Case Studies Club Business Strategy School

Case Success Guide

Overview

The air hangs thick with the hum of a burgeoning industry, Electric Vehicles. VelocityCharge Networks, a titan in ultra-fast charging, finds itself at a precipice. The market is exploding, demand is insatiable, and the window for dominance is closing. The central dilemma is stark: secure a massive capital infusion—an $8.7 billion gamble—to scale operations and solidify market leadership, or risk being outmaneuvered by an increasingly aggressive field of competitors. This report dissects the potential avenues for this critical funding, laying bare the intricate web of financial implications, strategic trade-offs, and operational realities that will define VelocityCharge's future. The analytical approach taken here peels back the layers of each option, seeking not just the path of least resistance, but the route that best secures long-term power in a volatile landscape.

Backstory

VelocityCharge Networks, a brainchild of two former Tesla virtuosos, Maria Santos and David Kim, burst onto the scene in 2019. Their vision was simple, yet revolutionary: deliver the fastest, most reliable electric vehicle charging experience across the continent. They built their empire on the back of proprietary liquid-cooled charging technology and an AI-powered grid management system that spoke to the future. With 2,847 stations scattered across 34 states, each a beacon of rapid power, VelocityCharge carved out a dominant position. Their ChargeSmart AI system was no parlor trick; it delivered a reported 23% faster charging and an 18% reduction in energy costs, a testament to their engineering prowess. From a modest $78 million in 2021, their annual revenue rocketed to $1.8 billion by 2024, fueled by an insatiable demand for their services. They charged by the kilowatt-hour, offered unlimited monthly subscriptions, and forged strategic alliances with the automotive giants and fleet operators, cementing their place as the undisputed leader ...