velo.ai
Velo AI builds Copilot, an AI-powered rear-facing bike safety device with computer vision, audible alerts, and reactive lighting for individual cyclists. It also sells aggregated near-miss data to cities and transportation planners, anchored by a USDOT-funded Pittsburgh deployment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What velo.ai does
Velo AI, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based private startup founded in 2022 that builds Copilot, an AI-powered rear-facing cycling safety device positioned as a smart bike light. The hardware combines a 1080p camera, onboard computer vision models, audible alerts, and a reactive lighting system that visually signals drivers; AI/ML models classify approaching vehicles, distinguish cars from cyclists (suppressing false alerts during group rides), and predict aggressive or distracted driver behavior before close passes occur. The product ships as a single $399 unit with companion iOS and Android apps and bike-computer integration.
The business model is dual-sided. Consumer revenue comes from direct-to-consumer e-commerce hardware sales at velo.ai, currently operated as a reservation system with a $50 deposit and Fall 2025 shipping for the U.S. market. A second B2B revenue line sells aggregated near-miss cycling data to cities, metropolitan planning organizations, and road-safety advocates; this line is anchored by a $200,000 U.S. Department of Transportation Complete Streets AI Initiative (SBIR Phase I) grant awarded in 2024 and a fleet deployment with POGOH bike share, supported by research partnerships with Carnegie Mellon University's Mobility Analytics Center, the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Manufacturing is outsourced to Pittsburgh-based partner Hellbender, and the company operates with 1–10 employees.
velo.ai firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- velo.ai
- Legal name
- Velo AI, Inc.
- Website
- https://velo.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Velo AI builds Copilot, an AI-powered rear-facing bike safety device with computer vision, audible alerts, and reactive lighting for individual cyclists. It also sells aggregated near-miss data to cities and transportation planners, anchored by a USDOT-funded Pittsburgh deployment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
velo.ai industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cycling Safety Hardware
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Connected Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Infrastructure (Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety) (TLAJAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams (TLAEAFAG), Safety, Lighting & Security Hardware Manufacturing (Helmets/Lights/Locks) (IMACAOAJ)
Keywords
Where velo.ai is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
velo.ai business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Copilot Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of Copilot device at $399, with $50 deposit required to reserve and balance due at shipping. Includes 1080p video recording, AI-powered detection, reactive lighting, and audio alerts.
- Safety Analytics Data Services: Near-miss cycling data sold to cities and transportation planners to inform infrastructure investments and road safety decisions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Copilot Device - $399 USD |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
velo.ai product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Velo AI designs, manufactures, and sells Copilot, an AI-powered smart bike light that uses a rear-facing 1080p camera and proprietary computer vision models to continuously monitor traffic behind the cyclist, detect approaching vehicles, classify whether they are passing safely or behaving aggressively, and deliver audible alerts to the rider plus reactive light patterns to drivers. The device also records ride footage as evidence and aggregates anonymized near-miss data that Velo monetizes to cities and transportation planners for infrastructure investment decisions.
Product overview
Velo AI offers a single unified product called Copilot — an AI-powered smart bike safety device that combines computer vision, real-time alerting, and video recording capabilities. The product serves both individual cyclists seeking personal protection and municipal transportation planners through aggregated near-miss data collection. There are no separate modules or add-ons; the core Copilot device handles all safety monitoring, alerting, and data collection functions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Copilot: AI-powered cycling safety device with rear-facing camera, real-time vehicle detection, audible and visual alerts, and video recording capabilities. Sold as a smart bike light and guardian system.
Products and services
- Copilot AI-powered smart bike light and rear-facing safety device (94x61x46mm, 200g) priced at $399 USD with 1080p video recording, 4-hour USB-C fast-charging battery, reactive lighting system, customizable audible alerts, and smartphone companion app integration (iOS/Android). Uses computer vision and ML to detect and classify approaching vehicles in real-time, differentiate cars from other cyclists to suppress false group-ride alerts, predict dangerous driver behavior, and record ride footage as evidence. Targets urban and commuter cyclists seeking personal safety and documentation.
- Safety Analytics Data Services Aggregated near-miss cycling data and predictive urban risk analytics sold to municipal transportation departments, metropolitan planning organizations, and road safety advocates. Combines anonymized Copilot near-miss detections with crash data to identify high-risk corridors, support grant applications, and inform protected-bike-lane investment decisions. Engagement via direct outreach and the USDOT-funded Pittsburgh pilot program.
Quantifiable outcome
- Near-miss data informs infrastructure investment decisions to prioritize high-risk corridors
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use velo.ai
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
velo.ai technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
velo.ai partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Ehrlichman GroupcoreStrategic partner in USDOT Complete Streets AI Initiative project, providing strategic expertise alongside Velo's AI technology, CMU's research capabilities, and POGOH's bike share fleet deployment.
