SparkCharge makes a fast, portable charging system for electrical vehicles (EV). The company wants to end “range anxiety”, a major obstacle to EV adoption, by making any location a charging station. SparkCharge was founded by Joshua Aviv, a graduate of Syracuse University, and has operations in Buffalo.
SparkCharge Sparks Change in the EV Industry
Description
"Winning the Commercialization Competition gave us the capital we needed to create new jobs and grow our team. Competing helped connect us to the upstate New York manufacturing industry and further establish our company. Without the mentorship we received from Steve Melito and the support of the FuzeHub ecosystem, SparkCharge wouldn’t be where it is today."
Joshua Aviv
Founder/CEO
The Challenge
SparkCharge needed to enhance a prototype and produce first articles for potential customers. However, the metal enclosure for its portable charging system was relatively expensive to produce. The company also needed engineering talent to help it apply lessons learned to product development.
The Solution
FuzeHub’s Commercialization Competition award enabled SparkCharge to buy a 3D printer that it used for prototyping and first article production. Instead of paying a vendor and waiting for enclosures to arrive, the company quickly and cost-effectively made what it needed in-house. The award also enabled SparkCharge to leverage engineering talent and enhance its product design. The company learned how to manufacture portable EV chargers more efficiently and to refine the assembly process. By evolving its prototype into a production-ready unit, SparkCharge was ready to grow.
Outcomes / The Impact
As a result of its 2018 Commercialization Competition award, SparkCharge realized a $50,000 cost savings in labor, material, and equipment. The company also enjoyed a $500,000 increase in sales. Follow-on investments totaled $5,000,000, including a $1 million top prize in the 43 North Competition.