GeoOrbital is an electric wheel system fitted to existing bicycles by the American company GeoOrbital, Inc.[2] It launched its successful crowdfunding campaign in 2016.[3][4][5][6] A GeoOrbital powered bike was featured during TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2016 at Brooklyn, NY in May 2016.[2][7] In May 2017 it launched a Crowdfunding Reg CF campaign on the site StartEngine [8]
GeoOrbital was founded by Michael Burtov in 2014. Burtov conceived the concept while watching a film called Tron, thinking that a lot of space was wasted inside the wheels - leading him to create an electric wheel system.[9] He designed a wheel that can take the place of the existing wheel on nearly any bike, with two size options at launch.[10][11] The motor and battery were able to produce a top speed of 20 mph and battery lasts for 12 miles, extendable to 30 miles with pedaling.[12][13] In 2016, the company debuted on Kickstarter,[14] reaching its fundraising goal of 75,000 within 78 minutes.[2] With the fundraising campaign, the company drew the attention of media and was covered in TechCrunch, Irish Times,[15] Huffington Post,[16] The Verge,[17] Gadgette[18] and others.[19]
The company also successfully raised a funding around of $150,000 from a group of independent angel investors.[2]
The successful kickstarter campaign in May and June 2016 generated $1,261,222 in pledges pre purchasing around 1600 wheels. [14]
