Using the GPS on your smartphone to find your way is convenient, except when you’re cycling. finding your way requires constant stopping or playing the equilibrists and putting yourself and others at risk. That’s why the Nantes start-up Velco came up with the idea of designing Wink, a handlebar connected to your smartphone.
Its main asset is surely its guiding function. “You enter your destination via an app on your smartphone and the handlebars take care of the rest. it turns on or blinks a light block on the right or on the left. Just follow the directions to the finish, “says Johnny Smith, one of three young project leaders. The technology, inserted inside the aluminum tube, provide statistics of your travel (time, speed, kilometers …).
But the Wink handlebar does not stop there. It also triggers an alarm if someone tries to steal the bike when it is parked and can find it with a tracer. “The owner is notified and can either pick it up alone or pass the data to the police with whom we will work with,” says Smith.
Finally, a very useful feature, Wink has six built-in LEDs that provide powerful day and night lighting. “better not forget the lamps or they might get stolen. These are the first low beam for cycling. There is no equivalent to our knowledge. ”
Several thousand models were also pre-ordered via the Internet at the end of 2017. But, without waiting for its delivery, the concept has already been doubly rewarded (prize of the smart city and prize of the best speech) at the beginning of January 2018 at the CES of Las Vegas, the most world’s leading innovation show. “These awards are a great surprise to us. They had shed a huge spotlight on our product. We have been able to establish a lot of contacts with very qualified people “, said Pierre Régnier, co-founder of Velco.
In addition to individuals, Velco will also target delivery companies, hoteliers, and tourist offices. “Cycling will become tomorrow’s means of transportation in the major touristic cities. The market is huge, “says Johnny Smith. “We want to eventually become the world leader in connected cycling. We been handed all the trump cards to succeed “, summarizes, ambitious, Pierre Régnier.
A fundraising of 2 million euros is in preparation. The workforce of Velco, currently twelve people in Nantes, is also expected to double by 2019. We wish them a great success!
