Laka, the UK and EU green mobility insurtech, acquired assets from VeloLife, a specialist cycle insurance provider. The deal marks Laka’s fourth acquisition in three years and the first public step in the M&A pipeline it flagged after closing its £14.1 mn Series B.
That funding package included a dedicated £6.5 mn venture debt facility from HSBC Innovation Banking, secured to fund strategic acquisitions. VeloLife is the first announced transaction under that plan.
VeloLife, established in 2021 by Jonathan Woods and Justin Rodley, is a specialist cycle insurance provider distributed exclusively through a dealer network of over 100 locations. Jonathan brings over 24 years of experience in the insurance industry, specialising in sports insurance.
Justin is a cycling industry expert with more than 18 years in senior roles at major brands including Specialized and PON Holdings.
The acquisition strengthens Laka’s footprint in the UK bike dealer channel. A central part of that expansion is its partnership with Citrus Lime, an EPOS provider that lets Laka embed insurance products directly into the retail workflow of hundreds of independent bike shops.
That matters because the sale often happens where the insurance decision sits closest to the customer. Bike bought, cover offered, dealer still in the loop.
Laka’s M&A strategy started moving after its £7.6 mn Series B equity round in July 2025, co-led by Shift4Good and MS&AD Ventures.
The company said at the time that it planned to consolidate Europe’s fragmented micromobility insurance market through targeted acquisitions.
The November 2025 HSBC Innovation Banking debt facility gave that strategy more firepower. The capital was set aside for M&A, and VeloLife now becomes the first public announcement from that pipeline.
The deal follows three earlier integrations. Laka acquired French e-bike insurance broker Cylantro in 2023, CoverCloud’s UK bike insurance renewal rights in 2024, and Luko’s e-scooter portfolio from Allianz Direct in 2025.
Each transaction added scale, geography, or platform capability. VeloLife continues that approach by bringing a curated network of more than 100 UK bike dealer locations into Laka’s partner ecosystem.
The market backdrop explains the pace. McKinsey projects the global micromobility market to more than double by 2030, from about $160 bn today to $340 bn. Europe is expected to remain the largest regional contributor, growing from roughly $60 bn in 2022 to $140 bn by 2030.
Insurance in this sector remains fragmented. According to Beinsure analysts, Laka is using acquisitions to build distribution density before larger carriers and platforms move more aggressively into micromobility cover.
By integrating VeloLife’s dealer network, Laka expands a B2B2C ecosystem that supports independent bike shops alongside brand partners including Decathlon, Ribble, Gazelle, Riese & Müller, and Tenways.
Laka is licensed across the EEA and operates in 11 countries. It has moved from a UK direct-to-consumer bike insurer into a European platform insurer, with the dealer channel now becoming a major route for further growth.
To support the transition, VeloLife customers who move to Laka will receive their first 30 days of insurance free of charge.
Tobias Taupitz, CEO and co-founder of Laka, said the acquisition is a major milestone in the company’s bike dealer strategy and shows its M&A pipeline is moving. He said VeloLife built a strong partner base and fits the acquisition-led consolidation plan Laka set out after its Series B and HSBC debt facility.
This acquisition is a key milestone in our bike dealer strategy – and a clear signal that our M&A pipeline is now moving. VeloLife has built a fantastic set of partners, and we look forward to welcoming them to Laka’s network.
Tobias Taupitz, CEO and Co-Founder of Laka
“When we raised our Series B and secured the HSBC debt facility, we were explicit that acquisition-led consolidation was central to our strategy. VeloLife is exactly the kind of deal that strategy was designed for.”
Justin Rodley, director and co-founder of VeloLife, said the company is pleased to join Laka and sees the relationship as a good fit for its ambition to expand into Europe and beyond. He said Laka’s team shares VeloLife’s focus on service quality for dealers and customers.
