WaveCel
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersWilsonville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
WaveCel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WaveCel
- Legal name
- WaveCel
- Website
- https://wavecel.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WaveCel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Protective Helmets / Helmet Safety Technology
- NAICS
- Motorcycle, Bicycle, and Parts Manufacturing (336991)
- SIC
- Motorcycles, Bicycles & Parts (3751)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Powersports Safety, Helmets & Protective Gear Manufacturing (IMACAEAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail (CRAMAHAC), Helmets & Protective Headgear Retail (Motorcycle/ATV/Snow) (CRAMANAB)
Keywords
Where WaveCel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilsonville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
WaveCel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Helmet Sales (Sport): WaveCel technology is licensed to and integrated into helmets sold by partner manufacturers Bontrager (Trek) and Anon (Burton). The company generates revenue through licensing fees and product sales through its e-commerce platform.
- Construction Safety Helmets: WaveCel-branded hard hats and safety helmets for the construction industry. The company sells these through a network of industrial distributors including Safewerks, TPR Industrial, White Cap, Colony Hardware, Verno Safety, and Safety Products Inc.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
WaveCel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WaveCel develops and licenses a proprietary collapsible cellular lining technology for helmets that absorbs and dissipates rotational crash forces. The technology is integrated into cycling helmets (via Bontrager/Trek partnership), snow sport helmets (via Anon/Burton partnership), and sold directly as branded construction safety helmets under the Hardknock brand through industrial distributors.
Product overview
WaveCel (now rebranded as Nuro) is a helmet safety technology company that develops and manufactures the WaveCel liner—a collapsible cellular material designed to absorb rotational forces during impacts. The WaveCel system is embedded in sport helmets (cycling and snow helmets) sold under co-branding partnerships with Bontrager (for cycling) and Anon (for snow sports). WaveCel also manufactures its own branded work/safety helmets. The technology works through three mechanisms: cells flex to divert impact force, cells crumple to absorb energy like a car crumple zone, and cells glide to distribute rotational forces. The company, based in Wilsonville, Oregon, was founded by surgeons and scientists with over 20 years of research in brain protection. Performance claims include up to 73% more absorption of rotational force and up to 98% less concussion risk compared to standard helmet linings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hardknock: Construction safety helmets featuring WaveCel technology, sold through Hardknock.com
- WaveCel PRO
Products and services
- Rally Mountain Bike Helmet A mountain bike helmet with WaveCel liner technology providing advanced head protection for trail riding. Sold through Bontrager/Trek retail network and WaveCel e-commerce.
- Blaze Mountain Bike Helmet A trail-tested mountain bike helmet for any trail, any time, featuring WaveCel rotational force protection.
- Starvos Cycling Helmet A versatile cycling helmet ready for any riding condition, with WaveCel brain protection technology.
- Specter Cycling Helmet A lightweight, breathable cycling helmet for all types of riding with WaveCel safety technology.
- XXX Road Bike Helmet An aerodynamic road bike helmet providing protection and performance through WaveCel technology.
- Charge Commuter / E-bike Helmet An e-bike approved commuter helmet with great fit and feel, incorporating WaveCel brain protection.
- Jet Kids & Youth Bike Helmet A kids and youth bike helmet with skater-inspired style, featuring WaveCel protection technology.
- Logan Snow Helmet A sleek and futuristic snow helmet with WaveCel technology for skiing and snowboarding.
- Merak Snow Helmet A snow helmet with WaveCel protection technology for winter sports.
- WaveCel T2+ / Hardknock Construction Safety Helmets Type II ANSI-rated hard hats and safety helmets featuring WaveCel technology for construction and industrial workers. Provides protection from front, side, and rear impacts with rotational impact mitigation. Sold under the Hardknock brand through industrial safety distributors.
- WaveCel Cellular Lining Technology (Licensed OEM Component) The proprietary 3D cellular lining technology licensed to helmet manufacturers (Bontrager/Trek, Anon/Burton) for integration into their branded helmets. Functions as an embedded protective component rather than a standalone finished helmet.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 73% more absorption of rotational force than standard helmet linings
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use WaveCel
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WaveCel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
WaveCel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- SafewerksmajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. WaveCel transitioned to distributor model in January 2024 to enhance customer reach and service in construction safety market.
- TPR IndustrialmajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. Part of WaveCel's new distributor network for construction safety products.
- White CapmajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. White Cap is a major distributor of construction supplies and safety equipment.
- Colony HardwaremajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. Hardware and safety equipment distributor.
- Verno SafetymajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. Safety equipment distributor.
- Safety Products IncmajorConstruction safety helmet distributor partner. Safety products distributor.
- Bontrager / Trek Bicycle CorporationcoreWaveCel partnered with Bontrager (a Trek Bicycle Corporation brand) to develop and bring WaveCel-equipped cycling helmets to market. This was WaveCel's first major commercial partnership, with Bontrager integrating WaveCel linings into their helmet product line including Starvos, Specter, XXX, Rally, Blaze, Charge, and Jet models.
