Investor Education
ABOUT THE CURRENT RAISE
After closing our last funding round early, we continued to receive a surge of investment inquiries for the opportunity to get in at 2024 share price, and we listened. So, we’re opening a limited window—a final chance to join in as an investor at the 2024 share price before things take a big leap forward.
What’s your share price? $9.80/share
What is the minimum investment size? $970.20 plus a 2.5% transaction fee
What kind of shares are you issuing? Class A Common Stock
How much are you raising? Offering is capped at $1 million for this limited extension round.
What is the current valuation of the company?
The current valuation is approximately $71.13M. The effective valuation for each investor will also depend on bonus shares the investor is eligible to receive. For example, if an investor receives 20% bonus, then the investor's average share price is 100%/120%=83% of the full share price, this reduces the equivalent valuation to around 83% of $71.13, which is around $59M.
Startup Valuation reflect business performance and growth potential. Early-stage investments often come with the opportunity to secure shares at a certain share price reflecting its early valuation. As the company progresses, executes its strategy, and grows its market position, the valuation can change, which, in turn, may drive up the share price. By investing early, you position yourself to benefit from this potential growth, capturing value as the business matures and its prospects evolve. One may invest in Rivian at $500M in early stage, $3.5Bn at Series C or even over $60B at IPO, at significantly different prices, however the share price and ownership would vary significantly, leading to various level of return before reaching IPO.
Below are some examples of EV startups valuations for reference.
- Canoo $2.4 Bn at IPO
- Rivian $3.5 Bn at Series C; $66.5 Bn at IPO
- Aptera $582 Mn in 2024 (private funding round)
- Bollinger Motors $148.2 Mn during Acquisition
- Arrival $13B at IPO
Why should I invest?
You get a rare opportunity to invest in an early stage electric vehicles (EV) startup, at its current valuation before its continued growth and maturity. Eli is not only an EV startup, it also taps into the segment of urban mobility, through its advanced micro-EV products.
Besides EV’s global surge and expected dominance as cities grow, there’s a fast growing need for space-efficient urban transportation. Our micro-EVs cater to this demand and more. The new estimate by McKinsey, indicating that the Total Addressable Market for micro-EVs is $470 Billion, strongly reinforces our strategic position. Breakthroughs in battery technology enable us to produce high-quality, affordable micro-EVs, addressing changing consumer preferences toward practical, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation options. The convergence of these factors, along with new technologies and service-based business models, creates a unique window of opportunity for disruption in the transportation industry. By capitalizing on this moment, we position ourselves at the forefront of a significant shift in urban mobility.
How will Eli Electric Vehicles make money?
Our current business model focuses on key revenue streams, including vehicle sales to distributors and dealers as the primary source of income. Additional revenue comes from sales of parts, customization options, and accessories, which are expected to grow and contribute more to overall profitability. In 2023, the introduction of Eli Energy as a new business unit involved selling solar products to business customers, contributing to cash flow. While not the core business, this diversification strategy adds to overall financial stability. Future plans include the development of vehicle-related services such as connectivity, subscription models, and additional warranties to further boost revenue and margins.
How do you plan to use the proceeds from this funding round?
Proceeds from this round will go primarily towards production and expansion of our signature product, the Eli ZERO as we look to enter new markets and scale up our sales efforts. Additionally, some proceeds from this raise will go towards other areas, including research and development and general operations.
How do I get a return on my investment?
Investing in startups is risky and there is no guarantee you will get a return on your investment. However, an exit opens up the opportunity where you could convert your shares into cash or a more liquid asset. Exits include going public, getting acquired by a larger company, or our company buying back shares. If the value of our company grows, then you have a higher potential of making a profit on your investment during one of these exits.
How long are you expecting the company to operate before needing another round?
We expect proceeds from this round to allow us to continue to operate through 3rd quarter of 2025, without considering potential earnings from operating the business. If we hit our revenue and operating goals, and reach cash flow positive, we will be able to continue to grow our business sustainably, however we may still need to raise additional capital to make additional investment and accelerate growth.
