This ambition does not come out of nowhere: in 2024, more than 20,000 cyclists ended up in the emergency room in the dark, with 71% of the accidents occurring from the side.[1]
For Ziemi founder Luci Santema, this is proof that there is more to gain in the field of bike safety: 'The Netherlands is the bike country of the world. From young to old, everyone rides a bike: children make their first meters here and cycle alone to football practice or school. In our neighboring countries Belgium and Denmark, we see that more and more people are cycling and the priority on bike safety is increasing: from tax incentives for cyclists to high fines for riding without lights. That awareness is also growing in the Netherlands. Therefore, we are building something bigger from the Netherlands: a brand that puts bike safety on the map, both at home and far beyond.'
More than cycling
The passion for traffic safety started with cycling, but Ziemi sees the urgency to grow towards solutions for all vulnerable road users. Douwe Korver, co-founder of Ziemi: 'Safety is about trust, the trust that you and the people around you will get home safely. Not just cyclists, but also runners, dog owners, the elderly on mobility scooters, and children on scooters. Everyone who moves outside deserves to be seen.'
Also read: Qonto starts service for digital company formation
Successful entrepreneurship
Since the first crowdfunding via CrowdAboutNow, where they raised €36,000 for the production start, Ziemi has experienced rapid growth. More than 100,000 people are now traveling more safely in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. This growth is partly due to the way Ziemi innovates: together with users.
Douwe Korver, co-founder of Ziemi: 'We do not develop Ziemi behind a desk, but together with a pool of about 2000 ambassadors who think along with us. From a user who used zip ties to prevent light theft - which inspired us to create a lockable holder - to an 82-year-old woman who dares to cycle in the dark again after ten years. Those stories show what we are doing it for: not just making products, but developing solutions together for real problems.'
Mark Laagewaard, founder of CrowdAboutNow: 'Ziemi addresses a social issue that affects millions of people, with a technology that is truly innovative and involves these people as well. That is exactly the kind of entrepreneurship we want to support.'
Also read: Administration as CEO: 7 tips
From light point to recognizable person with Biomotion technology
Instead of illuminating the road, Ziemi illuminates the moving legs of the cyclist. Thanks to this unique Biomotion technology, cyclists are not seen as anonymous light points, but as recognizable people by other road users. The human brain recognizes human movement faster and responds to it more quickly.
Investing in Ziemi is possible until March 31, 2026. For more info: crowdaboutnow.nl.
Also read: Holiday pay in May: what do you get and how does it work exactly?
