Vezums aims to export both foldable mechanical and foldable electric cargo bikes, targeting the most bike-friendly countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, and others as their first choice.
With the idea of foldable cargo bikes that would significantly ease daily life in communities that care deeply about urban environments, the Vezums team – Jēkabs Ozols, Oskars Kotello, and Emīls Krišjānis – participated in the 'Ideju kauss' (Idea cup) 2023 competition. The support gained from the competition provided an extra incentive to get to work, ensuring these bikes reach both the Latvian and global markets.
The role of cargo bikes in urban environments will grow
“Currently, cargo bikes have become very popular in many parts of Europe. For example, in London, their integration into the urban environment is actively supported as a way to relieve traffic congestion," says Jēkabs Ozols.
"Cargo bikes are often used by professionals such as plumbers, electricians, and others, as they can store their tools in the cargo box and travel to clients. Additionally, parents frequently use them to move around the city with their small children. We realized that the role of cargo bikes in urban environments will increase not only in the warmer seasons but also in winter. They can accomplish almost as much as a light car while being more environmentally friendly and better for health,” explains Ozols.
However, the key issue the startup team had to solve was how to make transporting the large and cumbersome cargo bike more convenient. A solution has already been developed to make Vezums suitable for travelers as well – it can be folded and even checked in as cargo luggage at airports. This will open up a new and unique experience for cyclists. Cargo bike users often need to transport their bikes, including by train, but classic cargo bikes are too large to load, and there’s often no space for them.
“That’s how we came up with the idea of building a foldable cargo bike, and an electric one at that. We have already created an alpha prototype that meets the set goals, and we have started working on the development of the production prototype,” says Ozols.
He emphasizes that the Vezums can fit comfortably even in the trunk of a relatively small car. The team’s main task was to create a mechanism to fold the cargo bike. Additionally, to further develop our product, we are collaborating with Yamaha. “We are aware that the demand for cargo bikes in Latvia is quite small, so this is primarily an export product. There are various ideas to promote exports – perhaps we will even hop on a cargo bike ourselves and pedal around Europe.”
Development plans
The Vezums team has arrived at the current prototype gradually. One of their initial ideas was Velorūme, a storage facility for long-term storage of bicycles and baby strollers. The idea of producing cargo bikes came later. Next, they offered the concept of renting such bikes to anyone interested, which eventually led the team to their current plan – to manufacture foldable cargo bikes under the Vezums brand.
Speaking about future plans, the startup intends to apply for support from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) business incubator, seeking both mentorship and financial assistance, as Vezums currently faces several challenges.
In the LIAA-organized competition Ideju Kauss 2023, Vezums was among the 12 finalists, receiving recognition for fostering business growth. This year, applications are open until September 22 for the innovative business idea competition Ideju Kauss 2024, where any Latvian resident aged 18 or older is invited to participate. As usual, competition participants will not only have the chance to enhance their knowledge but also compete for cash prizes from the 40,000-euro Ideju Kauss prize fund.
