{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":78289,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:78289","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company","generated_at":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","updated_at":"2026-07-03T02:38:59Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:78289","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:the.smart.tire.company"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-07-03T02:38:59Z","as_of":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-07-03T02:38:59Z","as_of":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2026-04-24T05:02:35Z","as_of":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2026-04-24T05:02:35Z","as_of":"2026-07-03T03:17:10Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":78289,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:78289","slug":"the.smart.tire.company","name":"The SMART Tire Company","tagline":"NASA-Proven Airless Tires Entering Commercial Deployment","elevator_pitch":"We make the world's first fuel efficient, eco-friendly, lightweight \u0026amp; smooth riding airless tires.","story":"There are over 6 billion tires on the road today.Air is the weakest part of every tire.For over 100 years, air pressure has been the enabling technology inside nearly every tire because no material could replicate what air does. SMART Tire is developing a new class of load-bearing structures designed to replicate the benefits of air without relying on air pressure.Validated by NASA and now entering commercial deployment, SMART Tire is building products designed to eliminate flats, reduce maintenance, extend durability, enable retreading, and lower total cost of ownership.If successful, the same technology could extend beyond tires into future mobility, aerospace, defense, robotics, and industrial systems that rely on durable, compliant load-bearing structures.SMART Tire's Advanced Mobility SystemsSMART Tire's Commercial Proof \u0026amp; LOIWhy Now for SMART Tire?For over a century, tires have depended on air.SMART Tire has spent years proving they don't have to.Built for the Moon. Scaling for Earth.For over 100 years, the tire industry has relied on air because nothing else could replicate what air does.We transformed a NASA-derived innovation into a commercially deployable technology. The next step is fleet validation, manufacturing scale-up, and commercial adoption.The greatest value is rarely created when a technology is invented. It is created when that technology reaches scale. With commercial launch and fleet validation ahead, we believe SMART Tire is approaching that inflection point.Tires are our first application. Our long-term vision is to create a new class of load-bearing systems for the future of mobility - from passenger vehicles and commercial transportation to aerospace, defense, and industrial platforms.Beginning with mobility. Expanding far beyond it.The opportunity won't wait.Just as electric vehicles became a powerful alternative to gas-powered vehicles, we believe airless tires will become a powerful alternative to traditional tires. The transition has already begun, and we're building SMART Tire to lead it. We see tires as just the beginning.-- The SMART Tire Company, Inc.Reimagining the wheel.®Reinventing the tire.®Beyond Air™The next 100 years.","location":"Akron, OH","website":"https://smarttire.com","total_amount_raised":3868429,"total_investors":3754,"is_funded":false,"is_active":false,"quality_score":5,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company","https://smarttire.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/78289/xxl_avatar.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/78289/large_cropped_light_blue_black2_square.png","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/78289/standard_avatar.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/78289/standard_avatar.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/0lzb8aimp0"},"links":{"company_url":"https://smarttire.com","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/company/smarttire","twitter_url":"https://x.com/smarttire","facebook_url":"https://facebook.com/smarttireco/","instagram_url":"https://instagram.com/smarttireco","youtube_url":"https://youtube.com/smarttirecompany","tiktok_url":"https://tiktok.com/smarttire"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"LOI Signed with Lime for Fleet Evaluation Program"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Automotive Proof-of-Concept with Hyundai/Kia"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"TIME Best Inventions Award + 20,000+ Customer Waitlist"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"Trusted by Boeing, Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines \u0026amp; Other Aerospace Leaders"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"Manufacturing Scale-Up Path Established for Commercial Deployment"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Protected by Granted Patents, Trade Secrets \u0026amp; Exclusive NASA Licenses"}],"team":[{"id":1439161,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:1439161","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:1378998","role":"founder","name":"Earl Cole","title":"CEO","bio":"NASA Startup Studio Winner. 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Creator of first eco-friendly virtual world for kids.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/1426967/square_avatar.jpg?1781997404","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/brian.yennie","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/yennie/","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/brian.yennie"]},{"id":5353981,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:5353981","role":"employee","name":"James Benzing","title":"Chief Tire Engineer","bio":"40+ Years at Goodyear, Inventor on 50+ tire patents, NASA Consultant, R\u0026amp;D 100 Award Winner (\"The Oscars of Innovation\")","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/5353981/square_blob.jpg?1782161426","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":10919,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:10919","investor_profile_id":4148192,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:4148192","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:14548","name":"Angela Helin","role_title":"","bio":"Engineer/Rocket Scientist/SpaceX","avatar_url":"https://wefunder.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTkxNDA4MCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--5f9b0a4166afbcb23458bdaadb5fae571f3813bf/avatar.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/angela.helin.1","endorsement_name":"","is_lead_investor":false,"memo_paid_for_by_company":false,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/angela.helin.1"]},{"id":13620,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:13620","investor_profile_id":4624616,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:4624616","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:notable_investor:17663","name":"Tom Wuttke","role_title":"","bio":"Ex-Google, Twitter, Cruise","avatar_url":"https://wefunder.com/rails/active_storage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6MTkxNDA4MiwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--5c799b82d9e04981a33cbe1fe5c57406b347314f/avatar.