Electric Outdoors

If you're in Michigan on October 1, come join us at Centrepolis Accelerator @ Lawrence Technological University's C3 Summit in Novi. It's a great place to connect with cleantech industry leaders and investors, and Electric Outdoors will be there showcasing our innovative sustainable camping solutions. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gg3dSSBK

The Electric Outdoors team has been hard at work designing and launching our first pilot experience in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in close partnership with Innovate Marquette SmartZone. The pilot brings to life the EO Canopy, a first-of-its-kind destination glamping platform that makes energy, water, waste handling, satellite internet, and Level 2 EV charging available completely off the grid. "We are incredibly excited to bring this product to the remote and beautiful Upper Peninsula, where we can really put it to the test," said Josef Hjelmaker, founder and CEO of Electric Outdoors. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gmVzhH9V

What a great day at Ann Arbor SPARK's #Invest360 event this past Friday! Our own Josef Hjelmaker took home the $50K prize in the Mobility category on behalf of Electric Outdoors, and we couldn't be more proud — especially with such strong competition. Thank you to everyone involved, including the judges for their vote of confidence. Also, a huge congratulations to the other winners, Culturebie (IT) and Decimal Code (Healthcare) ??

We are elated to announce that Electric Outdoors has successfully closed an initial seed round of $1.3M ?? This funding will: ?? Put us on a path to complete our full $3M round before the end of the year ?? Allow us to ramp up EO Canopy unit production and testing, along with hiring crucial team members ?? Get us one step closer to our mission of revolutionizing how people access the outdoors sustainably The round was led by Veolectra Inc, which was joined by Michigan Rise and the Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund, among other notable investors. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/gsSfkj7f

We’re incredibly excited to partner with Coast, a pioneer in electric RVing. Our companies share a goal of making outdoor adventure more sustainable, comfortable, and electrified—and looking good while doing it ?? The Coast team has generously provided one of their Model 1 trailers as an alternative for guests staying at our initial pilot unit in the Upper Peninsula—and it's completely powered by the EO Canopy's off-grid energy system. Learn more about Coast here: https://coastrv.co/

In case you’re wondering why we’ve been a little quiet on here…????The first EO Canopy pilot unit has arrived in the U.P. and the team is hard at work building a new kind of glamping experience. More to come soon, but this is the start of something big!

??? A crucial part of being an early-stage startup is getting the word out about your exciting new solutions — and making sure it reaches the right people. One of the best ways to do that, we've found, is participating in pitch competitions and showcases. If you're a cleantech investor, or you're just passionate about the next big thing in sustainable innovation, come join us at the following events: August 21: Warehouse Business Accelerator Innovation Showcase Demo Day - Loveland, Colorado September 20: Ann Arbor SPARK Invest360 - Ann Arbor, Michigan October 1: Centrepolis Accelerator C3 Summit - Novi, Michigan

?? “Where do I sleep?” We get this question a lot from people who haven’t seen the EO Canopy in person yet, and the answer is simple: The canopy features built-in, enclosed sleeping quarters, so you can sleep inside the unit while staying safe and protected from the elements. We offer a few different bunk configurations for families, couples, and solo travelers, including a bottom bunk that converts into a dinette booth. There’s even a bathroom with a toilet and shower.? This means that we’re able to welcome any kind of camper and vehicle—whether you’re traveling in an EV, a motorhome, or on a bicycle. That said, you’re more than welcome to bring your RV, overlanding setup, tent, or other sleeping quarters if you prefer. The EO Canopy features 50-amp electrical hookups, EV charging, and plugs for all your devices.

The EO team is hard at work building out our big pilot experience, which launches in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in just a few weeks (more to come on this). But we’re also looking ahead! If you want to come see us in person, we’ll be in Austin for MOVE: Mobility Re-imagined in September and Electrify Expo in November. Are there any other events you’d like to see Electric Outdoors at this year? Let us know in the comments or shoot us a DM!

Do you live in a ‘charging desert’? ?? This study from researchers at Harvard and Georgia Tech shows some concerning trends when it comes to EV charging in the U.S., pointing to unreliable chargers and confusing pricing. It also spells out geographic equity as a major hurdle for EV adoption — most charging stations are located in large population centers, and there are counties with no public chargers at all.?? A big part of our mission at Electric Outdoors is bringing EV charging and outdoor recreation to underserved communities by unlocking land away from the grid. With the EO Canopy, there’s no need to invest in infrastructure or utility development. It’s a simple, out-of-the-box solution to a widespread problem. If you’re a landowner in a charging desert and you want to explore incentives for bringing an EO Canopy to your community, reach out at any time. We’d love to chat.???? https://lnkd.in/ehAfEmCk