Rad Power Bikes
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle, Washington, USA
- Sectors
- Manufacturing, Retail, E-commerce, Electric bicycles, Consumer goods
- Stage
- former-startup
Microsoft names Aneesh Raman chief economic opportunity officer and promotes Jenny Lay‑Flurrie; DAT CPO Brian Gill resigns
Microsoft promoted Jenny Lay‑Flurrie to corporate vice president of its Trusted Technology Group and named Aneesh Raman chief economic opportunity officer; Zillow appointed a new policy lead while departures occurred at Oracle, Hiya and DAT Freight & Analytics, including DAT’s CPO Brian Gill resigning.
Also (Rivian spinout) opens 17,459-sq-ft Seattle office and retail hub at 1300 N. Northlake Way led by REI vet Ben Steele
Also, a micromobility startup spun out of Rivian, has opened a 17,459-square-foot Seattle office and retail hub at 1300 N. Northlake Way near Lake Union to be at the center of the city's bike commuting activity. Ben Steele, a former nine-year REI executive and Also’s chief commercial officer, will lead business operations, marketing and customer functions from the new location, which currently houses 38 employees.
Rad Power Bikes — once a $1.65B e-bike unicorn — files Chapter 11 after CPSC battery-fire recall and January 2026 warehouse blaze
Rad Power Bikes grew rapidly to a $1.65 billion valuation and dominant North American market share but collapsed after leadership exits, executive turnover, layoffs, a CPSC battery-fire recall in November 2025, Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2025, and a Huntington Beach warehouse fire in January 2026.
Tyler Swartz Launches Speedy’s in 2024 to Transport Stranded Seattle E-Bikes within 90 Minutes
Tyler Swartz founded Speedy’s, a Seattle-based roadside service launched in 2024 that transports disabled e-bikes to repair shops within 90 minutes. The service, which has grown to over 325 members and completed 384 trips, collaborates with local bike shops to support the e-bike community.
Life EV Acquires Rad Power Bikes for $13.2M, Preserves Brand After Bankruptcy
Life Electric Vehicles Holdings completed the $13.2 million acquisition of Rad Power Bikes' assets following Rad's bankruptcy, preserving the brand and planning U.S. expansions. The South Florida company intends to maintain Rad's retail presence and enhance product innovation and assembly quality.
Life Electric Vehicles Wins $13.2M Bid for Rad Power Bikes Assets in Bankruptcy Auction
Rad Power Bikes, once valued at $1.65 billion, auctioned its assets for $13.2 million as part of bankruptcy proceedings, with South Florida-based Life Electric Vehicles winning the bid pending court approval. Life EV will acquire Rad's inventory, intellectual property, and liabilities, while Rad's future brand status and employee impact remain uncertain.
Fire Erupts at Rad Power Bikes Huntington Beach Store Amid Bankruptcy and Safety Warnings
A fire broke out at Rad Power Bikes' Huntington Beach retail store on Sunday, occurring while the store was closed, with the cause yet unknown. This incident adds to the challenges faced by the Seattle-based e-bike company, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is under scrutiny for safety issues related to its lithium-ion batteries.
Rad Power Bikes Rider’s DIY Cinderblock Battery Fire Containment Sparks Safety Debate Amid 2023 CPSC Fire Warnings
A Rad Power Bikes rider shared a DIY cinderblock battery containment solution on Reddit to address fire risks from e-bike lithium-ion batteries, sparking community debate and safety discussions. The concerns follow a 2023 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about fire hazards related to certain Rad Power Bikes lithium-ion batteries amid the company's financial struggles.
Rad Power Bikes Appoints Angelina Smith as CEO Amid Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with $73M Liabilities
Rad Power Bikes named Angelina Smith as CEO amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, marking the company's fourth CEO change in three years. The Seattle-based e-bike maker filed for bankruptcy due to declining revenues and economic challenges following a pandemic-era sales boom.
Rad Power Bikes Files Chapter 11, Owes $8.3 Million to U.S. Customs as Tariffs Pressure E-Bike Industry
Rad Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, listing an $8.3 million unpaid tariff bill to U.S. Customs among its largest debts, highlighting financial challenges amid COVID-driven demand declines and rising costs in the e-bike industry.
Seattle’s Rad Power Bikes Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with $73M Liabilities Amid Declining Revenue, Pursues Sale to Stay Afloat
Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid declining revenue and liabilities over twice its assets, while pursuing a sale to keep the company operating. The filing follows a recent CPSC safety warning over battery issues and ongoing financial challenges threatening the company's future and 64 jobs.
U.S. Safety Commission Warns Against Use of Rad Power Bikes' Lithium-Ion Batteries Citing Fire Hazard Amid Company's Financial Crisis
Rad Power Bikes is facing a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning to stop using certain lithium-ion batteries due to fire risks, which the company disputes, amid its ongoing financial struggles and potential shutdown. The CPSC urged removal and disposal of hazardous batteries sold with multiple Rad bike models, while Rad disagrees with calling the batteries defective or unsafe.
