The Birth of Fundracer
For nearly two decades, Andy Ording, Gerard Vroomen and I have shared a common path in the world of high-performance cycling. Our journey together began with collaborations through our respective companies—ZIPP wheels, Cervélo bikes and 3T components. Whether it was sponsoring race teams such as Team CSC or Cervélo TestTeam or developing cutting-edge products, our professional lives were intertwined. This created a lasting friendship based on mutual respect and shared ambitions.
The Early Years: Building Trust and Friendship
We first met on the racing circuit, where our companies often worked together to sponsor top cycling teams. These partnerships laid the foundation for a deep friendship, forged through countless hours spent brainstorming innovations, solving problems, celebrating victories and suffering setbacks (in sport and business). The cycling world is small, and our paths frequently crossed at industry events, leading to a camaraderie that extended beyond business.
The Turning Point: Andy’s Journey as an Angel Investor
After successfully selling ZIPP to SRAM, Andy ventured into the world of angel investing. He began investing privately in- and outside of the bike industry, driven by his passion for innovation and his desire to give back to the industry that had given him so much. Despite his success, Andy felt a lingering sense that he could be doing more—that he could make a bigger impact on a broader scale.
A Mission to Empower the Winners of Tomorrow
Fundracer is more than just a financial venture; it’s a mission to transform the micro-mobility landscape. We are committed to providing not only capital but also hands-on support to the companies we invest in. Our goal is to help these ventures grow into truly global players, leaders in their segments, and drivers of innovation in the industry.
Reconnecting and Reimagining the Future
Meanwhile, Gerard and Rene were navigating their own transitions. Gerard had sold Cervélo to the PON Group, and together we had successfully sold 3T to an investment fund. As we contemplated our next moves, the idea of creating something new together began to take shape. It wasn’t long before we discussed this with Andy.
René & Gerard at the media launch for the first ever 3T bike
Andy & Gerard at the Almanzo 100 gravel race
The Birth of Fundracer
Our conversations quickly turned to the future of micro-mobility—a sector we all believe is poised for explosive growth. People may know us from performance cycling, but we are actually more obsessed with what cycling can do as a mode of transportation.
We saw a unique opportunity to leverage our combined expertise, networks, and resources to support the next generation of industry leaders. Thus Fundracer was born, an investment fund dedicated to identifying and nurturing start-ups and scale-ups in the micro-mobility sector.