Bastille
Bastille Cycles designs and assembles premium folding bicycles in France, featuring patented full-size 27.5-inch wheel folding mechanisms, selling direct-to-consumer and through ~30 European partner dealers to urban commuters and multimodal travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersFranceau, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Bastille does
Bastille Cycles SAS is a French designer and manufacturer of premium folding bicycles headquartered in Paris, with frame production by an aerospace-specialized industrial partner and final assembly in the Aube region of France. Founded in 2019 by Gilles Henry — the entrepreneur behind the Babyzen Yoyo stroller — the company spent approximately a decade in R&D before opening pre-orders in October 2023 and beginning customer deliveries in mid-2024. Its core product proposition is a folding bike that uses full-size 27.5-inch wheels (versus the small wheels typical of competitors such as Brompton), enabled by three interdependent French patents covering a telescopic seat post, a folding diamond frame, and a rotary stem that together allow the bike to fold in 5–10 seconds.
The product portfolio comprises two main SKUs: Le Bastille, a non-electric model priced at €2,590 and available in 3-speed (Sturmey Archer) or 7-speed (Shimano Nexus) configurations, and Le Bastille E, an electric model at €3,190 featuring a proprietary all-in-one rear hub integrating motor, 210 Wh battery, and controller, weighing 16.7 kg with up to 40 km of assisted range. Both models share premium components — Gates belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated dynamo lighting, carbon fork — and a certified refurbished line was introduced in 2025 at €1,790–€2,590. Accessories include a proprietary luggage rack (€99), kickstand (€39), and a co-branded lineup of bags and waterproof apparel.
Bastille sells direct-to-consumer via its own e-commerce site (delivering free to France, Corsica, Monaco, Netherlands, and Belgium) and through a partner dealer network of roughly 30 European stores concentrated in France and London. Pricing is supplemented by 3x/4x/10x installment options via Alma, and bikes qualify for regional folding-bike subsidies. The primary customer segments are urban commuters facing apartment storage and theft constraints, multimodal travelers combining trains with cycling, and active lifestyle buyers who want full-size-bike ride quality in a portable format. The company closed a ~€10.5M Series A in October 2023 from Ankaa Ventures and Eutopia VC, has no disclosed parent company or M&A history, and operates with 11–50 employees.
Bastille firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bastille
- Legal name
- BASTILLE CYCLES
- Website
- https://bastillecycles.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bastille Cycles designs and assembles premium folding bicycles in France, featuring patented full-size 27.5-inch wheel folding mechanisms, selling direct-to-consumer and through ~30 European partner dealers to urban commuters and multimodal travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bastille industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Folding Bicycles
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing (IMACAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- E-Bikes & Electric Bicycles (CRACASAA), Bike Accessories Retail (Lights, Locks, Racks, Bags) (CRAMAHAD), Used & Refurbished Bike Retail (CRAMAHAK)
Keywords
Where Bastille is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Franceau
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Bastille business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- New Bicycle Sales: Bastille generates primary revenue from direct sales of new folding bicycles, both muscular and electric versions, at fixed retail prices through its e-commerce platform and dealer network.
- Refurbished Bicycle Sales: The company sells certified refurbished bikes (display models, photo shoot bikes, trade show bikes that have never been ridden on road) at discounted prices through its website, offering savings of 600-800 euros versus new models.
- Accessories: Bastille sells complementary accessories including bike bags (73-109 euros), waterproof jackets (99-119 euros), a dedicated luggage rack (99 euros), kickstand (39 euros), and tote bags (100 euros), designed specifically for the folding mechanism.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Le Bastille muscular folding bike - 2,590€ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Le Bastille E electric folding bike - 3,190€ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Refurbished Bastille E - 2,590€ (normally 3,190€) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Refurbished Bastille muscular - from 1,790€ (normally 2,590€) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories (various prices) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Bastille product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bastille designs, manufactures, and sells premium folding bicycles for urban use, distinguished by their large 27.5-inch wheels (versus traditional small-wheel folders) and a patented three-gesture folding mechanism that collapses the bike in under 10 seconds. The portfolio includes a muscular (non-electric) model (Le Bastille) and an electric model (Bastille E) with an all-in-one hub motor, plus certified refurbished versions and a small proprietary accessory line (luggage rack, kickstand).
Product overview
Bastille Cycles manufactures premium folding bikes with large 27.5-inch wheels — a differentiated approach versus traditional small-wheel folders. The product portfolio centers on two main models: Le Bastille (muscular/non-electric) available in 3-speed or 7-speed configurations, and Le Bastille E (electric with integrated rear-hub motor and battery). Both models fold in 5-10 seconds and feature high-end components (hydraulic disc brakes, Gates belt drive, carbon fork, integrated lighting). Certified refurbished versions of both models are offered at reduced prices. The accessory lineup includes a proprietary luggage rack, kickstand, and branded apparel/bags from RAINS and Basil. The company sells direct online and through a network of partner retailers across Europe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Le Bastille (Muscular Folding Bike) Non-electric folding bike with large 27.5-inch wheels, available in 3-speed (Sturmey Archer) or 7-speed (Shimano Nexus) configurations. Weighs 15.2-15.7 kg. Features Gates belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, carbon fork, and integrated dynamo lighting. Sold at 2,590 euros.
- Bastille E (Electric Folding Bike) Electric folding bike with large 27.5-inch wheels, integrated motor/battery/controller in the rear hub, progressive assistance (ECO or SPEED), 16.7 kg weight, up to 40 km range. No handlebar display. Features belt drive, hydraulic disc brakes, integrated lighting. Sold at 3,190 euros.