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/tom.wuttke","endorsement_name":"","is_lead_investor":false,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/tom.wuttke"]},{"id":11388,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:11388","investor_profile_id":2260919,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:2260919","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2793047","name":"Bill L","role_title":"","bio":"I've been an SW/IT Engineer and stay-at-home dad. 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By way of background, I'm a retired software engineer with degrees in computer science, mathematics and statistics. I'm not a tech option millionaire, but I am frugal and have saved and invested over the years. I've done well enough that I can do some private investments with the goal of doing good while hopefully doing well. I'm willing to invest some of those hard earned savings into SMART Tire and I hope you will to join me in helping make their vision a reality.","endorsement_name":"","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/svBill"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":103,"ask_questions":230,"featured_investors":3,"faq_entries":5},"active_fundraises":[{"id":129577,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:129577","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":5000000.0,"minimum_target":"50004.0","maximum_target":"5000000.0"},{"id":129576,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:129576","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"equity","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":5000000.0,"minimum_target":"50004.0","maximum_target":"5000000.0","funding_started_at":"2025-05-15T23:11:14Z","funding_closed_at":"2026-04-24T03:59:59Z","auto_close_at":"2026-04-24T03:59:59Z"},{"id":57253,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:57253","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"equity","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":99999.4,"minimum_target":"99999.4","maximum_target":"4921816.6","funding_started_at":"2023-02-16T18:07:48Z","funding_closed_at":"2024-04-30T04:02:58Z","auto_close_at":"2024-04-30T03:59:59Z"},{"id":57254,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:57254","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":4921816.6,"minimum_target":"99999.4","maximum_target":"4921816.6","funding_started_at":"2022-07-14T22:56:37Z"},{"id":42310,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:42310","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"safe","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":50000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-05-14T21:29:18Z","funding_closed_at":"2021-09-01T05:05:14Z","auto_close_at":"2021-09-01T03:59:59Z"},{"id":42311,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:42311","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":5000000.0,"funding_started_at":"2021-03-15T22:25:32Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":129577,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:129577","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"ttw","testing_the_waters":true,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":null,"funding_closed_at":null,"terms":{"eb":null,"nb":"Uncapped","txt":""}},"recent_posts":[{"id":307463,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:307463","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Elon Musk: “There will be Airless Tires”","preview":"The Future Really is AirlessThe richest man in the world, leader of Tesla and SpaceX, once discussed the prospect of airless tires on-air with Joe Rogan. Love him or hate him, he sees technology trends before most of us are ready to commit. Did you know cars were electric, before they ran on gas, and then switched back when the technology was ready? Just like airless tires. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX knows:[Musk] There’s a lot of things to put in one tire, and if you also say… it can’t have ...","published_at":"2026-04-24T03:00:00Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/307463","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/307463"},{"id":307379,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:307379","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"A Thought on Early Investments","preview":"(See the chart below.)These were some of the earliest investments in Uber. This well-known chart shows estimated early Uber investor returns around the company’s IPO in 2019 - roughly 10 years after its founding in 2009.At the time, it didn’t feel obvious.Uber was a disruptor to a legacy industry and system.There were risks. Doubts. Unknowns.That’s what “early” always looks like.We’re not saying we are Uber.We are saying this:The biggest outcomes rarely feel comfortable when you’re making the...","published_at":"2026-04-24T02:00:00Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/307379","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/307379"},{"id":307374,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:307374","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Timezone Check (3 hours)","preview":"Counting down for our west coast folks, don't forget that we wrap at 9pm!Did you know? Steel, aluminum and titanium all followed a similar pattern to mass market. Steel took 3000 years to perfect. Now it's a $2 trillion industry. Aluminum and Titanium took less than 100.Nitinol is just now entering the mass market phase, with all of the major drivers in place. Combined with AI-enhanced material discovery and manufacturing, it's ready to explode.Imagine investing in railroads during the steel ...","published_at":"2026-04-24T01:07:56Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/307374","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/307374"},{"id":307128,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:307128","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"100: This is It","preview":"In a few hours, our WeFunder journey closes, and SMART Tire moves forward.What started in 2021, is at an inflection point, with the help of:3,808 investors5,500+ followers$3.8M+ raisedOver 1,500+ investors publicly backed this with conviction, leaving their comments of support.People from all walks of life have backed us, believing in the future of space, cycling, automotive and more. That level of belief doesn’t happen without something real behind it.What’s In Place Today9 for 9 patent succ...","published_at":"2026-04-23T21:20:13Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/307128","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/307128"},{"id":306338,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:306338","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Built to Scale - Not Just to Invent","preview":"Today, is the LAST DAY to invest in SMART Tire. Our campaign closes in a few hours and this \"early\" opportunity, gone.One of the biggest risks in hardware isn’t the idea.It’s whether you can actually produce at scale.From the beginning, we’ve taken a different approach - to not rush to market. We've always had a solid plan and patient strategy to do things in the smartest way.While advancing our technology, we’ve also built a real manufacturing foundation - including