Conscious Commuter hits fundraising goal

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Conscious Commuter, a folding electric bike startup based in Portland, riased more than $25,000 through Kickstarter and is moving toward production.

Conscious Commuter has "kickstarted."

The Portland-based folding electric bicycle company successfully completed its campaign on the online funding website Kickstarter, raising $25,955 — surpassing its $25,000 goal. As part of the campaign, Conscious Commuter pre-sold 13 bikes — at $1,395 each — that are still about six months from being built.

"We're getting rave reviews on the design of the bike," said Bob Vander Woude, president and CEO of Conscious Commuter.

Vander Woude said he was happy with the results of the fundraising campaign, which doesn't require the business to give up any equity.

"It's a great way to identify and work directly with our first customers," he said.

Conscious Commuter is finishing its second prototype and working with an unnamed Portland company on the frame design and production. The company expects to produce the first 100 units of the folding, electric-assist bicycles early next year.

Last week, the company announced it will work with eCycleElectric, a consulting firm specializing in electric bikes, on Conscious Commuter's official launch.

This week, Conscious Commuter is presenting a panel at the inaugural SXSWEco conference in Austin, Texas, about the future of mutli-modal transportation. The panel, hosted by Gabriel Wartofsky, Conscious Commuter co-founder and chief designer, carries the title "Solving the First and Last Mile Commute Problem."

"We're not just an electric bike company," said Vander Woude. "We have a larger vision."

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