"James Khatiblou, the owner and CEO of Onyx Motorbikes, was watching his e-bike startup fall apart.
"Onyx was being evicted from its warehouse in El Segundo, Los Angeles. The company’s unpaid bills were stacking up. His chief operating officer had abruptly resigned. A shipment of around 100 CTY2 dirt bikes from Chinese supplier Suzhou Jindao was delayed, and customers were starting to demand refunds – a major problem considering Khatiblou already owed both lenders and shareholders a lot of money.
"Khatiblou, known for his warm and outgoing personality, was fearful and stressed, according to interviews with people who worked alongside him. In the waning months of 2023, he was so distracted by the startup’s increasing debt and legal problems, he was unable to follow through on basic tasks. At the same time, his health was deteriorating, according to his mother, Diane Khatiblou. The vibrant and active man with the toothy smile was having trouble breathing and even walking, she said.
"Then Onyx’s problems escalated in a way nobody expected.
"At 37 years old, Khatiblou – who loved riding the halfpipe at the company warehouse and traveling the world – died unexpectedly. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined Khatiblou suffered a pulmonary embolism, listing deep vein thrombosis as a secondary cause.
"His death on December 12, 2023 added a new layer of uncertainty to the future of Onyx and its assets."
https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/27/onyx-motorbikes-was-in-trouble-and-then-its-37-year-old-owner-died/ادامه مطلب ...
Onyx Motorbikes was in trouble -- and then its 37-year-old owner died | TechCrunch
Onyx Motorbikes owner and CEO James Khatiblou was trying to keep his startup alive. Then, the unthinkable happened.