What Ribcap does

Ribcap, operated by Belgian entity Glomarket BV, designs and sells fashionable medical protective headgear that disguises clinical-grade protection as everyday hats and caps. The product line comprises approximately 15 soft-shell helmet SKUs priced between $139 and $189, plus accessories ranging from $20 to $59, built on a proprietary three-layer construction: a Fuegosoft comfort base layer, a shock-absorbing foam middle layer, and a fashion-grade outer fabric. The company targets individuals with neurological and balance-related conditions — including epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, and balance disorders — as well as seniors and children with special needs.

The products are classified as Class 1 medical devices under EU MDR, BSI-tested, CE-certified, and HSA/FSA-eligible in the United States. The catalog spans adult active-use helmets, pediatric models, and specialized sleep-protection designs such as the Kate SleepSafe Cap. A 2019 Reva Award for Innovation recognized the company's category-defining positioning as the world's first fashionable medical headgear.

Ribcap operates a dual-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via ribcap.com (with multiple regional storefronts) and a B2B partner program with 50+ distributors across 9+ countries. North American fulfillment is supported by a US warehouse in Lakewood, NJ. The company is bootstrapped with a team of 1–10 employees and has not disclosed external funding rounds or revenue figures.

Name

Ribcap

Legal name

Glomarket BV

Website

https://ribcap.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ribcap (Glomarket BV, Belgium) designs and sells fashionable medical protective headgear — soft-shell helmets with three-layer construction priced $139–$189 — for people with epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's, balance disorders, seniors, and children with special needs, distributed via DTC e-commerce and 50+ B2B partners across 9+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Protective Headgear

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

akta.pro primary industry

Hats, Caps & Headwear (CRAAAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Powersports Safety, Helmets & Protective Gear Manufacturing (IMACAEAN)

Keywords

• Medical protective helmets
• Soft shell headgear
• Epilepsy head protection
• Fall protection headwear
• Medical device helmets

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamme

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Ribcap generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer sales of protective medical helmets and accessories via their e-commerce platform. Products include helmets priced at $189-$139, chin straps at $20, and Hot & Cold Water Wrap at $59. One-time purchase model for hardware with no subscription requirement.
2. B2B Wholesale/Distribution: B2B sales to medical distributors, care shops, resellers, and orthopedists through dedicated partner program. Partners order via B2B webshop with no minimum order quantities, creating recurring wholesale revenue from 50+ distribution partners globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ribcap designs, manufactures, and sells fashionable medical-grade protective helmets that look like everyday hats (baseball caps, beanies, bucket hats, etc.). Their helmets feature soft-shell shock-absorbing foam technology with 360-degree head protection and are certified as Class 1 medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR). They target individuals with medical conditions such as epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, balance disorders, and people at risk of falls from head injuries.

