Human Impulse

What Human Impulse does

Human Impulse is a Swiss non-commercial personal expedition project founded by Louis Margot, based in Colombier, Vaud, and structured around a solo human-powered circumnavigation of the world combining bicycle travel and ocean rowing across five stages covering 40,000+ km. The project departed Morges on September 3, 2023, and is currently progressing through Stage 5 (cycling from Indonesia back to Switzerland); the Pacific Ocean rowing segment concluded on October 16, 2025, after 250+ days at sea, making Louis Margot the 17th person in history and first Swiss to row solo and unsupported across the Pacific. The overarching mission is to inspire youth to pursue their ambitions while raising visibility for children's fundamental rights, executed in partnership with Terre des Hommes and The Little Prince Swiss Foundation.

The project's technical surface is physical rather than digital: a wooden bicycle for land stages, a custom multi-purpose ocean rowing boat named 'Badadia' (previously 'Billy No Mates'), and onboard hardware comprising a GPS tracker, AIS maritime navigation, and Starlink satellite communications for live location sharing and at-sea connectivity. Supporting digital offerings include a website-hosted real-time GPS tracking service, a podcast series distributed via YouTube/Spotify/Apple Podcasts, and content publishing across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook, building a community of over 100,000 followers. Weather routing for ocean segments is provided by specialist Christian Dumard.

The business model is non-commercial by design, operating through three revenue streams: corporate sponsorships (starting at 1,000 CHF, with stage-specific and element-level packages — e.g., helmet or oars — and in-kind contributions accepted), merchandise sales (sport T-shirts at 29 CHF, limited-edition 'Final Ride Home' T-shirt at 39.90 CHF, rowing oars at 750 CHF), and individual donations via a name-on-flag program. ISA Bodywear is the project's main sponsor and sustainability partner, with an additional cohort of Stage 4 and Stage 5 corporate sponsors including ETF, Maison Pfirter, Gonvers Paysagistes, CR Conseils, Loretta 1888, and FPS Concept. The project has 5 employees, no disclosed external investors, and is pursuing a crowdfunding-financed, sponsorship-supported expedition rather than equity-backed growth.

Name

Human Impulse

Legal name

Human Impulse

Website

https://humanimpulse.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Human Impulse is a Swiss non-commercial expedition project founded by Louis Margot that is executing a solo human-powered circumnavigation of the world via cycling and ocean rowing across 40,000+ km. It raises revenue through corporate sponsorships, branded merchandise, and donations while supporting Terre des Hommes' children's rights mission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Endurance Sports Adventure

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Endurance Stage & Destination Challenges (Multi-day Tours, Charity Challenges) (MPAKAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)

Keywords

• Human-powered expedition
• Endurance sports adventure
• Ocean rowing project
• Circumnavigation challenge
• Adventure sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombier

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorship: Companies can sponsor the adventure starting at 1000 CHF, with options to sponsor specific stages or equipment elements (helmet, oars). Sponsorship packages available for partial or complete adventure support.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts (29 CHF and 39.90 CHF), rowing oars (750 CHF), and limited edition items to support the adventure.
3. Direct Donations: Supporters can make donations and have their names inscribed on the flag that crosses oceans and continents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Human Impulse is a solo human-powered circumnavigation project led by Swiss athlete Louis Margot, undertaking a roughly 40,000+ km five-stage journey combining overland cycling and ocean rowing. The project's deliverables to the public include a live GPS tracking service, a documentary podcast series, corporate sponsorship packages starting at 1,000 CHF, and branded merchandise (limited-edition T-shirts, rowing oars, sport T-shirts), supplemented by charitable donations supporting the Terre des Hommes 'Stars for Every Child' campaign.

