MARKET SIZE AND OPPORTUNITY

• In 2021, the bike helmet market size was valued at $980.85 million, with an expected CAGR of 5.67% within the next five years as more urban centers are beginning to invest in bike sharing and micro-mobility programs.

• As of currently, about 47 million people in the US ride a bike, but only about 872,000 people ride a bike to work and/or school everyday.

• Bicycle-related head injuries are the most severe and can endure throughout a person’s lifetime. For instance, It is estimated that for every $10 bike helmet worn, $30 can be saved in direct health costs related to injury in the US.

• Together this market size represents a sizable opportunity for Zephyr to introduce a new solution, especially knowing that many market forecasts expect an increase in the number of people who will begin choosing to ride a bike as their primary mode of transportation.
  

TARGET CUSTOMER SEGMENT

Our customer segment consists of common commuters, urban working professionals and students between the ages of 18-35 that have to get from one place to another on a day to day basis, whether that is work or school. We are specifically targeting commuters who take many of their trips on a bike, that being a bike they own or one provided for public use through a bike sharing program. These bike riders specifically are people that are constantly on the go, taking at least two 10-30 minute trips on a bike in any given week on average, and therefore must wear their bike helmet often enough that it's something they carry with them from place to place. But we know that for a helmet to be worn almost every day that takes such an integral role in our commute and transient lives, it has to be comfortable and convenient to travel with, and this is where we hope to position ourselves–the comfortable and compact helmet fit for everyday use.

Design Problems and Product Considerations

Existing helmets are sturdy and durable, but many are poorly designed to fit the needs of everyday users to rely on helmets on the go, whether that’s traveling from home or via a public bike. Here is a list of existing problems we know exist. While this list is not exhaustive, we hope to anchor on improving and/or addressing a few of these factors to make bike commuting more effortless:

• Helmets are often bulky and heavy, difficult to store in a backpack or handbag, but also a hassle to carry around

• Helmets have to be brought with the user and cannot be left with the bike, otherwise it will be at risk of being stolen

• Helmets can be uncomfortable because finding the right fit can be hard

• Helmets that are lightweight and compact are still difficult to travel with and do not give people a sense of perceived safety and thus are not popular in the market

• Helmets have straps that can be confining and uncomfortable for people to put on or keep on for longer periods of time

• Helmets trap heat and sweat around a person's head, and existing airflow features are insufficient for improving this

• Many users do not know how to properly place a helmet on their head or maintain the health of their helmet

• Many bike helmets do not act as functional aids for riders to indicate their presence to other people on the road

• Existing bike helmets are not designed with style in mind, and most are geared towards men

VALUE PROPOSITION

Our solution brings comfort, portability, and convenience to riders on the go, lifting the weight off their shoulders through a lightweight and compact design that makes traveling place to place hassle free while keeping them safe everyday.