Invest in Valo (YC W19)

My first ride on a Valo Hyperfoil was the best ride I’d ever had on a jetski. I laughed as I flew out of the water. When I was done, I was so giddy I forgot to stop and rammed the Valo prototype into the pier. While the Valo Hyperfoil is awesome, it’s not just a recreational vehicle. It’s the first demonstration of a massive shift to come. The same pressures that are causing whole-sale electrification in the auto industry are coming to the marine industry. And like electric vehicles, making ships electric isn’t as easy as dropping in a battery and a motor and calling it a day. You have to figure out how to not explode costs by putting a giant, expensive battery in a ship. That’s why the Valo Hyperfoil is so important – it’s the living proof that an electric powertrain coupled with a hydrofoil works. It’s the first step in changing the $100B market of moving things in the water. The Valo team didn’t get here by happenstance. Ed, the co-founder and CEO, is a four time founder with two successful liquidity events. He’s been backed by Y Combinator twice. Reo, the co-founder and CTO, is a three time founder. He’s built and led engineering teams before in the high tech marine space. Given what they’ve built and how quickly, I’m not surprised that they’ve already registered $3.5M in presales for the Valo Hyperfoil and $121M in LOIs signed by shipbuilders and ferry operators. It’s an honor to be part of Valo’s round and support Ed and the Valo team to bring flying to the water.