BusinessLeipzig · Europe
Allpacka One: Leipzig Start-up Pitches Cargo Box to Investors on German TV
Leipzig start-up Allpacka is offering 10 percent of its shares for 250,000 euros on a German TV pitch show on Monday. Its foldable box turns almost any bike into a cargo bike.
By Marcel
Automatically translated from German · may contain errors · Read the original
Leipzig-based start-up Allpacka GmbH is presenting its foldable bike box Allpacka One on Monday, October 26, on the German TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen" (Germany's version of "Shark Tank"). The founders are offering investors 10 percent of the company's shares for 250,000 euros (about $280,000). According to the company's online shop, the episode airs at 8:15 p.m. on the German channel VOX and is available on the streaming platform RTL+.
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On the show, founders present their business ideas and seek capital from experienced investors. Internationally, the format is known by names such as "Shark Tank" or "Dragons' Den." In the German edition, this episode's investors are Judith Williams, Janna Ensthaler, Carsten Maschmeyer, Ralf Dümmel and Johannes Kliesch.
The Allpacka cargo box is said to turn nearly any bike into a cargo bike in seconds. It attaches to the rear rack and, when unfolded, offers 30 liters of storage space with a load capacity of up to 20 kilograms. The box is intended for groceries, packages or a crate of drinks. When it isn't needed, it can be folded flat; panniers can still be used.
Foldable cargo box for bikes
According to the manufacturer, the usable base area is 50 by 31 centimeters. The box may extend about eight centimeters beyond the rack, and it is not suitable for racks on the front wheel. The company stresses that the permitted load of the respective rack must not be exceeded.
Originally, the Allpacka box was screwed firmly to the rack. The company now says it offers a click adapter and mounting kits for various quick-release systems. According to the founders, the folding mechanism is patented in Germany.
Not every bike fits without complications: a backer from the Netherlands wrote on Kickstarter that on his e-bike, the gap between the rack and the battery was too small for the mounts. He said he would try to solve the problem with an adapter that, according to Allpacka, the box is compatible with.
Idea came on the way home from university
Allpacka GmbH is run by Jonathan Vincentz and Lukas Ludwig, both 29 years old. The start-up platform Gründerfreunde also names Daniela Weiß as a third founder. The idea came to Ludwig on his way home from university, when he struggled to carry his groceries by bike.
"We thought there must be a solution for bikes that is flexible," the founders say. They spent two years developing the box, at first in Ludwig's shared-apartment room. There, the bed had to be folded up each morning to make room to work.
According to the founders, the TV show is about more than money for them. They are looking for partners to turn their idea into a major brand for cycling fans and make everyday life on the bike easier for more people.
Series production after Kickstarter campaign
The Allpacka bike box began as a project on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. According to the founders, series production is now under way and the box is being delivered. According to Gründerfreunde, more than 1,000 boxes have already been shipped. Backers of the campaign are reportedly also set to receive a free battery-powered rear light, according to the company.
On Kickstarter, some backers complained about unclear delivery dates. The team apologized there for the late response and published a shipping schedule. Several buyers praised the box's build quality after receiving it.
Those who want to buy the Allpacka One can find it in the company's online shop. The price of the Allpacka One starts there at 169.95 euros (about $190). According to the founders, new orders will be delivered starting November 12.