Product overview

Human Impulse is a solo human-powered world circumnavigation project undertaken by Louis Margot, combining cycling and ocean rowing across five stages. The offering consists of a core real-time GPS tracking service that lets the public follow the expedition live, supplemented by a documentary podcast series distributed on major platforms. Revenue-generating offerings include branded merchandise (limited-edition T-shirts, rowing oars, sport T-shirts) and corporate sponsorship packages starting at 1,000 CHF. Individual supporters can also contribute through a name-on-flag donation program. The project is presented as a charitable initiative supporting Terre des Hommes, a child welfare organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GPS Tracker Real-time GPS tracking service embedded on the Human Impulse website that allows the public to follow Louis Margot's live location throughout his human-powered circumnavigation across cycling and rowing stages.
• Human Impulse Podcast Documentary podcast series covering Louis Margot's journey, with episodes on ocean rowing techniques, Pacific crossing experiences, and conversations with fellow ocean rowers, distributed on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcast.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Corporate sponsorship tiers starting at 1,000 CHF allowing companies to sponsor the Human Impulse adventure per stage, for specific items (e.g., helmet, oars), or through in-kind service contributions.
• Support / Donations Program Individual donor program allowing supporters to contribute directly to financing the adventure in exchange for inscription of their name on the flag that crosses oceans and continents.
• Final Ride Home T-shirt Limited-edition commemorative T-shirt sold for 39.90 CHF to raise funds for the final cycling stage of the world tour, with 100% of profits directed to logistics, food, accommodation, equipment transport, and administrative costs of the return journey from Indonesia to Switzerland.
• Human Impulse Rowing Oar Branded rowing oar merchandise sold to supporters of the Human Impulse project, priced at 750 CHF per oar.
• Human Impulse Sport T-shirt Branded sport T-shirt sold through ISA Bodywear at 29 CHF, designed for active use and carrying the Human Impulse identity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 17th person in history to row solo and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• ISA BodywearcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2023Main sponsor and sustainability partner. Swiss manufacturer of sustainable textiles. Louis Margot serves as their sustainability ambassador throughout the journey, embodying shared values of environmental responsibility and human endurance.
• Terre des HommescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial charitable partner. Human Impulse supports Terre des Hommes' mission for children's fundamental rights. Participation in 'Stars for Every Child' campaign supporting children worldwide.
• FPS ConceptminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurrent Stage 5 sponsor providing support for the final cycling stage returning to Switzerland.
• ETFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStage 4 sponsor supporting the Pacific crossing stage of the journey.
• Maison PfirterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStage 4 sponsor supporting the Pacific crossing stage.
• Gonvers PaysagistesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStage 4 sponsor.
• CR ConseilsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStage 4 sponsor.
• Loretta 1888minorGTM or Marketing PartnerStage 4 sponsor.
• Forward Rowing Club MorgescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLouis Margot's home rowing club where he trained for 17+ years. Silver medal achievement together at Swiss Rowing Championships 2022.
• World RowingmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational rowing federation. President Jean-Christophe Rolland provides ongoing support for Human Impulse.
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOC President Thomas Bach visited the Human Impulse booth at Lucerne Regatta and expressed admiration for the challenge.
• Zafi CyclesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner and supporter of the Human Impulse project.
• SP80minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner and supporter.
• IPAC DesignmoderateTechnology or IntegrationCommunication & Interactive Design school where Ulysse Rolland (website designer and branding lead) studied and interned.
• The Little Prince Swiss FoundationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in the 'Stars for Every Child' campaign with Terre des Hommes.
• Lucerne RegattaminorGTM or Marketing Partner3rd stage of Rowing World Cup. Human Impulse presented project at prestigious rowing event.
• Christian DumardcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeather routing specialist providing essential navigation support throughout the journey, especially for ocean crossings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Crewclever: Designer and builder of ocean rowing boats used in international rowing races; an enabler in the ocean rowing ecosystem that Human Impulse draws on.
• Rannoch Adventure: UK-based manufacturer of ocean rowing boats (Rannoch R-series) used in Atlantic and Pacific rowing races; a key equipment supplier in the category Human Impulse operates in.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Campaigns: Organizes the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and other major ocean rowing events; operates in the same ocean rowing category at a commercial event-orchestration scale.
• World Expeditions: Adventure travel operator running trekking, cycling, and expedition trips globally; an adjacent incumbent in the multi-day adventure challenge space.
• Clipper Ventures: Runs the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a sponsored mass-participation around-the-world sailing event; comparable framing as a global endurance challenge but with yachts rather than human power.
• Intrepid Travel: Global adventure travel company offering small-group expeditions worldwide; comparable as a broader adventure-travel brand operating in the same end-consumer interest category.

Direct peers

• Jason Lewis (Expedition 360): Completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe (pedal, paddle, pedal boat) finishing in 2007–2010; the founding benchmark for Human Impulse's chosen challenge.
• Erden Eruç (TEDDS - The Expedition to Discover, Develop, Educate, and Serve): Holds the solo human-powered circumnavigation world record of 5 years 11 days that Human Impulse is targeting to break; runs the same challenge, same sport mix, and a similar sponsorship-driven expedition model.
• Sarah Outen: British adventurer who completed a solo human-powered circumnavigation (kayak, row, cycle) in 2011–2015; the same cycling-and-rowing activity mix, brand-led content, and sponsorship model as Human Impulse.
• Mark Beaumont: Scottish cyclist who holds multiple world records for round-the-world cycling; operates a personal-expedition brand built on sponsorships, content, and public speaking — comparable business model to Human Impulse.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@humanimpulse
• Facebookfacebook.com/100089978505881
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humanimpulse
• Instagraminstagram.com/human_impulse
• TikToktiktok.com/@humanimpulse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Human Impulse