Jeremy McCool is back on Inside Startup Investing, and a lot has changed since his last appearance. HEVO builds wireless charging for electric vehicles — hardware and software — and it's chasing that market from an unusual angle. Rather than selling a charging pad direct to consumers, HEVO is working to become a tier one supplier to the automakers themselves, so the receiving technology comes built into the vehicle straight off the production line. Get that right, and the automaker becomes the distribution channel. In this conversation, Chris Lustrino and Jeremy dig into what the last year actually produced: roughly $2 million raised, five to six live automaker programs, and signed agreements with fleet partners including Autolane and STEER Tech. Jeremy also lays out the fleet math that makes wireless charging compelling — roughly $40,000 in ten-year per-vehicle operating cost for wireless versus $150,000–$175,000 for plug-in — and explains why the company's licensed polyphase technology, co-developed with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, may put HEVO in the lead position if the German automakers converge on a single universal design. Chris also gets put on the spot — by his own guest — to explain why Kingscrowd Capital invested in the first place. In this episode: • What HEVO does, and why it sells to automakers instead of consumers • Chris's investment thesis: founder alignment, market timing, and the de-risking power of an OEM partnership • The last twelve months: $2M raised, strategic investor interest, and why institutional clean tech capital went quiet • Fleet economics — 3–5x savings per vehicle over ten years for last mile logistics • Autolane and STEER Tech: autonomous vehicles that dock and charge themselves • Why warranty validation is the gate that only an automaker can open • Hardware pricing: ~$250 on the vehicle side, ~$1,200 for the grid-side charger, 11–22 kW, bidirectional • The revenue ramp: a couple hundred thousand this year, high six figures next, tens of millions by the end of the decade • Stellantis, its 13 brands, its EV rollback — and why HEVO says it's still in the saddle • The Oak Ridge polyphase license and the German standards play • Jeremy's message to investors weighing a 15-year overnight success Guest: Jeremy McCool, Founder & CEO, HEVO Host: Chris Lustrino, Founder & CEO, Kingscrowd HEVO is currently raising on Wefunder. Learn more at wefunder.com/hevo. Research HEVO and other startup investment opportunities at kingscrowd.com. Inside Startup Investing is the only podcast where you can invest in every guest. If you like what you hear, subscribe so you never miss a portfolio founder interview. Disclosure: Kingscrowd Capital is an investor in HEVO. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Investing in early-stage companies is risky and you may lose your entire investment.
