Puma Capital Group

Puma Growth Partners invests a further £4.75m in specialist cycle insurer, Bikmo

Puma Growth Partners has invested a further £4.75 million into Bikmo, the specialist cycle insurer, This builds on the original £3.4m Series A extension round that Puma led in October 2023.

This latest round of funding will be used to drive growth in Europe across direct sales, partners, leasing and commercial channels, and help to strengthen its longstanding partner network. 

With e-bikes and bike leasing fuelling European market expansion, growth is projected to reach a compound annual growth rate of 8.6% by 2030.

Alongside the funding round, Bikmo has announced the appointment of Steven Mendel, former CEO and co-founder of ManyPets, as Chair (subject to FCA approval), and Ben Thompson, ex-Director of Global Business Development at Komoot, as Chief Growth Officer. The company has also appointed Gemma Germains, formerly Canyon’s Global Head of Digital Experience Design, as Chief Experience Officer.

Bikmo continues to strengthen its position in the cycling ecosystem with several new key partnerships. The company has recently announced major collaborations with Cycling UK, the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and global cycling brand Trek. These partnerships will help to further promote Bikmo’s insurance products and support the company’s mission.

With fresh funding, powerhouse hires and solid industry partnerships, Bikmo is primed for significant growth in the year ahead.

David George, CEO at Bikmo shared his enthusiasm for the recent developments:

 “This latest investment is a massive boost for our mission to protect the world’s riders and I’m delighted Puma Growth Partners have seen how bright the future is with Bikmo. With fresh global experience in our new leadership talent and strong partnerships with the likes of Cycling UK, the ACT and Trek, we’re setting ourselves up to deliver even more value to cyclists and bike businesses, making insurance simpler and more accessible for everyone who loves to ride.”

Louise Towers, CFO at Bikmo added:

“This significant second round of investment from Puma is a resounding endorsement of our business model, the strength of our pipeline and our team’s ability to deliver. The additional capital will enable us to further accelerate our growth across Europe and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

Steven Mendel, Bikmo Chair (subject to FCA approval) added:

“I’m delighted to join Bikmo as Chair (subject to FCA approval) and contribute to its exciting journey in the insurtech space. Bikmo has already achieved strong growth across the UK and Europe, securing important partnerships as it works to become a leader in cycle insurance. Looking ahead, I’m eager to help drive further expansion and support the development of a world-class leadership team. With my experience in scaling insurance companies, I’m excited to work closely with the talented Bikmo team to unlock greater opportunities for growth and innovation.”

Kelvin Reader, Investment Director at Puma Growth Partners said:

“Since our initial investment in Bikmo, it has been a pleasure working with David, Louise and the team to support their growth. They have made significant steps, from securing notable partnerships to scaling in key territories, while staying true to their mission of protecting riders. The new strategic hires from Canyon Bicycles, Komoot and ManyPets will be pivotal for Bikmo’s growth and we look forward to their impact. We are excited to back the business again in this investment round to accelerate their growth across Europe, secure new partnerships and expand their commercial insurance offerings.”

“It also marks our ongoing commitment to support companies based in the North West. Having set up a Manchester office to expand our presence in the North headed up by Investment Director, Mark Lyons, we continue to be excited by the quality of the scale-up businesses developing within the region.”