We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Scott Colosimo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Scott, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The story of LAND’s inception begins with my deep-rooted love for bikes, cars, and the thrill of speed—a passion that has coursed through my veins since my childhood, inspired by an upbringing immersed in the creative processes of cooking, baking, and art. This foundation laid the groundwork for a life devoted not just to the love of vehicles, but to the art of creating them. My initial venture into entrepreneurship was with Cleveland CycleWerks in 2009, focusing on affordable and quality motorcycles, which was the first step in what would become a significant journey towards innovation and sustainability. While running Cleveland CycleWerks I became interested in electrification after noticing that the limitation of gas motorcycles was thoroughly explored. I sold Cleveland CycleWrks and started my journey towards LAND.

As the founder of LAND in 2020, I was driven by a vision to lead in the electric vehicle revolution, focusing on two-wheel electric vehicles with a unique proposition: connected, swappable batteries. This idea wasn’t born out of thin air; it was the culmination of extensive research, development, and a clear understanding of the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly transportation solutions. The pivot from Cleveland CycleWerks to LAND marked a critical evolution in my entrepreneurial journey, reflecting a dedication to not only maintain the core values of affordability, design-centric focus, and quality but to also push the boundaries of what’s possible in electric transportation.

This journey, however, was far from smooth. Transitioning from a successful gasoline motorcycle company to a pioneer in the electric vehicle space, especially in the Midwest, presented its fair share of challenges. The most significant of these was the scarcity of venture capital for sustainability and electric vehicle projects in the region. This lack of external funding meant taking considerable personal and financial risks, emphasizing the importance of innovation and sustainability despite these constraints. The decision to manufacture in the United States, and specifically in Cleveland, Ohio, introduced additional complexities, underscoring my commitment to creating long-term value and job growth through physical products.

The logic behind LAND’s formation and the confidence in its success stemmed from several key insights. Firstly, there was a clear gap in the market for lightweight, technologically advanced two-wheel electric vehicles. My previous experience with Cleveland CycleWerks proved there was a market for affordable, quality vehicles, and this principle could be successfully applied to the electric vehicle market. Secondly, the development of an in-house connected battery platform highlighted a unique approach that could set LAND apart from competitors. This innovation was not just a technical achievement; it was a cornerstone of LAND’s business model, offering a unique value proposition to consumers.

What excited me the most about this idea was the potential to lead in a rapidly evolving industry. Electric vehicles represent the future of transportation, and with LAND, there was an opportunity to be at the forefront of this revolution, offering solutions that are not just eco-friendly but are also aligned with consumer demands for affordability, design, and quality. Despite the financial and operational hurdles, the vision for LAND was clear: to create a sustainable future through innovative electric vehicles. This commitment to innovation, coupled with a pragmatic approach to overcoming the challenges of venture capital and manufacturing, laid the foundation for what I believed—and continue to believe—is a worthwhile endeavor, driven by the potential to make a significant impact on the environment and society.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the founder of LAND, launched in 2020 to lead the electric vehicle revolution with a focus on lightweight, two-wheel electric vehicles featuring connected, swappable batteries.

At Land, we take pride in our involvement in every stage of creating our electric motorcycles, from the initial design and manufacturing to fabricating, marketing, and selling the product. Hand-built with pride in Cleveland, Ohio, we are not just contemplating the challenging aspects of our business; we are actively engaging in and overcoming these difficult tasks on a day-to-day basis. Our commitment to doing the hard work is a testament to our dedication to excellence and innovation in the electric motorcycle industry.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Brand loyalty is a fascinating element in this sector. In any fresh, pioneering industry, early adopters become the most effective promoters. Eager to share and enlighten their circles about a product they’re among the first to embrace, they play a crucial role. Building a community early on is vital, as these individuals seek to be part of something with great potential. They are willing to dedicate their effort to what they trust will yield significant returns even if it is just praise or reverence from someone in their circle.

We foster this sense of community by prioritizing customer experience and making sure personal interactions are as meaningful as possible. Additionally, we stay engaged in forums, message boards, social media, and other platforms where our potential customers are active and drop “insider” nuggets to give this audience an inside peak to our company.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

An additional revenue stream for us lies in our swappable batteries. We view the electric motorcycle primarily as a showcase for our batteries’ capabilities and primary applications. Looking ahead, these batteries will integrate into a broader ecosystem, powering a variety of products from kayaks and e-bikes to home energy systems and electric ATVs. At their most basic, these batteries will provide portable power solutions for charging laptops, phones, and tablets for people on the move or for those setting up for a day at the beach.

Contact Info:

• Website: landmoto.io
• Instagram: land_moto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Landmo.to/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landmoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LANDEnergy