I wonder if we are looking at the problem from the wrong angle? Yes, it would be nice for Ekso Bionics (and the entire exoskeleton industry) to make a profit. But look at other Silicon Valley companies. How many of them are profitable? Is it more important for Ekso to be profitable, or for people to know where Ekso is heading in the future? How many of the current investors know where Ekso is heading? How many of the current investors in Ekso even know what Ekso does, or what a real, non-science-fiction exoskeleton is!? 100%, 50%, 20%, 5%, 0.1% Because I am putting my money on the 0.1%
I think what we have here is a problem of perception. If Uber is positioning itself to become the company with the best software and best maps for when in the FUTURE self driving cars become a reality then what is a little 1 billion dollar loss here and there? The perception is that Uber is losing money now, but they are positioning themselves to be in the front of an emerging industry.
Now Ekso is doing something similar where they are positioning themselves to be in the front for lower body medical, industrial and military exoskeletons. But if investors don't see that positioning, or don't understand the field, the perception will be that Ekso is just wasting money on a foolish Iron Man suit.
This is where I am struggling. First, explain to people what Ekso Bionics does. Define to people what a real life exoskeleton should and should not be. Finally, convince people that an exoskeleton industry really does exist and therefore it makes sense for a company to spend money to position itself to be at its front.
The Ekso webinar that just ended a minute ago, did not achieve any of these goals.
