LONDON, UK - British mobility insurance firm Laka has secured $10.4 million (€8.9 million) in a Series B funding round, it announced this week. The move strengthens the company's goal to lead the green mobility insurance market for e-bikes, e-scooters and sustainable transport across nine European Union markets and the United Kingdom. The round was co-led by Shift4Good and MS&AD Ventures, with participation from existing backers including Ponooc and Porsche Ventures.

RIMINI, Italy - The Italian Bike Festival has grown increasingly significant for the cycling industry since 2018, following the decline in relevance of EICMA-Milan in recent years. The most recent edition at Misano Circuit in September 2024 featured more than 600 brands and 57,000 end consumers and industry professionals. The successful event has been taken over by the Italian Exhibition Group.

CHICAGO, USA - During the process of drivetrain development in an attempt to make descending better, SRAM came across the spider manufacturer Ochain. "After we learned about the performance of their product, we decided to buy them," explains SRAM product manager Flynn George. How much SRAM paid for Ochain is unknown for the moment.

FRANKFURT, Germany - The Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) have signed a Letter of Intent to advance the merger of the two associations. Delivered as a milestone for the European bicycle industry, "this step reflects a shared vision to amplify the voice of the European cycling industry to lead the continent's mobility and industrial transformation," it was announced.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - London-based design and marketing consultancy Conductor has announced its expansion into Asia with the opening of its second location in Taipei, Taiwan. Conductor has made a name for itself in the biking industry for its work with big brand names like Specialized, Canyon and Classified - as well as its recent acquisition by Gruppo Media.

MUNICH, Germany - The future of Gocycle has come into sharper focus following confirmation that its maker, Karbon Kinetics Ltd., has partnered with a new investor. Founder and designer Richard Thorpe first hinted at the development in November, describing the partner as a "highly respected and competent" player in the e-bike industry. Now operating under the umbrella of an undisclosed company, Gocycle is entering a new chapter - raising questions about who's behind the brand's next move and what this means for its presence in the European market.