How many investors do you have already?
3,800+
When will I receive my shares?
Shares will be rewarded after the investment funds clear. This typically takes around 3 weeks after investment. We will separately open a transfer agent account for our investors, where you will be able to see the records of your shareholding. Your shareholding information in your transfer agent account is not real time and will normally be updated after a period of time after a round is fully closed.
Are there higher fees if you invest via credit card vs. ACH?
No, costs are the same, regardless of how you invest.
Will you be paying out dividends to investors?
We currently do not have plans to pay out dividends to investors. Investors should not expect dividend payment.
What is your IPO timeline?
Generally we do not disclose timeline and plans for a potential IPO unless necessary. In those cases, we will disclose details regarding developments in email communications and updates to investors. We believe we still have tremendous room to grow in terms of our stage and valuation, despite already achieving many goals. This year we plan to hit several milestones that are expected to add significant value to our company, so we are prioritizing achieving these objectives.
ABOUT ELI ELECTRIC VEHICLES
When will Eli expand into additional markets and which ones?We are working to expand in existing and new markets in Europe, makingprogress in preparation to launch in a few exciting new markets in 2025. We’ve also been preparing for our home market. Although our vehicle is good to go for the US market here, we are temporarily holding off from selling them, as we are taking time observing some of the ongoing regulatory shift, which might impact how we sell them and their pricing. Eli is always committed to a global market, understanding a significant growth potential of affordable and efficient EVs in both E.U. and U.S. markets in the long run.
Can you share the roadmap for the next 3-4 years and when you expect to become profitable?Eli is already successfully in production and sales across several countries in Europe. Our goal is to substantially increase sales and achieve economies of scale. Leveraging our capital efficiency, we anticipate generating cash flow from our initial EV within months. We'll channel investments toward developing new technologies and features and implementing cost-optimization measures to enhance our competitiveness. Beyond Eli ZERO, we have exciting plans to expand our existing vehicle platform into a range of new micro-EV products, services, and solutions. Our goal is to establish Eli as a top EV brand for Urban Mobility, tapping into a variety of applications and business models. By diversifying our product range, we aim to cater to a broader audience and address various aspects of urban transportation needs, possibly including commercial and utility applications.
What are your headquarters?Established in 2015, Eli Electric Vehicles is headquartered in California and Beijing.
How many employees do you have?22 full time, plus 8+ contractors. Eli has an incredible lean team combining Micromobility, Automotive & Micro-EV experience, across US, EU and China.Our team has combined experience of delivering hundreds of thousands of EVs. We believe in the rule of frugality for successful hardware startups at their early stage.
Who are your competitors? What are your advantages against them?Eli bridges the gap between two and four-wheel vehicles. Our first model, the Eli ZERO, combines the convenience of a scooter with the comfort of a car, making it the iPad of cars, if conventional cars were laptops.
In Europe, the primary competitors of Eli ZERO are the minicars (cat. L6e) that generally do not provide premium automotive features at an affordable price point. Conversely, in the United States, the main contenders are predominantly street-legal golf carts (LSVs), which fall short in year-round usability and were not initially designed for urban mobility applications.
Eli ZERO excels by offering exceptional value, bridging the gap between low-cost options and expensive alternatives. In the EU micro-EV market, our vehicle stands out for its appeal and advanced automotive features, including cooling AC. In the US market, Eli enjoys unparalleled positioning as a pioneer in the microcar segment, engineered for passenger comfort and safety. Eli ZERO adheres to NHTSA and FMVSS regulations, transcending typical LSV and NEV standards. Blending passenger car features into a microcar sets us apart. Engineered for daily trips at a competitive price, our vehicles position us as the premium choice, redefining excellence in urban mobility.
