Energous Corp (NASDAQ:WATT)

In its annual report, Energous explains that it's on the cusp of turning the corner to financial solvency, when (not if in it's view) it's wireless charging technology comes on-line for adoption by consumer electronics firms through its partnership with British semiconductor company Dialog. The company claims that it has independently verified its near-field charging system, and that they are targeting electronics of 60W and less charge requirement.

This company faces short-term solvency issues, running operating expenses several factors greater than its income. It has reduced its rent in its research space by paying the landlord in stocks, and sought financing through the end of 2016 by seeking investor financing. It may be three or more years away from any profitability.

The company faces tremendous risks: (1) another company solves the near-field charging problem sooner and better; (2) Dialog Semiconductors does not prove to be a reliable partner for integrating into consumer electronics; (3) patent infringement from copy-cat technology firms.

Some opportunities are that this company appears to be the closest to solving this near-field charging problem, and that would give it a lead in the devices used in IoT. Battery limitations as they are, users might expect their IoT devices to work many years and might not be able to easily charge them depending on the location and use, so a near-field solution would bridge that shortfall. The technology only charges 15 feet or 30-feet in the circular configuration, so there are still some considerable limitations to the technology.

Adoption of the technology requires marketing the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter would go into TVs, fridge doors, wi-fi routers, and the like. Receivers would be the powered devices, basically anything that is currently hand-held/electronic.

The CEO is a manager rather than a technologist/engineer, but this may be the right fit for the company as it really needs to find a way to get itself to a marketable position. Stephen Rizzone, the CEO, has been granted generous stock purchase options in addition to a low-6 digit salary, although the company is as of yet unprofitable. There are 73 employees.

Overall I'm optimistic that this company will either turn the corner to proftiability in the next 3-5 years through success with its technology, or will be bought up by a larger firm.