Ponooc invests more than 3 M euros in Unit 1, the Madrid-based smart accessories brand

The investor group Ponnoc, part of the cycling giant Pon.Bike, owner of brands such as Cannondale, Cervélo, Santa Cruz or Focus among others, adds to its portfolio the Spanish startup Unit 1, specialized in urban mobility products aimed at improving cyclist safety, such as its smart helmet Faro.

Pon.Bike continues spreading its tentacles in the bicycle world

The commitment of investment funds in recent years to brands in the bicycle sector is nothing new. A world that is expected to see significant growth in the coming years as a result of increased awareness of sustainability and a healthy lifestyle.

A good example of this commitment is the entry into the shareholding of the small startup Unit 1 by Ponnoc, a Dutch investment group associated with the giant bicycle holding company Pon.Bike, with no less than 3.2 million euros, which is an important boost to the company founded in 2017 by two people from Madrid, Juan García Mansilla and Francisco Abelleira, with the aim of creating products that would help the cyclist's safety in their urban commuting.

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Developed from crowfunding investments, Unit 1 created its flagship product, the Faro smart helmet. A helmet that combines an attractive design, modern technology such as the use of the MIPS rotational impact protection system and the integration of front and rear lights, flashing direction indicator lights that can be activated from a remote control on the handlebars, or the built-in accelerometers that allow its lights to change intensity as a brake light or, in case of a crash, to detect the incident and communicate our location to the contacts we want through the mobile app that accompanies this helmet.

Despite its Spanish origin, Unit 1 is today distributed around the world as a paradigm of globalization, with its headquarters in the American city of Wilmington, in the state of Delaware, but with personnel distributed in Spain, Switzerland, China, Belgium and Argentina.

An investment that will allow Unit 1 to continue developing new products such as a second model of smart helmet called Aura or a specific backpack for urban use, with the same paradigm of cyclist safety in mind.

On the other hand, for Ponnoc, this investment reaffirms its commitment to the growing urban cycling market, an activity that is becoming increasingly important in cities around the world.