The Untold Secret to Changing the Urban Landscape
Bikeep closed an investment round for $3M USD to bring bike parking into the 21st century. The company is known for its smart infrastructure for e-bike and e-scooter charging and parking. The funds will be used to build up a partnership network with local companies to bring Bikeep stations to cities across the US.
As micromobility usage is skyrocketing in cities, Bikeep is providing the necessary infrastructure to enable more efficient use of e-bikes and e-scooters. The company provides smart locking systems for existing bike locker programs — for example, British Columbia-based TransLink is using Bikeep IoT to create an on-demand bike locker program where cyclists can purchase daily or monthly passes through the Bikeep mobile app.
Bikeep CEO Kristjan Lind said that Bikeep is moving towards technology at a faster pace while still providing hybrid solutions of physical products and software, and laying out a strong partnership system with transit companies, municipalities, businesses, and real estate developers.
Better Land Use as the Primary Efficiency Driver
Bikeep challenges the idea that parking space is permanent or fixed. By adding smart IoT technology, lockers can be shared among users through an on-demand model.
"One of the most underrated elements with bike parking and charging is the efficient land use. The already existing lockers and bike parking garages sit vacant while other cyclists are struggling to find a place in high-density areas like transit stations and city centers. The average transit station has over a thousand lockers that are managed with a physical key, resulting in vacancy times exceeding 80%. We feel the lockers could be smarter and land used more efficiently with the help of technology," Lind stresses.
Bikeep continues to launch its own infrastructure for e-bike and scooter charging and secure parking. Its solutions have been implemented in more than 20 countries, with proven success cases from the US, Europe, and New Zealand.
Kristjan Lind sees urgency in the pace of micromobility growth, which is projected at a CAGR of 17.4% from 2021 to 2030: "We need to think about how our future cities will look and function. The car-centric approach is declining, and as more and more people turn to more sustainable methods of transportation, our mission is to provide them with the infrastructure, support, and ecosystem that will encourage them to use bicycles and scooters as the primary means of transportation."
He states that by building integrated systems — where Bikeep delivers user- and administrator-facing applications combined with its own IoT and physical infrastructure — the best experience for all parties is achieved, much like Apple's software running on Apple's own hardware.
At the same time, Bikeep is partnering with other infrastructure manufacturers to enable them to use its locking systems and applications, allowing all manufacturers to make their existing products connected and smart.
Bikeep shipped products and services to over 21 countries in Q1 2021 alone. The next steps are to provide IoT and platform services globally to enable faster growth. With the Funderbeam platform round — where investors include the company's own clients and service users — Bikeep's valuation has increased to $15.9M USD.
About Bikeep
Bikeep is an award-winning global micromobility enabler. The company provides e-bike and scooter charging stations and secure bike parking facilities globally, operating in 21 different countries. Its technology has been successfully used by municipalities, companies, campuses, and commercial and residential real estate developers to combat bike theft and increase cycling uptake.
With growing demand for e-bike charging stations and secure parking, Bikeep is actively looking for partners and resellers in the US.
Related Articles
Innovative Business Models Using Bikeep’s IoT Solutions
Bikeep's IoT platform opens up a range of business models for operators, cities, and entrepreneurs — from corporate campus bike lockers and university mobility hubs to transit station parking and retail bike storage.
Denmark already has ‘smart’ bike anti-theft solution
Bikeep's representative in Denmark, Jens Peter Hansen, makes the case for smarter, safer bicycle parking — because every bike ride starts and ends with a parked bike.
Bikeep stations are now available at Bedford parking hub
Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin has opened a new cycle parking hub at Bedford station, featuring Bikeep Smart Bike Racks, two-tier storage for up to 322 bikes, and seven e-bike charging bays.