a newly developed U.S. fa...","published_at":"2026-04-23T12:00:00Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/306338","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/306338"},{"id":305927,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:305927","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Final Day to Invest","preview":"As we head into the final 24 hours of our campaign, a few reminders and a must-see video. Hard deadline is 9PM PT / midnight ET (UTC-5) tomorrow, April 23rd. Countdown on the main campaign page will let you know exact time remaining. Please visit https://wefunder.com/portfolio if you previously made a reservation, have outstanding payments, or are less than 100% sure everything is signed, sealed and ready to go. Any additional questions: support@wefunder.com, CC to hello@smarttirecompany.com....","published_at":"2026-04-22T19:05:54Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/305927","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/305927"},{"id":305096,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:305096","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Why We're Starting with Two Wheels","preview":"The fastest way to scale isn’t starting big.It’s starting where adoption happens fastest.The two-wheel market is that entry point: 2+ billion bicycle \u0026 scooter tires sold annually $60B+ global bicycle \u0026 micro-mobility market 150M+ bikes and e-scooters produced each year These riders feel everything - flats, wear, pressure - which makes performance improvements immediately obvious.That’s why we’re starting here: Faster product cycles Lower barriers to entry Immediate, noticeable advantages Pro...","published_at":"2026-04-21T22:29:54Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/305096","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/305096"},{"id":304397,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:304397","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Moon Base [Only 2 days left]","preview":"The Space Age is coming fast. We're building a Moon base.As the only company on the planet specializing in wheels \u0026 tires for the Moon and Mars, this will be our chapter: a permanent Moon base that requires 24/7 surface mobility, astronaut transport, metric tons of cargo, recon rovers, mining rovers, science rovers and more. Nonstop activity that becomes self-sustaining and multiplies. Rockets get us there, now we need mobility to make it all work.Don't believe me? NASA wrote the manual and p...","published_at":"2026-04-21T16:00:00Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/304397","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/304397"},{"id":304175,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:304175","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"SMART Reminder: Only 3 Days Left!","preview":"Did you confirm your investment?Do you know what's happening?https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company/feed/303547-this-is-the-moment-to-decide","published_at":"2026-04-20T21:07:29Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/304175","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/304175"},{"id":303547,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:303547","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"This is The Moment to Decide","preview":"Only 3 days left.Most people don’t miss opportunities because they didn’t understand them.They miss them because they waited too long to act.If you’ve been following SMART Tire, you’ve already seen the pieces:A new approach to tires that doesn’t rely on air pressure - and avoids the failure modes that have existed for over 100 years, and the overwhelming tire waste and pollution that comes with it.What’s changing now isn’t the idea.It’s the stage we’re entering.SMART Tire selected as 1 of 7 s...","published_at":"2026-04-20T05:06:54Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/303547","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/303547"},{"id":303520,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:303520","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Defense Wins (Final Four To Invest)","preview":"As we enter the Final Four days of our campaign, a quick sports analogy:Defense Wins Championships (how do we defend against competition)Here's how 6x issued patents (US and international), more pending Multiyear NASA ties (Space Act Agreement, Tech Transfer) Big Tire Insights (6+ decades of experience including inside airless tire teams at Goodyear \u0026 Bridgestone and how other projects have failed) Supply chain relationships: preferred access to melts, materials and forms not commonly availab...","published_at":"2026-04-19T21:48:53Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/303520","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/303520"},{"id":303106,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:303106","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Global Crisis [5 Days Left]","preview":"With the current state of global affairs, it seemed like a good time to share our latest infographic on sustainability. Who knew the environmental impact of the tire industry was this big? 1 billion waste tires every year (over 1000 lbs of solid waste per second) 5% of global CO2 emissions 28% of ocean microplastic Friendly reminder that our campaign ends for good in 5 days. No extensions, no exceptions. Not sure if your investment is final? Visit https://wefunder.com/portfolio today and make...","published_at":"2026-04-18T19:52:59Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/303106","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/303106"},{"id":302376,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:302376","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We Didn't Build SMART Tire to Scale Slowly","preview":"From the beginning, we made a different decision:Go global early.While most hardware companies stay local and think about expansion later, we spent years exhibiting around the world from Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, and Spain - to Korea, Australia, China, and Singapore (just to name a few) - testing, learning, and building relationships across future markets.Not for visibility.For positioning.Because scaling isn’t just about having a great product.It’s about not starting from zero when it’s time...","published_at":"2026-04-17T17:18:42Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/302376","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/302376"},{"id":298230,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:298230","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Final Window: What Happens Next for SMART Tire","preview":"Most people will hear about us later.After the headlines.After the partnerships are fully public.After the technology we’re building is already out in the world.Right now, you’re \"early\".And that window is closing.Over the past few years, nearly 10,000 of you have followed and supported what we’re building at SMART Tire. You’ve seen the progress. You’ve seen the vision (even though we can't always show/share everything due to our signed NDAs).What began as a bold idea is now moving through re...","published_at":"2026-04-10T22:07:05Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/298230","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/298230"},{"id":294552,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:294552","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"NASA Countdown (20 Days to Invest)","preview":"10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1What a week! For the first time in over 50 years, astronauts are headed to the Moon. And just like that, the Space Race is back on.If you missed it live, or just want to relive the magic, check it out now on YouTube (spoiler alert: skip to 5:36:00 if you are launch ready).This is the inflection point we've been waiting for. At SpaceX, it was about reusable rockets (seems to be going pretty well - $1.5 trillion IPO on its way).For us, its about (Moon) boot...","published_at":"2026-04-04T01:11:17Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/294552","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/294552"},{"id":289687,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:289687","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"CAMPAIGN CLOSING SOON! 