Are you looking to partner with any major automotive companies?Eli is partnering with several valued companies within the automotive industry, encompassing aspects such as the supply chain for sub-assembly parts, vehicle production, and collaboration with dealers affiliated with major car companies. These existing collaborations form the foundation of our operations. Moving forward, our commitment extends to ongoing collaboration with diverse companies to pioneer the technology and vehicles of the future. We remain open to evaluating and forming new partnerships with additional automotive companies, responding to market opportunities and aligning with evolving needs of Eli.
ABOUT REGULATION CROWDFUNDING
Why invest in startups?Regulation CF allows investors to invest in startups and early-growth companies. This is different from helping a company raise money on Kickstarter; with Regulation CF Offerings, you aren’t buying products or merchandise - you are buying a piece of a company and helping it grow.
How much can I invest?Accredited investors can invest as much as they want. But if you are NOT an accredited investor, your investment limit depends on either your annual income or net worth, whichever is greater. If the number is less than $124,000, you can only invest 5% of it. If both are greater than $124,000 then your investment limit is 10%.
How do I calculate my net worth?To calculate your net worth, just add up all of your assets and subtract all of your liabilities (excluding the value of the person’s primary residence). The resulting sum is your net worth.
What are the tax implications of an equity crowdfunding investment?We cannot give tax advice, and we encourage you to talk with your accountant or tax advisor before making an investment.
Who can invest in a Regulation CF Offering?Individuals over 18 years of age can invest.
What do I need to know about early-stage investing? Are these investments risky?There will always be some risk involved when investing in a startup or small business. And the earlier you get in the more risk that is usually present. If a young company goes out of business, your ownership interest could lose all value. You may have limited voting power to direct the company due to dilution over time. You may also have to wait about five to seven years (if ever) for an exit via acquisition, IPO, etc. Because early-stage companies are still in the process of perfecting their products, services, and business model, nothing is guaranteed. That’s why startups should only be part of a more balanced, overall investment portfolio.
When will I get my investment back?The Common Stock (the "Shares") of Eli Electric Vehicles, Inc. (the "Company") are not publicly-traded. As a result, the shares cannot be easily traded or sold. As an investor in a private company, you typically look to receive a return on your investment under the following scenarios: The Company gets acquired by another company. The Company goes public (makes an initial public offering). In those instances, you receive your pro-rata share of the distributions that occur, in the case of acquisition, or you can sell your shares on an exchange. These are both considered long-term exits, taking approximately 5-10 years (and often longer) to see the possibility for an exit. It can sometimes take years to build companies. Sometimes there will not be any return, as a result of business failure.
Can I sell my shares?
Shares sold via Regulation Crowdfunding offerings have a one-year lockup period before those shares can be sold under certain conditions.
Exceptions to limitations on selling shares during the one-year lockup period:
In the event of death, divorce, or similar circumstance, shares can be transferred to:
• The company that issued the securities
• An accredited investor
• A family member (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse or equivalent, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships)
What happens if a company does not reach their funding target?If a company does not reach their minimum funding target, all funds will be returned to the investors after the close of the offering.
How can I learn more about a company's offering?All available disclosure information can be found on the offering pages for our Regulation Crowdfunding offering.
What if I change my mind about investing?You can cancel your investment at any time, for any reason, until 48 hours prior to a closing occurring. If you’ve already funded your investment and your funds are in escrow, your funds will be refunded to you upon cancellation. To submit a request to cancel your investment please email: info@dealmakersecurities.com
How do I keep up with how the company is doing?At a minimum, the company will be filing with the SEC and posting on its website an annual report, along with certified financial statements. Those should be available 120 days after the fiscal year end. If the company meets a reporting exception, or eventually has to file more reported information to the SEC, the reporting described above may end. If these reports end, you may not continually have current financial information about the company.
What relationship does the company have with DealMaker Securities?Once an offering ends, the company may continue its relationship with DealMaker Securities for additional offerings in the future. DealMaker Securities’ affiliates may also provide ongoing services to the company. There is no guarantee any services will continue after the offering ends.
