Pebble is a California-based startup that recently came out of stealth with its plans to develop a hassle-free electric RV experience designed for a new way to live, work and explore. And the company has raised $13.6 million from Lightspeed, Vision+, and UpHonest Capital to bring innovation to the RV industry that has seen few technological advancements in the past 50 years.
For many Americans, RVing is no longer a vacation as it is considered a lifestyle. The RV Industry Association reports that two out of five new buyers purchased their RV because they wanted a place to stay and explore the outdoors while still having access to their work. However, traditional RVs and travel trailers come with a set of problems, including insufficient energy storage, outdated technology, and design, poor towing experience, high fuel costs, and constant maintenance and safety issues. As the national conversation shifts towards renewable energy and younger generations pledge to make more eco-friendly choices, there is a rising demand for an RV that is sustainable, user-friendly, and supports the growing work-from-anywhere generation.
Pebble was built to remove the hassles that RVers have struggled with for decades and make it more accessible to achieve a lighter and freer lifestyle. And Pebble integrates some of the most advanced automotive and electric vehicle technology available today to streamline the user experience. The interior is designed as a fully furnished and eco-friendly living space equipped with everything users need to work, sleep, explore and relax comfortably. Plus it is powered by renewable energy sources with an energy capacity that allows users to live off-grid for up to seven days.
Pebble’s goal has attracted an expert team of executives, advisors, engineers, and designers. And as the founder, Yang brings dual experience in automotive and consumer electronics to his vision of defining a new category in electric RVing. Plus he holds a deep understanding of cutting-edge automotive technology, having led hardware development for autonomous vehicle companies Cruise, backed by General Motors, and Zoox, backed by Amazon. Prior, he had a 9-year tenure at Apple leading iPhone development and creating the magical iPhone experience that brings surprise and delight to customers.
Yang is joined by Chief Technology Officer Stefan Solyom – who brings over 20 years of experience in the automotive and tech industries. And Solyom was a founding member of the Tesla Autopilot team and spent 7 years at Apple and 10 years at Volvo Cars as a top technical leader focused on safety and autonomous systems. Along with Yang and Solyom, the rest of the Pebble team brings expertise from Cruise, Lucid Motors, and other leading technology and automotive companies.
KEY QUOTES:
“Pebble was developed to create a hassle-free way to live, work and explore. Consumers have been stuck with the same RV experience for decades. A lot of people want to get into such a lifestyle of freedom but are turned off by the pain points in today’s products. At Pebble, we are automating the hardest parts of the RV experience with the same technologies that power the most advanced automotive innovations, making the whole experience simply effortless and magical. If you know how to use an iPhone, you’ll be comfortable using our product.”
— Bingrui Yang, CEO and founder of Pebble
“At Pebble, I can see the influence of Apple’s culture and approach. Pebble’s focus on applying cutting-edge tech in service of design, simplicity, and user experience rather than for its own sake is reminiscent of the core values that have made Apple a leader in the tech industry. The RV industry has been relatively stagnant for decades and it’s exciting to see Pebble moving it forward in huge leaps.”
— Dave Rosenthal, a former executive at Apple and advisor for Pebble