🔓","preview":"We’re in the final weeks - and before we close, one thing first:Thank you.To every investor who believed early - you didn’t just back a company, you helped push an entire industry forward.Because SMART Tire is no longer just an idea.We’re commercializing NASA-born technology. After years of research \u0026 development, testing - more testing, and \"almost\" going-to-market, we’re finally preparing for our first pilot/product launches. And we’re stepping into a massive $300B global market ready for d...","published_at":"2026-03-27T22:42:21Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/289687","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/289687"},{"id":280003,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:280003","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"🚨 Final Opportunity Approaching","preview":"Dear SMART Investors:If you missed our previous post... we've officially crossed $1M! Thank you to everyone who believed in SMART Tire early and helped get us here.Now we’re entering pilots + commercial deployment phase, and this Wefunder round is CLOSING SOON (next month) and we will no longer be extending this offer.This is your last chance to invest at this stage before we end our crowdfunding campaign and move forward.Pilot deployments underway20,000+ waitlistManufacturing pathway secured...","published_at":"2026-03-20T19:07:49Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/280003","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/280003"},{"id":273771,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:273771","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"SMART Tire Rolls Past $1M Invested","preview":"We’re excited to share a big milestone with our community.Thanks to the incredible support of our investors, SMART Tire has officially crossed the $1M mark on Wefunder. 🚀This isn’t just a number - it represents a growing group of believers who see the future of mobility the same way we do: stronger, more sustainable, airless tires built for the next generation of transportation.To everyone who has invested, shared, or cheered us on - thank you for helping move this mission forward. The journe...","published_at":"2026-03-10T22:40:54Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/273771","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/273771"},{"id":268654,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:268654","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"SMART vs Michelin","preview":"Question: how can we compete with companies like Goodyear, Bridgestone, or Michelin?Tesla is a trillion $$ company not because the Roadster was cool, but because EVs are 5x more efficient. The advantage was physics.The Michelin Tweel™ is the top airless tire on the market. Patented in 2005, the tech is older than the smart phone. The problem? Rubber materials aren't the solution and never can be. The evidence?No automotive product after 20+ years200+ lb tires to carry heavy loadsLow speed onl...","published_at":"2026-03-01T17:00:00Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/268654","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/268654"},{"id":260331,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:260331","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Breakthrough Designs w/ AI","preview":"It's been said the biggest winners in AI will apply it to legacy problems in transportation, medical, space exploration, manufacturing \u0026 more. At SMART Tire we built on the best parts of AI to accelerate research 10x with:Rich, AI-coded dashboards to analyze tire simulationsInteractive 3D visualizations for our engineers to exploreMachine learning algorithms to predict properties of SMART tiresAutonomous agents that utilize all of these tools 24/7 to design the perfect tire for a specific app...","published_at":"2026-02-17T13:00:00Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/260331","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/260331"},{"id":256641,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:256641","type":"FeedItem::Note","visibility":"public","preview":"SMART Tire has been selected as 1 of 7 deep tech startups from Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, to take part in the first cohort of finalists for SMU’s new deep tech accelerator. 🇸🇬🇲🇾🇬🇧🇺🇸🇫🇷 This year-long program was built to help scale companies expanding into Asia with innovative and sustainable technologies that could benefit the world.","published_at":"2026-02-11T16:19:49Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/256641","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/256641"},{"id":254092,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:254092","type":"FeedItem::Note","visibility":"public","preview":"We checked the price of an ad for this year's Super Bowl: $8-$10M for 30 seconds!! So instead, we're going for something way smarter - $1M raised on Wefunder and a product that actually lasts much longer than a commercial 😂 Best of luck to all!","published_at":"2026-02-06T19:58:32Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/254092","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/254092"},{"id":252953,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:252953","type":"FeedItem::Spotlight","visibility":"public","published_at":"2026-02-04T16:52:07Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/252953","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/252953"},{"id":250776,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:250776","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"The \"Rove\" in Rovers","preview":"Dear SMART Investors,With NASA’s Artemis II mission preparing to carry humans around the Moon (February 2026) for the first time in over 50 years, space exploration is back at the center of the global conversation. This moment matters, not just for history, but for the companies quietly building the technologies that will make sustained lunar exploration and commercialization possible.SMART Tire™ (STC) is one of those companies.Our NASA Roots - and Real Aerospace RevenueSMART Tire was born ou...","published_at":"2026-01-30T16:15:49Z","author_name":"Earl