Velco hires 138 for European communications

Velco has hired 138 Alternatives to handle its European communications.

The partnership will see the team at 138 Alternatives work to raise the profile of the French IoT solutions firm within the bicycle industry and beyond.

Philipp Reiff, managing director of 138 Alternatives, said: “We are convinced that connected e-bikes will be indispensable in just a few years, similar to what has happened in the automotive industry.

“Working for Velco, one of the pioneers in this field, makes us particularly proud. Thanks to our increased work in the field of urban mobility, we are real experts in this area, and therefore Velco fits us like a glove.”

Much like the smartphone, the smart bike is expected to become the new standard in the future.

With its hardware and software products, Velco is changing mobility by offering solutions for all players in the bicycle industry: from manufacturers and brands, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and fleet operators, to service companies and, ultimately, all cyclists.

Estelle Monet, communication manager at Velco, added: “Since we filed our first patent in 2016, we have grown into an international team of over 40 people, and we recently signed contracts with our first three US brands.

“We are expecting equally large growth in Europe and with 138 Alternatives we have found the perfect partner for our media communication.”

The Velco IoT solutions (Internet Of Things) are integrated during the assembly of the e-bikes and then linked to the software suite.

These devices are developed in France and manufactured in Europe (France and Portugal).

Velco already works with several French brands, including Gaya Bike, Ultima Mobility and Nakamura, and is also the connectivity provider of the largest long-term e-bike hire fleet in Paris, Véligo, which has more than 20,000 e-bikes.

Velco is now an official partner of Shimano and recently announced that it is able to couple with Shimano’s EP6 and EP8 motors.