- Carnegie Mellon University Mobility Analytics CentercoreResearch partner in USDOT project, providing research prowess to analyze near-miss data and predict risk across the Pittsburgh region. Regularly meeting to extrapolate Velo's novel near-miss data.
- POGOHcoreLocal bike share partner providing fleet for Copilot sensor deployment. Bikes have been equipped with Copilot sensors and QR codes linking to FAQ pages. Deployment began April 2025 with labels indicating camera-enabled bikes.
- HellbenderminorPittsburgh-based manufacturer partnered with Velo for product engineering of Copilot device.
- City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility & Infrastructure (DOMI)minorAdvisory committee member for USDOT Complete Streets AI project, providing practitioner input on data implementations and workflows.
- Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)minorMPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) hosting practitioner meetings and providing input on SBIR data implementations and workflows.
- Bike PittsburghminorLocal cycling advocacy organization participating in advisory committee and practitioner meetings for USDOT project.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
velo.ai competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Garmin: Garmin's Varia line of rearview radar and camera products for cyclists is the closest direct competitor. Both target the same rider safety use case (detecting approaching vehicles), with Garmin benefiting from entrenched cycling-computer distribution and Velo differentiating on AI/computer vision and group-ride false-alert handling.
- Cycliq: Cycliq makes the Fly12 and Fly6 front/rear bike camera-and-light combos with video recording and incident capture — overlapping directly with Copilot's evidence-recording and cyclist-alerting value proposition in the same price range.
- Ride Vision: Ride Vision builds AI-based collision avoidance and alerting for motorcycles and powered two-wheelers using computer vision. Highly comparable technology stack and product concept, applied to a related (but motorized) vulnerable road user segment.
- LUMOS: LUMOS makes smart bike helmets with integrated lights and turn signals, and has expanded into AI-enabled safety features. Targets the same urban cyclist seeking visible and connected safety, though the form factor is a helmet rather than a bike light.
- Cosmo Connected: Cosmo Connected produces connected bike-light and helmet-mounted safety devices with crash detection and emergency alerting. A direct peer in form factor and connected safety positioning, with broader European distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Bontrager (Trek): Bontrager offers Flare RT daytime running lights, Ion headlights, and the rearview-equipped Ratchet helmet mount as part of Trek's broader accessory catalog. Comparable consumer cycling-safety hardware, but bundled inside a dominant bike brand's portfolio rather than a standalone AI device.
- Specialized Bicycle Components: Specialized offers the ANGi crash-detection helmet sensor and integrated cycling electronics. A broad incumbent in cycling safety, with brand and dealer scale Velo lacks, but a less AI-forward product set.
Others
- Strava: Strava operates the dominant cycling activity platform and through Strava Metro sells aggregated cyclist movement data to transportation agencies. Relevant on the B2B 'data-for-cities' side, but does not sell hardware or near-miss analytics.
- StreetLight Data: StreetLight Data sells transportation analytics (vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist volumes and patterns) to DOTs and MPOs — the same buyer profile Velo targets with its Safety Analytics offering. They are a competitor for city-analytics budget rather than for the Copilot device itself.
Emerging players
- Hammerhead: Hammerhead (acquired by Shimano) builds Karoo, a connected bike computer with navigation and integration into cycling safety ecosystems. Adjacent rather than directly overlapping, but increasingly a platform through which connected bike safety devices like Copilot could be distributed or compete.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
velo.ai social profiles
Digital presencevelo.ai financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
velo.ai leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
velo.ai funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
velo.ai 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 velo.ai
What does velo.ai do?
Velo AI designs, manufactures, and sells Copilot, an AI-powered smart bike light that uses a rear-facing 1080p camera and proprietary computer vision models to continuously monitor traffic behind the cyclist, detect approaching vehicles, classify whether they are passing safely or behaving aggressively, and deliver audible alerts to the rider plus reactive light patterns to drivers. The device also records ride footage as evidence and aggregates anonymized near-miss data that Velo monetizes to cities and transportation planners for infrastructure investment decisions.
Is velo.ai a public or private company?
velo.ai is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was velo.ai founded?
velo.ai was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is velo.ai based?
velo.ai is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does velo.ai make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Copilot Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are safety Analytics Data Services.
Who are velo.ai's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Garmin, Cycliq, Ride Vision, LUMOS and Cosmo Connected. Broad incumbents are Bontrager (Trek) and Specialized Bicycle Components. Others are Strava and StreetLight Data. Hammerhead is listed as an emerging player.
Does velo.ai have an API?
No public API is recorded for velo.ai.
What industry is velo.ai in?
velo.ai's product category is Cycling Safety Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAJAHAJ, Connected Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Infrastructure (Pedestrian/Cyclist Safety), with a secondary code of TLAEAFAG, Video Telematics, ADAS & AI Dashcams. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.