Sharelock, your bike’s Watson.
🔐 Sharelock… what’s it all about?
A while ago, I discovered Sharelock (thanks to Elies from OBH for the tip 🙏). And as often happens with good ideas, I had a little moment of “Wait, how come I didn’t know about this before?!”
For those of you who don’t know Sharelock yet, it’s bike insurance… but not only that.
Because yes, Sharelock doesn’t just pay you back if your bike vanishes in the night. No. Their promise is to protect your green mobility with a service that’s simple, digital, fast and – let’s admit it – pretty stylish.
In practice, you insure your bike in a few clicks, straight from their app. No paperwork, no hassle. Want to be covered against theft, damage or vandalism? Done. Want fast compensation? You got it. Want to pay less if you take a photo every time you park? Well… that’s exactly what they offer.
And as if that weren’t enough, Sharelock goes further:
- A map of the safest places to park your bike, based on theft data (spoiler: the bent posts in front of kebab shops at 2 a.m. = bad idea)
- A deductible reduced to 5% if you photograph your bike properly parked (it takes 3 seconds, and it can save you hundreds of euros)
- A personal space to track your rides, your CO₂ savings and the calories you burn (you’ll find out your commute is worth a half marathon 🥵)
In short, Sharelock is a bit like the anti-boring insurance. It’s fast, flexible and designed for urban cyclists.
But that’s not all. Sharelock didn’t always look like this…
💘 My big crush: Vigimap
Okay, I have to say it: I have a big personal crush on the Vigimap feature 🗺️.
This interactive map tells you where to lock your bike safely in the city, based on theft data, location, time of day and even the history of high-risk areas. Basically, you no longer pick a post at random, you pick the right spot.
And honestly, it’s so simple, but it’s so reassuring.
And of course, I couldn’t help thinking: “Why not, someday, imagine a map that also shows certified SafeKeeper Keepers nearby?”
Vigimap + SafeKeeper = absolute peace of mind 🧘♀️
🧠 A quick look back: the pivot that changed everything
Originally, Sharelock offered a network of connected locks installed in public spaces. The concept? You booked a shared lock through an app, used it during your lunch break or over drinks (no judgment 🍻), and that was it.
But the team quickly realized that cyclists’ needs went far beyond “where do I lock my bike”. The real worry, the one that stops a lot of people from (getting back into) cycling, is the fear of having their bike stolen. And here’s the spoiler: no lock is ever enough.
So Sharelock pivoted. And honestly, we love this strategic choice. They kept their “security + tech + green mobility” DNA, but went where they can have a massive impact: protecting cyclists, everywhere, all the time.
And today, the result is a new-generation bike insurance, designed as a service, not as an administrative headache.
🎤 Interview – Our questions for Alexandre, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharelock
Let’s go back to the beginning: what was Sharelock V1? And why connected locks in public spaces?
Sharelock V1 came from a simple observation: if we really wanted to make cycling mainstream, we had to tackle the number one obstacle… the fear of theft.
So our idea was to offer secure parking, available everywhere in the city, thanks to connected locks installed in public spaces. The goal:
- to enable true point-to-point use, without worrying about whether you’d find a free bike rack,
- to provide a real-time map of available spots to park your bike,
- and to add a layer of active security with alerts in case of attempted theft, thanks to the shared lock.
What made you question the original model?
What made us question the original model was the desire to go further than just fighting theft. With Sharelock V1, we had provided a first answer, but we quickly understood that it wasn’t enough.
The challenge wasn’t only to protect a bike, but to bring peace of mind to the whole cycling experience.
It was this search for peace of mind — beyond pure security — that led us to rethink the model so that it would be simpler, more accessible and, above all, more reassuring day to day.
What’s THE difference compared to the other players on the market?
The big difference with Sharelock is that we don’t just “insure a bike”: we’ve built a unique model around three technology building blocks that complement each other.
An app that supports everyday use:
- VigiMap to know where to lock your bike,
- the photo that raises awareness of the risk,
- direct feedback,
- and above all, collecting field data to improve security.
Support: we don’t just pay out, we help policyholders develop the right reflexes and genuinely reduce the risk of theft.
Embedded, integrated insurance: thanks to our partnerships (Cofidis, Véligo, etc.), we reach every channel.
In short: we don’t just sell an insurance policy, we create a complete ecosystem that combines prevention, education and protection.
Today, what exactly is Sharelock? What do you offer?
Today, Sharelock is an insurance broker 100% dedicated to bikes, but not only that.
Our mission is to give cyclists a peace of mind that no one thought possible when it comes to theft.
In practice, we don’t just compensate:
- we collect and analyze field data to understand and anticipate risks,
- we support cyclists in their habits to reduce thefts,
- and we offer integrated insurance, designed for them, by bike enthusiasts.
In a nutshell: Sharelock is much more than insurance, it’s an ecosystem that protects and reassures cyclists every day.
What’s THE feature or little detail that makes all the difference for your users?
The real difference is our mobile app: it’s the only insurance that doesn’t stop at reimbursement, but brings security every day.
And it works:
- it’s widely used, with 36% monthly active users,
- and above all, it changes behavior: 36% of our policyholders say they cycle more since being covered by Sharelock, and that figure rises to 49% among those who use the app regularly.
Simply put, the little detail that makes all the difference is that we don’t just insure bikes… we make people want to ride more.
What’s the craziest (or most unexpected) story a customer has ever told you? And if you’ve got two, we’ll take both!
The most unexpected story? We found out that some Michelin-starred chefs use Sharelock to insure… their bikes! 🍴🚲
What are you proud of today: number of policyholders, team, feedback…?
What I’m proudest of today is, first and foremost, the team. Many have been here since the very beginning, they’ve been through the highs and lows with us, and above all a pivotal moment: the pivot.
We went from a very physical model — rolling out our first locks on the street — to a new vision, more digital and more scalable. It was a huge challenge for the company, a real moment of transition… and we pulled it off. 🙌
I’m also proud of the trust: the trust of the users who follow us, and of the team who chose to stay, hang in there and build Sharelock for the long term.
In short: a powerful adventure, a close-knit team and a business that managed to evolve without losing its soul.
What’s next for Sharelock? Any secret roadmap you can tease us with?
What’s next for Sharelock? We’re staying the course: bikes, and only bikes. That’s our vertical, and we want to keep transforming this market.
In practice, that means:
- geographic expansion to reach even more cyclists,
- partnerships, including with competitors, because we believe in the strength of the ecosystem,
- new features: bike ride detection, app gamification, a badge system… everything to combine peace of mind and fun,
- and soon, an affiliate program to bring even more people on board.
What advice would you give a startup considering a strategic pivot like the one you made?
A pivot is always a brutal moment for a startup. My advice: don’t be timid. You have to go all in, with very strong conviction, otherwise it ends up costing more.
You also need to bring the teams on board, put the right words on what’s happening, and act fast. The longer you wait, the more complicated it gets.
In short: you get through a pivot with courage, clarity and teamwork.