Product overview

Ribcap is a Belgian company offering fashionable medical-grade protective headgear designed to look like everyday hats while providing 360-degree head protection. The product line consists of soft-shell helmets combining shock-absorbing micro-perforated foam padding with stylish fabric exteriors (cotton, wool, or other materials). The portfolio includes: bucket hats (Billie), baseball caps (adult and kids), winter helmets (Lenny, Iggy), summer helmets (Lenny Summer), all-season helmets (Hardy), back-of-head coverage helmets (Bowie), sleep helmets (Kate), and various kids models (Freddie, Dylan, Bjork, Jackson). Each helmet features fuegosoft moisture-wicking base layer technology and breathable foam. The company also offers replacement chin straps in T-shaped, Y-shaped, and I-shaped configurations, a stain remover cleaning product, and a hot/cold water wrap for pain relief. Products are targeted at individuals with epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, balance disorders, or anyone at risk of falls.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ribcap Baseball Cap Style Helmet A medical-grade protective helmet designed to resemble a baseball cap, providing 360-degree shock-absorbing head protection for individuals at risk of head injuries from seizures, falls, or other medical conditions.
• Ribcap Beanie Style Helmet A protective helmet designed to look like a knitted beanie, intended for daily wear in cooler weather. Provides certified medical-grade head protection for users with epilepsy, autism, balance disorders, or other fall-risk conditions.
• Ribcap Bucket Hat Style Helmet A medical-grade protective helmet styled as a bucket hat, offering 360-degree head protection with a casual everyday appearance for users at risk of head injury.
• Ribcap Soft Bumper Helmet A padded soft-shell protective helmet designed for users requiring head impact protection. Combines medical-grade protection with discreet appearance for daily wear.
• Ribcap Children's Protective Helmet A range of Ribcap helmets sized for children with conditions such as epilepsy, autism, or cerebral palsy. Provides medical-grade head protection in styles designed to encourage comfortable daily wear.
• Ribcap Replacement Inner Liners and Accessories Replacement padding, liners, and fuegosoft base layers for Ribcap helmets, allowing users to refresh and maintain their protective helmets.
• Ribcap B2B Partner Program A separate B2B webshop and partner program for healthcare distributors, hospitals, therapy centers, and resellers. Provides wholesale pricing, marketing materials, and dedicated account management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-3 years product lifespan with moderate to daily use
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gel Ovations EuropecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean distributor partnership. CEO James Payne states: 'Our collaboration with Ribcap began many years ago and we have always found the team professional, approachable, and a pleasure to work with. We always have regular communication that is helpful and informative and any issues that are far and few between are dealt with immediately.'
• Dejay MedicalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian distributor partnership. CEO Tim Mason states: 'Ribcap is not only an innovative product, it is a game changer for our customers. An unobtrusively protective yet fashionable statement for the wearer, with many designs and colours to suit just about all ages, tastes and climates. We are very proud to represent Ribcap here in Australia.'
• Posso GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss distributor partnership. CEO Fabian Neubauer states: 'The medical helmets are fashionable and so far different from the old stigmatized helmet. The Ribcap team also works very efficiently and quickly. It's a pleasure to work together with Ribcap and to represent Ribcap here in Switzerland.'
• Hospitals, Institutes, and Healthcare OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRibcap cooperates with various hospitals, institutes and healthcare organizations. Products are recommended by healthcare professionals and endorsed by organizations including recognition from NHS UK. Clinical testimonials from Dr. Amy Hester and Dr. Patricia Ann Quigley support product credibility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Stryker: Large US medical-device company with product lines spanning patient handling, surgical equipment, and rehabilitation. Comparable as a regulated medical-device manufacturer with established hospital and rehabilitation-channel relationships that could be relevant to Ribcap's institutional expansion ambitions.
• KASK: Italian manufacturer of premium protective helmets primarily for cycling, skiing, mountaineering, and industrial safety. Comparable as a helmet manufacturer with proprietary foam/liner technology and a focus on style-forward design, though KASK operates in sports/safety rather than the medical niche Ribcap targets.
• G-Form: US-based protective gear brand using proprietary RPT (Reactive Protection Technology) foam that hardens on impact, used in sports body armor and soft-shell helmets. Comparable technology adjacency (flexible foam that hardens on impact) and similar focus on soft, comfortable, lifestyle-friendly protective equipment.
• MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System): Swedish brain-protection technology company whose low-friction layer is licensed into helmets across cycling, motor sports, snow sports, and industrial safety. Comparable as a brain-safety technology platform embedded in third-party helmets, and a potential acquirer/partner for medical-protective-headgear licensing.
• 3M Safety: Diversified industrial-safety division of 3M, producing hard hats, hearing protection, fall protection, and a range of PPE for industrial and healthcare markets. Comparable as an incumbent PPE brand with regulatory certifications, established healthcare distribution, and the financial capacity to enter adjacent medical-wearable categories.

Emerging players

• Hövding: Swedish company that developed an airbag-style cycling helmet worn as a collar. Comparable to Ribcap as a fashion-first alternative to traditional hard-shell helmets using a soft, wearable form factor, though Hövding targets urban cyclists rather than medical populations.
• Forcefield Body Armour: UK-based manufacturer of soft, flexible impact-protective gear using proprietary foam systems for sports, motorcycle, and tactical markets. Comparable technology stack (soft-shell foam impact protection) and similar target on making protective gear wearable and unobtrusive.

Others

• POC Sports: Swedish helmet and protective gear brand built around whole-head safety systems and MIPS-style impact protection technology. POC's integration of medical-grade safety research with fashionable, lifestyle-oriented design parallels Ribcap's positioning, though POC serves sports (skiing, cycling) rather than medical indications.

Regional players

• Hatchett Performance (Rehab & Mobility): Rehabilitation and mobility-equipment distributors in the US and UK that bundle protective headgear, seating, and positioning products for special-needs populations. Comparable as B2B channel partners that bundle medical protective headgear alongside adjacent assistive devices.

Direct peers

• Danmar Products: US-based manufacturer of protective headgear for individuals with special needs, including helmets for seizure protection, cerebral palsy, and post-surgical use. Most direct competitor to Ribcap in the medical protective headgear category, serving overlapping patient populations through similar B2B distribution channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ribcap
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ribcap-protection
• Instagraminstagram.com/ribcap
• Xx.com/ribcap_official

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ribcap