- Anon Optics / Burton SnowboardscoreWaveCel partnered with Anon Optics (subsidiary of Burton Snowboards) to develop snow helmets with WaveCel technology. Currently offers Logan and Merak snow helmets through the Anon brand.
- Legacy Biomechanics LaboratorycoreThe Legacy Biomechanics Laboratory in Portland, Oregon is the research home of WaveCel founders Michael Bottlang and Steve Madey. The Helmet Impact Testing (HIT) Laboratory at Legacy Health conducts WaveCel's rigorous testing. This facility is integral to WaveCel's research and product development.
- Duke University / NFL HeadHealthTechminorDuke University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute partners with the NFL and Football Research, Inc. to fund translation of helmet safety concepts to products through annual HeadHealthTech challenges. WaveCel's founders have participated in similar industry-academia partnerships for helmet safety research.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WaveCel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MSA Safety: Global safety equipment manufacturer (V-Gard hard hats, respirators, fall protection). Direct peer for industrial hard hat share with strong incumbent relationships among the same US construction distributors WaveCel just signed.
- Honeywell Personal Protective Equipment: Honeywell (North/Fibre-Metal/Morning Pride) is one of the dominant US hard-hat manufacturers with entrenched industrial distribution (the same distributors WaveCel works with). Direct competitive peer in the construction and industrial head-protection category.
- 3M Safety (Personal Safety Division): 3M's Personal Safety Division sells hard hats and head protection through deep industrial distribution. Broad incumbent competitor to WaveCel's Hardknock/T2+ MAX construction safety helmets across the same US distributor channels.
Direct peers
- POC Sports: Premium Swedish safety-first helmet brand across cycling, snow, and gravity sports. Comparable to WaveCel on premium positioning, scientific safety marketing, and cross-category helmet portfolio (road, MTB, snow).
- Giro Sport Design: Bell-owned Giro sells MIPS-integrated cycling, snow, and MTB helmets through its own retail network — overlapping with WaveCel's Bontrager/Anon OEM partners. Material peer for product/pricing benchmarks in cycling helmets.
- MIPS AB: Swedish rotational impact protection technology licensor that sells slip-liner systems integrated into helmets from Giro, Bell, Specialized, POC, and many other brands. Directly comparable to WaveCel as a helmet-safety technology company whose IP is embedded in OEM partner helmets across cycling, snow, and moto.
- Smith Optics (Koroyd): Smith Optics uses Koroyd, a tubular cellular structure similar in concept to WaveCel's cells, integrated into cycling, snow, and ski helmets. Both companies pair proprietary cellular/welded core technology with branded helmet lines, pursuing similar sport and active-lifestyle end markets.
- Bontrager (Trek Bicycle Corporation): Trek's Bontrager brand is WaveCel's marquee OEM partner and also a helmet brand in its own right, competing in cycling helmets globally. Relevant as both customer and competitive reference for how WaveCel-equipped SKUs are positioned vs. standalone Bontrager helmets.
- Anon Optics (Burton Snowboards): Anon is WaveCel's snow helmet OEM partner, embedding WaveCel in Logan and Merak models. Comparable as both channel partner and indirect competitor in the snow helmet category where Anon markets safety alongside competitors like Smith, Giro, and POC.
- KASK Helmets: Italian premium helmet manufacturer (cycling, snow, mountaineering, industrial/rescue). Comparable in premium positioning, in-house design and manufacture, and multi-vertical category expansion similar to WaveCel's cycling/snow/industrial play.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WaveCel social profiles
Digital presenceWaveCel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WaveCel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
WaveCel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WaveCel 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 WaveCel
What does WaveCel do?
WaveCel develops and licenses a proprietary collapsible cellular lining technology for helmets that absorbs and dissipates rotational crash forces. The technology is integrated into cycling helmets (via Bontrager/Trek partnership), snow sport helmets (via Anon/Burton partnership), and sold directly as branded construction safety helmets under the Hardknock brand through industrial distributors.
Is WaveCel a public or private company?
WaveCel is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WaveCel founded?
WaveCel was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WaveCel based?
WaveCel is headquartered in Wilsonville, United States, in the North America region.
How does WaveCel make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Helmet Sales (Sport) is the primary driver. The others are construction Safety Helmets.
Who are WaveCel's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MSA Safety, Honeywell Personal Protective Equipment and 3M Safety (Personal Safety Division). Direct peers are POC Sports, Giro Sport Design, MIPS AB, Smith Optics (Koroyd), Bontrager (Trek Bicycle Corporation), Anon Optics (Burton Snowboards) and KASK Helmets.
Does WaveCel have an API?
No public API is recorded for WaveCel.
What industry is WaveCel in?
WaveCel's product category is Protective Helmets / Helmet Safety Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAEAN, Powersports Safety, Helmets & Protective Gear Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRAMAHAC, Bike Apparel, Helmets & Protective Gear Retail. Its NAICS code is 336991 and its SIC code is 3751.