Cole","url":"/feed/250776","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/250776"},{"id":242818,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:242818","type":"FeedItem::Spotlight","visibility":"public","preview":"Last stop for photos @ NASA GRC in Cleveland. Inside we'll pay a visit to the SLOPE lab and discuss advanced materials research happening now at STC \u0026 NASA.","published_at":"2026-01-13T00:16:42Z","author_name":"Brian Yennie","url":"/feed/242818","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/242818"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":136800,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136800","question":"You should at least honor the original 10M valuation up to 1M raised. I've never seen a company increase the valuation by 5X in the middle of the raise. There's no way in hell I'd invest at a 50M valuation knowing it was 10M a day ago. If only you had ridiculous sales volume or contracts to justify that...","author_name":"Leonardo Lee","votes":21,"created_at":"2021-03-21T23:17:03Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136800","answers":[{"id":136813,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136813","answer":"Hi Leonardo. I think there is some confusion. All prior terms are being honored, as we outlined in our latest update here: https://wefunder.com/updates/142976-thank-you-amp-important-updates Also, please note that a valuation cap is not the same as a valuation. All notes would convert at the price of the round in which they convert, if that valuation is lower than $50M. This is not the same as increasing our company valuation by 5x. I believe the overwhelming interest in this round is quote a good thing for anyone investing at this time.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":6,"created_at":"2021-03-22T01:45:50Z"}]},{"id":143268,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:143268","question":"I am very disappointed to see the valuation cap changed in this campaign. I’ve been waiting for all the legal paperwork to be filed so that I can do my thorough due diligence. This is very disheartening to see now that my investment will be treated differently than others during the same campaign cycle. I understand that “testing the waters” is new but I don’t think the intent was to haphazardly switch up on potential investors.","author_name":"Tawana Rivers","votes":13,"created_at":"2021-04-19T22:36:02Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-143268","answers":[{"id":143270,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:143270","answer":"Hi Tawana, I'm sorry to hear that. I believe we've addressed all of these questions previously. There is no way for us to do paperwork any faster, as that is 100% dependent on needing a financial audit and SEC paperwork that could only be started after March 15th. Regarding your investment being treated differently, nothing was done haphazardly on our end. Quite the opposite, as we consulted with WeFunder, investors, and others to follow all rules and give the fairest offering possible. Having multiple tiers for early bird investments is a normal feature of the platform, testing the waters is in fact partly for this purpose (gauging interest to finalize terms), and if we had remained married to a lower cap, the campaign would have already ended a week ago due to dilution concerns. Thus, thousands of investors would have lost any opportunity to invest at all. Again, I'm sorry this negatively affected your experience, but I hope you can see another perspective.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-04-19T22:56:27Z"}]},{"id":136818,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136818","question":"A 10M cap vs a 50M cap makes a huge difference. If not then why don't you keep the original 10M cap? I see many companies raising up to 5M but you are the only ones that raised the cap by 5X just because you had momentum and decided to take advantage of that. I would even understand a small increase but 5x with nothing to support it??? And you posted the update 1 day ago, when the 500K limit was almost reached. You should have disclosed it under Investment Terms from the beginning so nobody would question it. You got to 500K in 4 days but after the cap increase I noticed that you barely raised 10K so I guess I'm not the only one that thinks this is absurd...","author_name":"Leonardo Lee","votes":9,"created_at":"2021-03-22T02:48:20Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136818","answers":[{"id":136842,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136842","answer":"I believe I addressed all of this in detail on your prior comment. Please drop us an email if you'd like to discuss further.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-03-22T05:41:34Z"}]},{"id":136912,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136912","question":"Would it be possible to give some colour on the cost reduction roadmap for the materials? I understand it may be early stages. If you can make this cost competitive with normal tyres I think you have unicorn potential.","author_name":"Johann Chen","votes":7,"created_at":"2021-03-22T16:45:33Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136912","answers":[{"id":137066,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137066","answer":"Of course! The FAQ is pretty long but covers a lot of this (https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company/faq). Let me give the short version here as well. 1) Modeling - use the optimal amount of material for the application. NASA has the only modeling capabilities in the world for this (from rover work) and will help us get this exactly right. 2) Volume - of course with volume, price comes down. Upon success, SMA tires will involve MUCH longer runs that normal, such that any current pricing is misleadingly high. 3) Manufacturing - 80 to 90% of the cost of these materials happens in the processing, not the raw materials. This is a lot of wiggle room to improve. 4) Materials - alternatives are a heavy subject of research, some of which are already much less expensive, and sufficient depending on the application. For example, a bicycle has lower requirements than an airplane. I hope this helps and thanks for the compliment and great question!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-03-23T01:07:27Z"}]},{"id":136485,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136485","question":"Interesting concept. One important aspect I don't see addressed here is the difference in friction coefficient of rubber and alloy. Unlike an alloy, rubber has significant friction on pavement which provides for much needed traction as well as stopping capacity. How do you meet or exceed these essential characteristics with alloy?","author_name":"Dionysius Jacobs","votes":6,"created_at":"2021-03-20T05:30:12Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136485","answers":[{"id":136633,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136633","answer":"Please check out our FAQ listed above or on the website - the tires will be integrated with rubber treads.