Glenn Catchpole

Finalist - EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 New Zealand

Velobike

In track cycling, the smallest of margins can make a significant performance difference - Glenn Catchpole knows this all too well. That’s why he founded Velobike Innovation Limited and set it up with a vision to work alongside both amateurs and professionals in the cycling community to revolutionise track cycling equipment.

Velobike's mission is to provide an Olympic-level experience for performance-driven track cyclists worldwide. The company designs, develops, and manufactures cutting-edge equipment that enhances aerodynamics and performance efficiency. Collaborating closely with national teams, Velobike creates products tailored to athletes' specific needs, ensuring top performance and user experience. This model also gives smaller organisations access to world-class R&D at a fraction of the cost.

Under Glenn's leadership, Velobike has achieved remarkable growth. The company exports approximately 95% of its products, with its major markets being North America and Asia Pacific. Despite this, the profits remain in New Zealand. Glenn plans to expand warehousing and fulfilment into Europe to boost growth in that region too.

The company's culture focuses on innovation, quality, continuous improvement, and employee autonomy. It invests in current and former athletes to leverage their insights for R&D and product development, while providing them with career opportunities outside competitive sport.

Velobike's impact extends beyond elite athletes too. By providing top-tier equipment to everyday consumers, the company brings them closer to an Olympic-level experience.