Cobi

COBI.Bike GmbH, established in Frankfurt in 2014, developed a system to integrate smartphones into the cycling experience for both traditional bikes and eBikes. The founding team—Andreas Gahlert, Carsten Lindstedt, Heiko Schweickhardt, and Tom Acland—brought over a decade of shared experience in creating digital innovations for major clients like Audi and Porsche. Gahlert, a serial entrepreneur who previously founded and sold the digital agency Neue Digitale, conceptualized COBI.Bike after exiting his previous venture, seeking a new, meaningful project. The company's breakthrough came via a highly successful Kickstarter campaign in December 2014, which became one of Germany's most successful campaigns on the platform and led to a product launch in 2016. Following a Series A funding round of $6.88 million in January 2016, the firm was acquired by Bosch eBike Systems in November 2017 and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH.

The firm's core business revolves around its connected biking system, which transforms a user's smartphone into a central control and display unit. The product consists of a hardware hub that mounts on the handlebars, a thumb controller for safe operation while riding, and a companion app. This setup allows cyclists to access a suite of features directly from their handlebars, including GPS navigation with turn-by-turn voice guidance, music control, fitness data tracking, and call management. The system integrates with popular third-party apps such as Strava, Komoot, and Spotify. Additional functionalities include a smartphone charging function that draws power from the eBike's battery, an automatic lighting system, and a motion-triggered anti-theft alarm. Revenue is generated through the sale of this hardware system, which is designed for both aftermarket installation on a wide range of bikes and for pre-integration by bicycle manufacturers. Since the acquisition, COBI.Bike's technology has been integrated into the Bosch product portfolio, offering an alternative to traditional eBike displays.

Keywords: connected biking, smart bike system, bike navigation, eBike accessories, cycling technology, smartphone integration, bike computer, bike dashboard, bicycle gadgets, Bosch eBike Systems, Andreas Gahlert, bike safety, anti-theft alarm, cycling apps, handlebar mount, bike fitness tracking, Kickstarter bike tech, aftermarket bike parts, bike USB charger, urban mobility tech