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-03-20T22:24:10Z"}]},{"id":137745,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137745","question":"Hello, I have read the update, but I don’t understand, the first 500k would have valuation cap of 10million and after 500k investors will have valuation cap of 50million, doesn’t that mean right know if I invest, I will have to pay 5 times more in value for same amount of shares comparing to those invested before 500k, what’s the difference between investors who invest prior the 500k goal and right now because you said it’s not like buying at 5 times higher of the price","author_name":"Jonathan Ye","votes":5,"created_at":"2021-03-26T00:02:45Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-137745","answers":[{"id":137766,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137766","answer":"Hi Jonathan, thanks for your question. There is a difference between a SAFE note with a valuation cap, and a company valuation. The company does not have *any* valuation until it sells shares in a priced round. When that occurs, you will be converted to shares at the price of that round, or at your valuation cap, whichever is lower. So yes, the early bird investors did receive extra incentive (that's the idea of early bird!), but the 50M cap still means you will have the same price or better than future investors. Is a lower cap better? Of course. But the only way for you to end up paying 5x is for us to break 50M+ valuation on our next round... and then that means you just got a discount over everyone in that round. TL;DR; the early birds are the best deal, you would be the 2nd best deal, and investors in the next round would be the 3rd best deal.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-26T00:42:55Z"}]},{"id":136733,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136733","question":"In the pitch you mention that you are a licensee of the SMA Tire suite. Is that license exclusive?","author_name":"Gordon M","votes":5,"created_at":"2021-03-21T16:03:03Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136733","answers":[{"id":138428,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:138428","answer":"All of the details are still pending, which is typical for an exclusive deal of this magnitude (more than one patent). The government licensing process is a series of legal steps and approvals that take several months to complete. We're almost there, though!","author_name":"Earl Cole","votes":5,"created_at":"2021-03-29T20:20:36Z"}]},{"id":294319,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:294319","question":"It has been quite some time since the last update. Any chance you will be providing an update in near future?","author_name":"Mary Graham","votes":4,"created_at":"2024-10-16T19:41:31Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-294319","answers":[{"id":296691,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296691","answer":"Hi Mary, we just posted a new update about our work with Hyundai and expect to have additional updates before the end of the year. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-21T20:45:40Z"}]},{"id":290868,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:290868","question":"I put some money in the last round, and have not heard a word from anyone....no confirmation, no nothing. Is that normal?","author_name":"Joel Sklar","votes":4,"created_at":"2024-08-22T00:11:27Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-290868","answers":[{"id":296692,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:296692","answer":"Hi Joel - all investments are handled through the WeFunder portal. You should receive periodic email updates when we post them here, and can access your investment contracts through the WeFunder website. Also please don't hesitate to drop us an email directly at hello@smarttirecompany.com and let us know that you're a WeFunder investor!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-11-21T20:47:10Z"}]},{"id":290281,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:290281","question":"Hi, are there any updates about a rough expected release date? (Just had a puncture yesterday, and remembered about this.) :)","author_name":"Alejandro Colomar Andres","votes":4,"created_at":"2024-08-12T20:06:17Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-290281","answers":[{"id":297140,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:297140","answer":"Hi Alejrando, please stay tuned to our campaign page and update posts for more details about launch dates.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2024-11-29T08:02:52Z"}]},{"id":241242,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:241242","question":"Hi Brian, I understand the first product will be brought to market this year. Do you currently have any pre-sale contracts?","author_name":"Tanner Campbell","votes":4,"created_at":"2023-03-31T14:43:36Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-241242","answers":[{"id":241610,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:241610","answer":"Hi Tanner, currently all of our B2B relationships are under NDA and I cannot comment on specifics. We do have strong interest from both the bicycle and scooter markets.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-04-04T17:08:33Z"}]},{"id":139329,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:139329","question":"Is the tire applied to a standard wheel whether from a bike, motorcycle, car, or commercial vehicle or will it require a proprietary wheel? Is the tire installed using conventional tire installation equipment or will that be a proprietary process? I'm trying to understand other barriers to market other than educating consumers on the product itself.","author_name":"Randy J. Wexler","votes":4,"created_at":"2021-04-01T16:10:19Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-139329","answers":[{"id":139802,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:139802","answer":"Hi Randy, the tires are used with standard wheels. We do have some proprietary methods involved in the fastening, but we are working hard to keep the process as simple as possible. If you look at the work involved in installing tubeless tires on a bike today, or swapping a flat on an eBike, we aim to be on the easier side of that, at least. That said, we will likely recommend certain wheel models, and possibly ship integrated sets for convenience. But, we place a very high value on compatibility. We want these in consumer hands!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2021-04-04T17:57:03Z"}]},{"id":139203,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:139203","question":"How would these tires, specifically the radial, compare with Michelin's Uptis airless tires? https://michelinmedia.com/michelin-uptis/ Besides the obvious that is..","author_name":"Gordon M","votes":4,"created_at":"2021-04-01T02:52:08Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-139203","answers":[{"id":139800,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:139800","answer":"That's a pretty broad topic to address in the Q\u0026amp;A, but I would start by saying that the Uptis is a semi-solid tire, using completely different materials. The previous generation, the Tweel, had a lot of problems that restricted it to very small niche applications. We are using a completely different construct with different materials. All of the major tire companies are rubber \u0026amp; elastomer experts, and tend to solve every problem that way (hammer, meet nail). We are experts in shape memory alloys, which is a completely different branch of technology from the space program. Regarding specific properties, some of this is covered in our FAQ and videos, but you can expect things like high load index (I doubt an Uptis would fare well on airplanes), high temperature ranges (made for Mars), quiet operation (the Tweel was extremely loud), extreme resiliency (try deforming an Uptis to the rim and see what happens) and long life. Ultimately, there is probably room in the market for more than 1 solution, but semi-solid tires have been around a long time, and not gotten much traction. Maybe the Uptis cracks that nut, but I wouldn't hold my breath.