Seattle’s history of hardware heartbreak: Big raises, high hopes, hard landings
Seattle’s consumer-hardware ambitions are once again colliding with economic reality. The struggles of Glowforge and Rad Power Bikes echo a long regional history of big raises, high hopes, and hard landings — shaped by the pandemic, VC, and the unforgiving nature of building real products. GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook recorded this conversation for the purpose of providing the audio to an AI tool that turned the conversation into a written column that was edited and reviewed before publication. Check it out here. Related Stories: Glowforge hits restart: After restructuring, co-founders acquire key assets of laser engraver startup…
Rad Power Bikes Faces Potential Shutdown by January 2026 Amid Financial Struggles and Job Losses
Rad Power Bikes, a leading Seattle-based e-bike company that reached unicorn status during the pandemic, is facing potential shutdown due to significant financial challenges, with a possible closure impacting 64 jobs as early as January 2026. The company is exploring funding or acquisition options after a promising deal fell through and cites a drop in consumer demand, tariffs, and macroeconomic issues as contributing factors.
GeekWire Week in Review: Bill Gates Pledges $200B, Statsig Hits $1.1B Valuation, Seattle Startups Raise Millions in May 2025
This GeekWire Week in Review highlights top tech stories including Bill Gates' $200 billion philanthropy pledge, Seattle startups raising significant capital, and the emergence of new AI-driven unicorn Statsig valued at $1.1 billion. It also covers local news like a controversial Washington EV tax and cultural moments involving Seattle figures.
Rad Power Bikes Names Kathi Lentzsch, Former Bartell Drugs CEO, as New CEO Amid Strategic Retail Shift
Seattle-based e-bike company Rad Power Bikes appointed Kathi Lentzsch, former CEO of Bartell Drugs, as its new CEO amid a strategic shift to retail-focused operations and recent layoffs. Lentzsch replaces Phil Molyneux, who led the company for over two years during a period marked by lawsuits and recalls.
Rad Power Bikes CEO Phil Molyneux Steps Down Amid Strategic Shift and Layoffs; CFO Stephanie Roberts Named Interim CEO
Phil Molyneux has stepped down as CEO of Rad Power Bikes after more than two years, with CFO Stephanie Roberts serving as interim CEO during the leadership transition. The Seattle-based e-bike company is undergoing a strategic shift toward physical retail, resulting in additional layoffs and operational changes.
Rad Power Bikes Partners with Upway for Trade-In Program at Eight U.S. Stores to Expand Electric Bike Access and Sustainability
Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes has partnered with Upway to launch a trade-in program at eight U.S. retail locations, allowing customers to trade in e-bikes for discounts on new models while promoting sustainability through refurbishment and resale. The program, active since 2023 and used by over 2,000 bike shops, supports a circular economy by extending e-bike lifecycles and increasing electric mobility access.
Madrona Hires Anna Chen to Boost Bay Area Operations; Alexandra Tibbets Returns to Microsoft; Niraj Tolia Named Veeam CTO
Madrona expands its Bay Area team by hiring investor Anna Chen to focus on enterprise software, AI, and consumer subscriptions, while Alexandra Tibbets returns to Microsoft as chief of staff and Niraj Tolia becomes CTO of Veeam Software following their acquisition of an AI startup.
Who will be the Next Tech Titan? Previewing the GeekWire Awards
This week on the show, we get a sneak preview of the GeekWire Awards, coming up at the Showbox SoDo in Seattle on Thursday, May 9. We look back at the past winners of the Next Tech Titan title in the awards, and consider the event's track record in predicting major companies to emerge from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. We also contemplate the evolution of the "Workplace of the Year" category through the rise of remote and hybrid work. And finally, we consider the impact of migration on another part of state: Spokane, Wash., and the Inland Northwest. See…
Rad Power Bikes to Close Brooklyn Store as Part of Organizational Changes After Multiple Layoff Rounds
Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes is closing its Brooklyn retail store amid ongoing organizational changes following multiple layoffs and a recent exit from the European market. The company cited the need for efficiency and sustainability in a challenging market but did not disclose closure dates or affected employee numbers.
Outreach Cuts 12% of Staff Amid Economic Pressures, Aiming for 2024 Profitability
Seattle-based sales software startup Outreach laid off 12% of its staff amid shifting economic conditions and ongoing cost-cutting efforts, aiming for profitability next year. This follows previous layoffs of 5% in August 2022, 7% in February 2023, and another 5% last month, with some business functions being offshored to Mexico City and India.
Rad Power Bikes Executes Fourth Round of Layoffs Since April 2021 Amid Economic and Legal Challenges
Rad Power Bikes has laid off employees for the fourth time since April 2021, reducing its workforce amid economic challenges and legal issues. The Seattle-based e-bike company now has around 400 employees and is working to become more sustainable under new leadership.
Seattle Startup Esper Cuts 21% of Staff Amid 2023 Business Uncertainty Following $100M Funding
Seattle startup Esper laid off 21% of its workforce in its second reduction within seven months, citing an unpredictable 2023 business environment despite strong 2022 growth. Founded by Yadhu Gopalan and Shiv Sundar, Esper offers a DevOps platform for managing Android device fleets and has raised $100 million to date.
Rad Power Bikes Conducts Third Layoff in 2023 Amid Economic Downturn and Operational Challenges
Rad Power Bikes is conducting its third round of layoffs in 2023 to reduce costs amid an economic downturn, having previously cut 163 jobs this year from its nearly 500 employees. The Seattle-based company has faced multiple challenges including lawsuits and product recalls, while also recently launching a new three-wheeled electric bike.
People
See all 5-
Mike Radenbaugh Founder, Co-founder
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Ty Collins Founder, Former Co-founder, Cofounder (in title only)
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Angelina “Angy” Smith Executive, Chief Financial Officer; Interim CEO (brief)
