Sales of electric two-wheelers have exploded in recent years, in France and Europe, with electric bikes leading the way. The total number of electric bikes in circulation will reach nearly 50 million units by 2030 in Europe (Expert Market Research).
These electric two-wheelers are revolutionizing our transport habits, yet obstacles remain: the price of new bikes is the primary one for 66% of French people, according to Ifop. As for second-hand bikes, which generally come with no guarantees, the consumer alone bears the risk of a battery, motor, or electronics failure.
As other sectors have previously shown (automotive, mobile phones, home appliances), refurbishment is the ecological solution that combines an affordable price with guarantees for the consumer.
This is the promise of Loewi - a startup accelerated by 21st by CentraleSupélec - which today announces a €1 million fundraising round, to accelerate the adoption of certified second-hand bikes in Europe.
The objectives of this fundraising round are: to enable Loewi to increase its refurbishment capacity to reach 300 refurbished bikes per month in 2023 and to accelerate the development and deployment of its technological tools across its entire value chain.
These are key success factors to strengthen ties with their distribution partners and keep up with rapidly growing demand.
Ultimately, these elements will position Loewi with a unique model in Europe and as a preferred partner for major retailers.
A unique model, a growth driver for a booming ecosystem!
Loewi partners with large corporations and gives electric bikes a second life thanks to innovative techniques and a technological platform, from collection to remarketing. Loewi differentiates itself from other players by offering:
● An exclusive focus on electric bikes, regardless of their aesthetic and functional condition, and across all categories or brands
● Strategic partnerships with major retailers, manufacturers, and marketplaces for sourcing
● A refurbishment service offered to its B2B partners
● Complete control over the refurbishment chain, thanks to the recruitment of highly qualified mechanics and unique software and hardware tools that enable process improvement through the analysis of data automatically collected from each bike.
● Optimized sales thanks to a multitude and diversity of distribution channels: a fixed commission; instant access to several countries through each partner's network; and different target audiences, specific to each partner. Bikes are sold through a network of French and European partners, leaders in their respective segments (Decathlon, Alltricks, Trocvélo, Refurbed, Fnac, etc.)
The startup, which has tripled its capacity since last year, now has 10 partner brands for its distribution and has already launched international sales (Belgium, Austria, Netherlands).
Like Loewi, would you like to benefit from business support and access to funding to grow your startup? Join our accelerator until June 18!
“By choosing to focus on refurbishing all types of bikes, we are working towards a more circular economy and accelerating the transition to decarbonized mobility. The second-hand market is rapidly developing, and we aim to bring the most virtuous model to the ecosystem.” Diego Level, President of Loewi.
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