Quantifiable outcome
- Folding time: 5-10 seconds
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bastille
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bastille technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Bastille partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- SNCFflagshipPartnership with French national railway company for collaborative travel content. Joint marketing featuring train + Bastille cycling journeys through regions like Provence, showcasing multimodal travel possibilities.
- Julien Leyreloup / Cycles VictoirecorePartnership with Julien Leyreloup, creator of Cycles Victoire, as cycle industry expert advisor. Leyreloup brings extensive experience in cycling industry to help design and develop the best possible folding bicycle.
- Aerospace Industrial Frame PartnercoreFrame manufacturing partner specialized in aerospace industry, providing high-quality precision manufacturing for Bastille's patented frame design.
- Historic Mobility Company (Aube)coreAssembly partner located in Aube region, a historic player in the mobility industry that assembles Bastille bicycles using quality components.
- La TraceminorPartnership with La Trace (cycling event/organization) for spring escape cycling trip in Normandy, featuring group rides and bike testing in various conditions.
- Mathieu ForgetflagshipArtist collaboration with Mathieu Forget (dancer, photographer, performer) for electric bike launch campaign, celebrating movement and lightness with surrealist and poetic content.
- Transition VelominorCycle industry media outlet and retailer that tested and reviewed the Bastille, providing editorial coverage and selling through their platform.
- Weelz!minorFrench cycling media outlet (Ouest-France group) that tested and reviewed the Bastille, providing editorial coverage and product showcase.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Bastille competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- VanMoof: Dutch premium e-bike brand (founded 2009, now under McLaren Applied ownership) targeting urban commuters. Comparable on premium European e-bike positioning, design-led brand narrative, and DTC distribution, though focused on non-folding urban bikes rather than foldable form factor.
- Cowboy: Belgian premium connected e-bike brand targeting urban commuters. Comparable on premium European positioning, DTC-led distribution, design-forward narrative, and Series C-stage venture backing, though focused on non-folding connected e-bikes.
- Angell: French premium connected e-bike brand founded by Marc Simoncini, targeting urban Parisian commuters. Directly comparable on French origin, premium positioning, design-forward aesthetic, DTC distribution, and Series-stage venture backing in the same urban e-bike category.
- Riese & Müller: German premium e-bike manufacturer focused on urban and touring segments with full-suspension and folding variants (Tinker, Carrie). Comparable on premium European e-bike positioning, Made-in-Germany quality narrative, and high-end component choices, though broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- Brompton Bicycle: The dominant premium folding bike brand, founded in 1975 in London. Sells foldable bicycles through a global dealer network, with comparable price points (T-Line and Electric lines in the €3,000-€4,500 range). Bastille is explicitly positioned as a French alternative to Brompton with full-size 27.5-inch wheels.
- Gocycle: UK-based premium folding e-bike brand founded by a former McLaren engineer. Directly comparable on premium e-folding positioning, design-forward aesthetic, integrated battery/motor engineering, and urban commuter target market with similar price points (€3,000-€4,500).
- Dahon: The world's largest folding bicycle manufacturer by volume, founded in 1982 in California with production in Asia. Directly competes in the folding bike category with broad model coverage from entry-level to premium, overlapping customer segments, and global dealer distribution.
- Tern Bicycles: Taiwan-based premium folding and urban utility bike brand owned by Mobility Holdings. Competes in the same high-end folding bike segment with similar urban commuter focus, BionX and Bosch e-bike variants, and premium price positioning. Targets comparable urban professional buyers.
Broad incumbents
- Specialized Bicycle Components: Global premium bicycle manufacturer with broad urban and electric bike lines (Turbo series) including the compact Vado model. Overlaps in premium urban e-bike category with comparable Bosch-equipped options at similar price points, though not focused on folding.
- Decathlon (Btwin): Global sporting goods retailer with its own bicycle brand Btwin/Tilt, including folding bike models (Tilt 500/900) priced 4-8x below Bastille. Overlaps in the folding bike category and urban cycling customer base but operates mass-market positioning across thousands of stores versus Bastille's premium DTC focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bastille social profiles
Digital presenceBastille financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bastille leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Bastille funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bastille M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bastille
What does Bastille do?
Bastille designs, manufactures, and sells premium folding bicycles for urban use, distinguished by their large 27.5-inch wheels (versus traditional small-wheel folders) and a patented three-gesture folding mechanism that collapses the bike in under 10 seconds. The portfolio includes a muscular (non-electric) model (Le Bastille) and an electric model (Bastille E) with an all-in-one hub motor, plus certified refurbished versions and a small proprietary accessory line (luggage rack, kickstand).
Is Bastille a public or private company?
Bastille is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Bastille founded?
Bastille was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bastille based?
Bastille is headquartered in Franceau, France, in the Europe region.
How does Bastille make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. New Bicycle Sales are the primary driver. The others are refurbished Bicycle Sales and accessories.
Who are Bastille's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are VanMoof, Cowboy, Angell and Riese & Müller. Direct peers are Brompton Bicycle, Gocycle, Dahon and Tern Bicycles. Broad incumbents are Specialized Bicycle Components and Decathlon (Btwin).
Does Bastille have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bastille.
What industry is Bastille in?
Bastille's product category is Folding Bicycles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAOAA, E-bikes & E-cargo Bikes Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRACASAA, E-Bikes & Electric Bicycles. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.