The FLIT story
We founded FLIT three years ago with a vision to change the way that we move around our cities.
Our story
As a team of designers, engineers and cyclists based in Cambridge, UK, we've been inspired by the amazing cycling culture of our city. We love the way that cycling makes our cities more human and connected, and the sense of freedom it gives you.
Dave and Alex (co-founders) met in 2015 whilst studying in Beijing. Electric bikes were their favourite way of zipping between lectures, being such a fast and fun way of getting round, it sparked their interest in ebikes. Dave, as an ex Jaguar Land Rover engineer, had always dreamed of developing an electric vehicle, whilst Alex's vision was to help make our cities happier and healthier places to be. Together, they wanted to create a product that made city travel effortless, whilst fitting neatly into your lifestyle.
They relocated to the cycling capital of the UK to begin the Flit story, designing our folding electric bike from a blank sheet of paper. Over the past 3 years we've turned our pencilled sketches into a simple folding ebike: the beauty being that you can't even tell that it's electric. The fold gives you the flexibility to take it with you anywhere, whilst adding electric makes journeys effortless, fast and fun.
Meet the team
Alex Murray, Managing director
With keen interests in cycling, technology and public policy, Alex is delighted to bring his experience to a project that combines all three. Alex leads the commercial side of the business so that the engineers can focus on what they love doing best: building great products.
Dave Henderson, Technical Lead
An automotive engineer by training, Dave is working on his dream to make electric vehicles of all types a reality. Dave has overall responsibility for product design and integration. His fluent Mandarin helps us build strong relationships with partners in Taiwan and China.
David Turpin, Designer
A designer with over 20 years of experience in product development in France, Hong Kong and the UK, David makes sure that our ebike always looks its best.
Joe Sherwood, Operational Lead
A recent Cambridge engineering graduate and a keen cyclist, Joe not only shares design duties, but also leads our project management. In other words, he makes sure everything, from regulations to manufacturing setup to logistics, is done when it needs to be!
Gemma Moses, Marketing Lead
Having founded a small skincare brand herself, Gemma has lots of experience in building brand awareness. She is responsible for getting the word out about our ebike!
The story so far
2015
MAR
Dave & Alex (Co-Founders of FLIT) met whilst studying in Beijing
Dave & Alex at the Great Wall
AUG
Electric two-wheelers were booming in China at the time, and we saw a real opportunity to develop an ebike for European cities.
SEP
We wanted to design a folding ebike that could be taken on trains, undergrounds and buses: giving people lots of flexbility when travelling through the city.
2016
JUL
We relocated back to the UK, to the cycling capital Cambridge to start FLIT.
AUG
David Turpin, an Industrial Designer, joined our team - turning Dave's engineering drawings into beautiful designs.
David designed the iconic 'pop phone'!
DEC
We were awarded the Department for Transport grant to build our first prototypes.
2017
JAN
We were accepted onto the Accelerate programme at the Cambridge Judge Business School (the best in Cambridge!)
OCT
We built our first prototype, which we presented it at the Hello Tomorrow Conference in Paris!
Alex presenting our first prototype (you'll notice a huge difference to the current FLIT-16 design!)
2018
FEB
Started the Design Council's Spark Accelerator programme.
JUN
Awarded a special commendation from the Design Council!
JUL
Began working with our manufacturing partner, a specialist aluminium frame manufacturer, in Taiwan
Alex, Dave and Joe at a specialist fork factory
NOV
Our first manufacturing prototype (which we named the FLIT-16, after its 16" wheels) was made!
Our first manufacturing prototype - again pretty different to the final FLIT-16 design.
2019
MAR
Initial mechanical testing and tooling complete with our first prototype.
MAY
We built our second round of prototypes built on tooling: marengo and maya!
Meet Marengo and Maya
JUL
We launched on Kickstarter!
SEP
Our very successful launch campaign came to an end, so we extended our pre-order offer to Indiegogo
OCT
Production begins with pilot manufacturing run.
Welding in the frame factory.
NOV
Pilot manufacturing run complete: meet Blaze, hot off production tooling.
Here are all of the design changes that we've made based on test rider feedback.
2020
JAN
Mechanical frame testing complete and manufacture of frame parts begins.
Parts of the rear frame manufactured and ready for assembly
FEB
Dave in Taiwan to visit the factory and help out with the manufacture of our first batch of FLIT-16s
Dave's ride to work - not too shabby!
MAR
Batteries complete!
FLIT-16 batteries all boxed up and ready to go
Dave brings two demo bikes back to the UK for test rides.