Tim Grootjans – Mid-Year Reflection 2025

It’s already July, and looking back at the first half of this year, I can honestly say it’s been one of the most meaningful chapters in both my personal and professional life. From launching new solutions to settling into a new home with our growing family, there’s been a lot going on.

Thanks for following along. Here’s a little update on what’s been happening.

ZAET: Cycle as a Service is Here

At ZAET we’ve shifted our focus. What started as a design and consulting studio is now evolving into something much more impactful. Instead of helping companies from the sidelines, we are now delivering full turnkey mobility systems.

Our new Cycle as a Service model offers long-term rental, service, and lifecycle management, ideal for cities, fleets, and institutions that want to offer reliable access to e-bikes without the burden of ownership. We believe in giving riders access to high-quality bikes that are actually built for daily use.

This year we also participated in the EIT Urban Mobility IRP4IMPACT Program, which provided access to a fantastic network of innovators and helped shape our go-to-market strategy. It’s been a valuable experience and we’re applying what we’ve learned directly to our operations.

VERS: Smart Manufacturing, Built for Mobility

With VERS we officially launched a new kind of bike production company. Focused on manufacturing and supply chain, VERS is built to deliver e-bikes that are easy to customize and great to ride.

This year we kicked things off with two exciting partnerships. One with Studebaker, which brings a bold retro design to the streets, and the other with Toverland, creating playful bikes for an entertainment environment. Both projects reflect our vision to make bike design more expressive and practical.

MOVE London: Real Conversations, Real Shifts

Last month I visited MOVE in London. It’s a mix of mobility topics across the board, from car manufacturers to micromobility. I came back with some strong impressions.

One of the most eye-opening discussions came from the automotive side. Large OEMs are urging their dealer networks to adopt Mobility as a Service and Flexible Leasing models. But many dealers still prefer traditional sales. It’s clear that the shift won’t be easy.

This same transformation is heading toward the bike industry too. Our takeaway is that instead of replacing local bike shops, we should collaborate with them. These shops have trust, access, and experience. If we empower them to provide service and subscriptions, we’ll create stronger ecosystems that serve both riders and business.

If you’re a bike shop and open to exploring this kind of model, I’d love to hear from you.

Family Milestones

On the personal side, 2025 has been a year of big changes. This spring we moved into our new home, a fresh start in a new place that we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.

And last week, we welcomed our third child, a healthy baby boy. It’s been full of late nights, but also full hearts. There’s nothing quite like seeing your family grow while building a business you believe in.

Looking Ahead

• Final stages of product development at CY:ONS, with some very exciting updates coming soon

• Scaling VERS production and bringing new partners into the fold

• Continuing to improve our Cycle as a Service system and rolling out pilot projects

• Starting conversations with more bike shops and local mobility providers across Europe

Thanks for reading and for being part of this network. Let’s keep building something meaningful together. Feel free to reach out, connect, or even just say hi.