I think a vehicle like this could be life-changing for someone who can't afford to put in charging infrastructure at home. Thus the combination of solar panels built into the vehicle and a standard 120V outlet is likely enough for most people that can't afford a Tesla and the associated home charger. FWIW, I do have a $100 reservation on a Launch Edition already, so I do have a vested interest in seeing them come to market.
I believe Aptera has their act together and is doing all the right things. And yet they chose to go the crowd-funding direction with their Accelerate Aptera program. https://aptera.us/accelerate/
Obviously funding needs to be done wisely, but VC isn't always what it's cracked up to be.
As you pointed out venture capital isn't always as great as it sounds. It's also typically entirely focused on massive payback, which, as you have shown, doesn't happen consistently.
There are also other reasons to invest via crowdfunding. Maybe those choosing to fund a project just want to be altruistic and don't expect any payback whatsoever.
And maybe the answer is somewhere in between. I am considering and investment in Aptera (https://aptera.us/), a solar electric ultra-efficient vehicle (10 miles/kWh for the energy nerds), because I think it's the right direction for efficient mobility (contrasted with a trophy truck like a Hummer EV [1-2 miles/kWh]). Do I also want to see them succeed and make a few bucks along the way? Sure. But fundamentally I think a vehicle like this could be life-changing for someone who can't afford to put in charging infrastructure at home. Thus the combination of solar panels built into the vehicle and a standard 120V outlet is likely enough for most people that can't afford a Tesla and the associated home charger. FWIW, I do have a $100 reservation on a Launch Edition already, so I do have a vested interest in seeing them come to market.
I believe Aptera has their act together and is doing all the right things. And yet they chose to go the crowd-funding direction with their Accelerate Aptera program. https://aptera.us/accelerate/
Obviously funding needs to be done wisely, but VC isn't always what it's cracked up to be.