- Unicorner
- Posts
- Upway
Upway
Affordable, refurbished e-bikes


The Unicorner redesign is here.
It’s been quite a month: NY Tech Week, YC AI Startup School… announcements seem to follow us!
But in our opinion, our most exciting announcement is that after nearly five years of weekly Unicorner covers, we’ve completely redesigned our Startup of the Week emails. We’re super excited to finally share this with you today.
We’ve been working closely with Ricky and his team at Pixels for the past few months to keep the same great Unicorner content with a fresh, new look. Let us know what you think!
Like the new design? |




Upway sells high-quality refurbished e-bikes at affordable prices, akin to a Carvana for e-bikes. Each e-bike goes through a thorough, 50-point inspection, followed by mechanical and electrical repairs from professional mechanics. Upway has a strong presence in Western Europe and recently expanded to the U.S.
Check it out: upway.co


Upway sources its e-bikes from brands, manufacturers, shops, and directly from consumers, and sells the refurbished e-bikes online at a discounted price. Upway operates physical locations called UpCenters, which function both as refurbishing centers and showrooms that offer test rides and purchasing. Consumers can also trade in their e-bikes at an UpCenter or at partnering locations.

Raised over $60 million to date, with $30 million coming from its latest Series B round led by Korelya Capital
Other investors include Sequoia Capital, Exor Venture, and Transition VC
Partnered with over 5,000 retailers across France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and the U.S.
Launched two U.S.-based UpCenter locations in New York City in 2023 and in Los Angeles earlier this year
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot based on 13,000+ reviews



E-bikes are a practical alternative to cars and other modes of transportation; they can be more affordable, more sustainable for the environment, and faster for travel. For many, they are also a hobby, with enthusiasts forming groups to ride together and share their passion. Despite these benefits, the price tag on a new e-bike is a speed bump for many would-be customers.
With Upway, this is no longer a daunting hurdle. Its refurbished e-bikes can save consumers anywhere from 20%-60% off a model's price when new, according to Upway. Additionally, with its trade-in program, members of the e-bike community can continue pursuing their passion affordably by trading in their used e-bike for another with an even steeper discount.
There is often a negative connotation associated with refurbished products. Upway combats this by ensuring the quality of its e-bikes with a rigorous 50-point inspection, where any and all possible mechanical and electrical repairs are identified. A team of professional mechanics performs these repairs, prolonging the lives of the e-bikes. To further promote trust among consumers, Upway offers a one-year warranty with all of its orders.

Upway’s homepage with refurbished e-bikes listed for sale.
Upway also encourages sustainability. E-bikes are better for the environment than cars and most other forms of transportation. And since all e-bike carbon emissions are produced during their manufacturing, by extending the lives of e-bikes, Upway decreases the industry’s carbon footprint.
Upway aids local bike shops as well with its trade-in program. By partnering with Upway, local shops can reach a wider market and thus see more traffic. The trade-in program shifts the process of refurbishing bikes to Upway, letting shops focus on other areas of their businesses. Upway has detailed several success stories in which its trade-in program was able to boost sales and strengthen customer relationships across multiple bike shops, as their partnerships with Upway allowed them to be introduced to new customers.
Upway’s positive sustainability impact and its efforts to aid small businesses are reflections of Upway’s mission to make the world a better place while still offering quality products to its consumers. According to Upway, the U.S. sells 1.3 million new e-bikes each year and is second only to Germany across Europe and North America. With its recent arrival in the U.S., the second-highest selling market by volume, we expect Upway’s growth to continue accelerating.

Upway launches online marketplace for refurbished e-bikes in US [TechCrunch]
How Upway is building a global market for certified e-bikes [Zag Daily]
The Story of Upway and Their Plan to Help You Sell or Buy a Used Electric Bike [Ride Review]
Upway ebikes open in US, offers deep discounts on refurb, overstock premium bikes [electrek]

Is this week's company a future unicorn? |