Bicycle insurance company Laka has partnered with sports activities retailer Decathlon to present a tech-driven insurance providing for patrons.
The announcement follows Laka’s latest $12million Series A funding spherical that may assist speed up development and additional construct its tech capabilities, with a give attention to introducing deeper API and e-commerce integration choices for Europe-wide partners.
According to bike theft monitor Safe, 22,593 folks reported their electrical bikes stolen final yr within the Netherlands. The partnership between Laka and Decathlon units out to beat the bike thieves by launching an anti-theft system throughout Decathlon’s new connected electrical bikes.
The anti-theft system, developed by AXA Security primarily based within the Netherlands, permits prospects to join their bike and smartphone to present them with the exact location of their bike by way of a hidden GPS chip. Bike house owners might be notified when a 3rd individual touches their bike, or when it’s shifting with out their information.
Additionally, when protected with Laka insurance, the GPS monitoring performance permits a stolen bike to be tracked and recovered by a specialist restoration company. If they will’t discover it shortly, Laka will present a full bike substitute to prospects.
Laka is now accessible on Decathlon connected e-bikes within the Netherlands and Belgium, with different European nations to observe.
Tobias Taupitz, Laka CEO, stated: “Laka are proud to present progressive tech options to industrial and retail partners, and we’re thrilled to accomplice with a number one worldwide model who’re so carefully aligned with our tech and buyer-first mannequin.
“Working with a tech-savvy partner like Decathlon not only ensures that customers have access to a market-leading and best possible price product, but together we can help customers fully enjoy their bike, and make their lives less painful by taking care of the bad stuff and deterring bike thieves.”
Eric Bastin, Decathlon city biking product supervisor, added: “Laka has carried out very nicely since its debut within the UK, shortly changing into the popular insurer for British cyclists, and now increasing throughout Europe. They have made their model cool with a contemporary digital method primarily based on transparency and proximity with their prospects.
Read extra: Bikmo Bike Shop Insurance launches to present premium safety for cycle retailers
“Working with the Laka team on this project has been a real pleasure and I’m very happy to associate them with the launch of this first connected Decathlon bike, which will hopefully make cycling a truly sustainable means of transport in our cities.”
For additional details about Laka, go to Laka BE at laka.co/be/decathlon or Laka NL at laka.co/nl/decathlon. For additional Decathlon connected e-bike info, go to right here.