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":4,"created_at":"2021-04-04T17:53:02Z"}]},{"id":227367,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:227367","question":"Hello, you sound amazing. Just read about you today. How do you justify the $50m valuation? Still have a long road ahead to realizing $. Thanks.","author_name":"Jeremy Siders","votes":3,"created_at":"2022-12-02T02:41:36Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-227367","answers":[{"id":227377,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:227377","answer":"Hi Jeremy, thanks for your question! We definitely place a high value on IP, and our partnerships (several are not yet public, which unfortunately we cannot control, the first we've announced is Hyundai/Kia). The technology itself has more than $10M of of research \u0026amp; development behind it at NASA, to which we've patented major improvements on top of that over the past 2 years. We're actually ahead of the biggest players - Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone in the space race and working with more teams than any of them. Regarding $/revenue: I would add that we have paid work with 3x different aforementioned partners so far and thus ARE in revenue this year. LTV budgets will be quite large over next few years from which we'll get our fair share. Next year we'll have at least three different $$ streams (lunar, cycling, scooters). We DO have a long road ahead to achieve all of our goals, but in a market environment where a lot of digital \"tech\" companies are turning out to be overvalued, we have science-based physical product, made in the US, that is also something (tires) that every household owns today. If you give us, say, a 5% chance of becoming one of the major tire manufacturers, the ROI is already there (with some wins in between). Hope that helps, and appreciate the kind words!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":2,"created_at":"2022-12-02T03:28:00Z"}]},{"id":146692,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:146692","question":"How long do you expect until the Form C gets filed and this can change from a Reservation Campaign to a true Capital Raise?","author_name":"Nicholas Marino","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-05-01T15:49:01Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-146692","answers":[{"id":146791,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:146791","answer":"It should be by the end of this week, we are finalizing the document now having completed our financial audit. My understanding is that the SEC can take a couple of days to process it, but then we should be good to go!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-05-02T00:34:42Z"}]},{"id":141489,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:141489","question":"Hi Brian, In your FAQ you say: \"In addition, there is intense ongoing research at the laboratory stage involving comparable materials that are ~80% cheaper than NiTinol. We are actively engaged with some of these researchers, and plan to be early adopters.\" How do such new materials affect your patents? Many Thanks","author_name":"John Griffiths","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-04-13T16:22:08Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-141489","answers":[{"id":141490,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:141490","answer":"Hi John, the patents cover a wide range of shape memory alloys and not just NiTinol, so we would be well covered here. If you dig into the 1st patent, you'll see a fairly long list of the different families of SMAs and tertiary formulations.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-04-13T16:50:14Z"}]},{"id":137446,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137446","question":"Are there any proforma statements or business plans available?","author_name":"Michael Westerman","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-24T14:01:02Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-137446","answers":[{"id":137515,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137515","answer":"Hi Michael, Due to the regulatory changes on March 15th, WeFunder was not filing any Form C paperwork prior to this week for new campaigns. These include audited financials and disclosures. Unfortunately this will take a few weeks in order to obtain the audit (tax season isn't helping) and to file with the SEC. That said, we've expedited and done everything in parallel to have this ASAP for you. Thank you for the patience!","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":2,"created_at":"2021-03-24T19:56:38Z"}]},{"id":137437,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137437","question":"When does this investment opportunity end?","author_name":"David Pollard","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-24T12:22:49Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-137437","answers":[{"id":137512,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:137512","answer":"Hi David, here are the parameters: 1) It will be open for an absolute minimum of 30 days from now. There is a 21 day period related to our SEC filings which must happen, and has not started yet. 2) The maximum time it will be open is 6 months (WeFunder rule) 3) If we reach $5M raised, that is the maximum amount and will end the campaign So, if I'm optimistic the answer is: 30 days, or $5M, whichever comes first.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-03-24T19:47:36Z"}]},{"id":136734,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136734","question":"Thank you for the swift response, and I can appreciate your position about the effect of raising $5M at a valuation of $10M. That said, given the facts, I honestly can't wrap my head around the notion of paying 5 to 6 times more than someone who invested yesterday for the same amount of ownership interest. However, based on your statement that the company \"would never put a deal on the table and then pull it away,\" I'm hoping that - at the very least - something is in the works regarding the \"10M cap up to $1M raised.\"","author_name":"Kevin Hardman","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-21T16:17:18Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136734","answers":[{"id":136814,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136814","answer":"Thanks for your question. Please check out our update (https://wefunder.com/updates/142976-thank-you-amp-important-updates) and also previous answers here. Yes, the 10M cap is still active for everyone who invested prior to the update (and a few more after). Nobody has reserved funds and had their deal made worse. Also please note that valuation and valuation cap are not the same thing. Regardless of the cap, your notes will always convert at no worse than the price of the round in which they convert. There will always be a limit to much we can accept at any given price, or we would not be responsibly managing the cap table of our company for the future.