Suggestions
Laura Belmar
CEO at Integral Electrics
Laura Belmar is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Integral Electrics, a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing electric bicycles with a focus on women and shorter riders.12 Her LinkedIn username is laura-belmar-398ba755.3
Professional Background
Laura Belmar has a strong background in entrepreneurship and product development. Prior to her role at Integral Electrics, she has been involved in ventures that prioritize safety, ease of use, and supporting healthy, thriving families.3 In 2022, Belmar, along with co-founder Paul Freedman, acquired the Integral Electrics brand with the goal of expanding its products nationwide.4
Contributions to the E-Bike Industry
Belmar has made significant contributions to the electric bicycle industry, particularly in addressing the gender disparity in cycling:
-
Innovative Design: She led the development of the Maven Cargo e-bike, which is designed to accommodate riders ranging from 5'0" to 6'7" (152 to 200 cm).2
-
Female-Centric Approach: Recognizing the lack of female representation in the cycling industry, Belmar aimed to create e-bikes that cater specifically to women and smaller riders.2
-
Safety and Accessibility: The Maven Cargo e-bike features a unique geometry that places the cargo lower to the ground, ensuring better stability and confidence for riders.2
Vision and Philosophy
Belmar's approach to product design is rooted in inclusivity and user-centric thinking. She applies principles from web development, such as the "mobile-first" approach, to e-bike design, focusing on the needs of those who are often overlooked in the industry.5 Her goal is to empower women and shorter riders to confidently carry cargo and enjoy the benefits of e-biking.1
Laura Belmar's work at Integral Electrics demonstrates her commitment to innovation, safety, and accessibility in the electric bicycle market, with a particular emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved demographics in the cycling community.
Highlights
With hours until our Kickstarter Project closes, I wanted to thank all you folks on Linkedin for helping spread the word, buying a bike, or just leaving a supportive comment. It means more to me than words can express. 🙏
Major kudos to Clint Bagley for an amazing job sharing our story with the media. Our cargo bike was featured in more publications than we ever thought possible. 🙏
And a huge thanks to Paul Freedman for being willing to "niche down" with me, and really invest in women in families. I'm constantly inspired by your positivity, creativity, and commitment to building things that delight customers and make their lives meaningfully better. 🙏
And another huge thanks to Rafael Garayoa for being the technical PM we needed. We're on track to deliver to our bikes to backers ahead of schedule—just 6 weeks from now—thanks to you! 🙏
https://lnkd.in/g6YxUwui
Over the last few years, Robyn Sue Fisher and I have supported each other as entrepreneurs, mothers, neighbors, humans. She's the type of person who writes you cards and gives you little gifts out of the blue, just because she's thinking of you.
Everyone who knows Robyn feels supported and inspired by her. Her ice cream shop was vandalized recently, in what's being investigated as a hate crime.
I invite you to read the NYT coverage of her response and the community's. In these uncertain times, it will add a little hope into your day. Reading about the local Palestinian business owner who reached out to her in the days after this event brought me to tears, and is just one of many hopeful notes in this store.
I also invite you to chip in on the Go Fund Me campaign as Smitten deals with the repercussions of this event. Or if you're in the Bay Area, go have some Smitten Ice Cream and bask in the love and connection it creates. Robyn and Smitten have poured out so much love into this world, and now's a great time to show them love in return, even if that's just a note, a silent prayer or loving thoughts.
https://lnkd.in/gt_fmAia
