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§ Private Profile · Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Manufacturer of electric skateboards, scooters, and longboards for urban mobility, focused on sustainable, efficient personal.
Inboard Technology was a Santa Cruz, California-based company that designed and manufactured electric skateboards and scooters for personal urban mobility. The company developed products like the M1 electric skateboard, featuring Manta Drive technology, and later expanded into electric scooters such as the Glider, emphasizing smooth rides and software integration for sustainable transportation. It raised approximately $11.7 million in venture funding, including an $8 million round in 2017, and appeared on Shark Tank in 2016 seeking $750,000 at an $18.75 million valuation. Key investors included Upfront Ventures, with Kobie Fuller joining the board, alongside LION Smart, Sunstone Capital, and Sweet Capital. Despite its early traction, Inboard Technology liquidated in 2019 following an unsuccessful expansion into electric scooters, having been founded in 2014 by Ryan Evans and Theo Cerboneschi.
Inboard Technology has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Inboard Technology has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Inboard Technology has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series A in November 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 2017 | $8M Series A | Kobie Fuller | LION Smart, Sunstone Capital | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2016 | $4M Seed | — | Sweet Capital | Announced |
Inboard Technology was a consumer hardware startup that developed electric skateboards and scooters for urban commuting and adventure riding. Its flagship product, the M1 electric skateboard, featured in-wheel motors and swappable batteries, targeting leisure riders and commuters seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional vehicles.[1][2][3] The company served urban mobility users by addressing traffic congestion and pollution through eco-friendly personal transport, raising $12.87M before shutting down in 2019 amid financial challenges and a failed pivot to scooters.[1][3][4]
Founded in 2015—though some sources cite 2014—by Ryan Evans, David Evans, and Chris Harley, Inboard Technology emerged from a vision to innovate urban mobility with advanced electric vehicles.[1][2][3] The founders drew on backgrounds in engineering and design to create the M1, the world's first electric skateboard with swappable battery packs and "Manta Drive" in-wheel motors for smooth, efficient rides.[2][3] Early traction included Shark Tank exposure, over $12M in funding, and a major European order, positioning it as a leader in e-skateboards before financial woes and a scooter pivot led to liquidation in October 2019, laying off all 24 employees.[1][3]
Inboard rode the mid-2010s boom in personal electric mobility, fueled by advances in battery tech and demand for green urban transport amid rising e-scooter sharing trends like Lime and Bird.[2][3] Its timing capitalized on consumer interest in skateboards and scooters as car alternatives, influencing e-mobility innovation by popularizing in-wheel motors and swappability—features now common in modern devices.[1][2] However, market saturation, high manufacturing costs, and pivot risks highlighted pitfalls in the hardware startup space, shaping investor caution in consumer EVs while paving the way for more resilient players like Onewheel.[1][3]
Inboard's shutdown marks a cautionary tale of hardware innovation clashing with execution hurdles, but its tech legacy endures in today's mature e-mobility market. No revival appears likely post-2019 liquidation, with assets liquidated via Sherwood Partners.[3] Evolving trends like longer-range batteries, AI integration, and regulatory support for micromobility could have sustained it, yet its influence lives on by inspiring sustainable urban transport advancements—echoing its original mission to transform city navigation.[2]
Inboard Technology has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Inboard Technology's investors include Kobie Fuller, LION Smart, Sunstone Capital, Sweet Capital.