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-22T01:51:38Z"}]},{"id":136292,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136292","question":"Hi. What is your $maximum raise goal? Thanks Blessings","author_name":"W Kim Colich","votes":3,"created_at":"2021-03-19T19:53:28Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-136292","answers":[{"id":136691,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:136691","answer":"The maximum raise is $5M.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":1,"created_at":"2021-03-21T03:11:13Z"}]},{"id":330812,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:330812","question":"Is there any rewards for investors?","author_name":"Vivek Krishnan","votes":2,"created_at":"2026-04-11T09:05:15Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-330812","answers":[{"id":331588,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:331588","answer":"Hi Vivek, we're strictly focused on rewarding investors with a profitable investment at this time.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-21T01:03:26Z"}]},{"id":328292,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328292","question":"Titanium and nickel are expensive, and not abundant metals. Won't that significantly affect price and supply chain issues?","author_name":"Frederick Lowe","votes":2,"created_at":"2026-03-20T00:39:25Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-328292","answers":[{"id":331581,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:331581","answer":"Hi Frederick, titanium and nickel are relatively abundant in the quantities we require, compared to rare earth metals for example. Long term, there are iron-based and copper-based SMAs, so it is a multi-pronged strategy over time to reach massive scale.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-21T00:55:25Z"}]},{"id":328206,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328206","question":"What is the exit plan (acquisition, IPO, merger, etc.) in which investors will be able to see a ROI?","author_name":"bugg logg","votes":2,"created_at":"2026-03-19T11:03:10Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-328206","answers":[{"id":331582,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:331582","answer":"Hi bugg, our options remain open as we focus first on scaling the company. Regarding acquisition or merger, it is premature but our value would be highest with the largest tire companies (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental etc) or an OEM play (automakers, aerospace). We also operate in verticals like space where a spin-out or subsidiary may make sense down the line. IPO is also possible through standard channels, though the tech landscape has changed a lot over time. Many private companies are holding out longer, but providing liquidity through secondary markets, buybacks, etc. Prime example being SpaceX which has returned large amounts of capital to investors pre-IPO.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-21T00:58:30Z"}]},{"id":327907,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:327907","question":"When will you get the invested money from wefunder and use it to grow the company? My money sitting inactive is not in my best interest.","author_name":"Philip Adenekan","votes":2,"created_at":"2026-03-16T21:08:56Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-327907","answers":[{"id":331585,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:331585","answer":"Hi Philip, while we don't publicly disclose cash flow, WeFunder does detail in the help section for Founders, how companies can access rolling closes. The majority of companies utilize this functionality during the campaign.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-21T01:00:59Z"}]},{"id":319900,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:319900","question":"I have invested with your company. How will I receive my return?","author_name":"Norman Masson","votes":2,"created_at":"2025-11-18T20:29:28Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company#question-319900","answers":[{"id":326521,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:326521","answer":"Hi Norman, I recommend visiting the WeFunder FAQ which has a comprehensive section specifically about investing on WeFunder and how to realize a return.","author_name":"Brian Yennie","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-03-01T10:27:49Z"}]}],"faq":[{"question":"Hi. Once you go to market, what are your revenue goals for the first 5 years?","answer":"Hi Leonardo, as a pre-revenue startup we're not too keen on imagining exact 5 year projections. What I will say is that we expect to deliver thousands of units very early on to early adopters next year, for starters. The buzz with cyclists is instant (check out our press page for some early coverage). From there, fleet sales are a fast growth option, especially in an urban setting with durability concerns. You'll notice that one of our partners also produces electric scooters - the 3 major fl..."},{"question":"Hi Brain, I saw your new bicycle tire, which is really interesting. I life in the Netherlands, a bicycle country and most of the daily commute here in the Netherlands is done with a bicycle. One thing that is not quite obvious from you product video, is the tire pressure, or i...","answer":"Hi Marc, the final tire will have an integrated rubber (or similar) tread. Regarding the stiffness, we are working on some variable pressure designs. As you can imagine, you have to get a little clever with that in a solid tire, but there may be some ways..."},{"question":"Can you describe how the traction and efficiency compares to traditional tires?","answer":"Yes! Generally speaking we will have a lot of the same traction as a conventional tire, because we integrate rubber treads. That said, there are a couple of key advantages: 1) we're never under or over inflated 2) depending on the application, we can design the structure for a flatter footprint = more traction Regarding efficiency, we're targeting rolling resistance very close to a pneumatic tire. Our first prototype was on a 700c wheel, where we used one SMART tire, and one inflated to 100 P..."},{"question":"Is it noisier than a traditional tire? And do you reach an equivalent maximum rotational speed?","answer":"Unlike many other non-pneumatics, these tires are not noisy. For example the Tweel is quite loud (and actually gets debris stuck it in, whoops). I don't have a figure but maximum rotational speed offhand, but well beyond operational requirements."},{"question":"What price point for bicycle tires are you looking to pitch at and are you expecting them to be a standard retrofit or would consumers need to buy a new wheel?","answer":"These will initially be at the high end of the market, but we're working on several tranches of cost reduction related to both materials and manufacturing. Please check out our FAQ for more details: https://wefunder.com/the.smart.tire.company/faq We intend to support retrofit for common sizes, as well as an integrated solution."}]}}}