Memorable yes, memorable for all the wrong reasons. Having recently grown the ‘Less than $10k to $1m’ challenge capital to $18,506.25 since starting the challenge on 7th July 2025, it is deeply frustrating to find myself now back below $10,000. This is following ‘nailing my colours to the mast’ of Vertical Aerospace (EVTL), remaining steadfast in my hopes and desires for this promising, yet pre-commercial electric aircraft developer, despite what my typically analytical mind was telling me.
I first invested in EVTL outside of the challenge in October 2025, with a forecast given at the time of $7 a share for late November / December and which represented a potential 59% increase in the value of the shares. Pleasingly my forecast was subsequently exceeded on 5th December 2025, which is where in hindsight I should have sold. However I subsequently bought more shares in EVTL in April this year as part of my latest challenge investment, a decision arguably clouded by loyalty to a company that I had over time come to feel a kinship with.
Frustratingly the share price has fallen back for various reasons, notably in my opinion in part due to a loss of credibility following various key statements made by senior management and a key investor that didn’t come to fruition. With for example full flight transition of the prototype aircraft not taking the stated ‘weeks not months’ but instead taking months, not weeks. Furthermore the inability to secure a strategic partner combined with evolving financing on less and less favourable terms has seemingly contributed to a dramatic decline in the share price. A decline that I fear may, through no intention of Vertical Aerospace staff, follow a similar path for retail shareholders as Aston Martin which floated in 2018 and took a ‘delightful trip finding different ways to do in the shareholders’ according to Alistair Osborne of The Times*.
Whatever the case I can only blame myself for becoming too attached to what I knew was a high risk investment and in the process losing a not insubstantial sum, in excess of $65,000 overall between Anna and I. And while I intend to stick with EVTL come what may, I have chosen to reduce our exposure somewhat including selling my EVTL shares within the ‘Less than $10k to $1m’ challenge’.
Given the ‘risk-off’ and particularly volatile nature of the stock markets right now, certainly in relation to various growth stocks, I will take my time deciding where to reinvest the capital released from EVTL for the challenge.
It seems fortune did not favour the brave this time, in the short term at least.
Mark aka Double Bubbler
* https://www.thetimes.com/article/be3fd91f-8687-4523-9d76-0f63698178ae
