Belagavi entrepreneur takes on unsafe teen riding with innovative e-bikes

Hubballi

When did you launch Hoopoe E-Bikes, and what is your professional background?
Maboof Mulla: We started the company in February of last year (2025). I am an automotive and transportation designer by profession, with about 10 years of experience. Previously, I worked in Delhi for major companies like Sonalika, John Deere and others.

What inspired you to enter the electric cycle industry?
Maboof Mulla: I have always had a strong interest in the cycle industry, but I noticed a huge gap. Unlike cars, which constantly undergo design upgrades, no one was updating cycle designs. Nearly 90% of the market simply imports parts from China, assembles them, and sells them here. Before launching Hoopoe Bikes, I spent two years leading the design team at a startup in Belagavi to understand how startups operate. Once I was ready, I quit my job in February 2025 to start my own venture.

What was the specific problem you aimed to solve with Hoopoe E-Bikes?
Maboof Mulla: In Tier-3 cities and rural areas, it’s common to see under-18 boys riding scooters and motorcycles. Parents strictly tell them not to, as they lack licenses and driving skills, but the kids don't listen because they refuse to ride traditional bicycles. A tragic incident happened in my hometown made me to build an e-bike that looks and feels like a motorcycle but strictly complies with bicycle regulations, meaning it requires no driving license and no registration.

Walk us through the development process. How long did it take to build?
Maboof Mulla: We spent about 8 to 9 months focusing purely on conceptualization, ergonomic design, and trials. We built a prototype and gave it to local teenagers to test. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, both kids and parents were highly satisfied. Following that, we registered a Private Limited company, secured GST, registered with Startup Karnataka and Startup India (DPIIT), and set up a prototyping plant in Auto Nagar, Belagavi.

Have you received any funding or grants to support the business?
Maboof Mulla: Yes. We applied for and won a Rs 10 Lakh MeitY grant from the Central Government. Later, we won around Rs 30 Lakhs through the Elevate grant from the Karnataka Government (ITBT). We also won second prize at TiEcon in Hubballi, where we received free membership and prize money. We are currently incubated at Deshpande Startups. To date, the business is completely bootstrapped using my personal savings, but we are currently looking to raise capital and find a strategic partner.

How are your sales and deliveries progressing?
Maboof Mulla: We officially launched the product at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), where it was unveiled by Minister Priyank Kharge, and we received a tremendous response from across Karnataka. Deliveries started this month, specifically on April 15. In April alone, we recorded around Rs 10 Lakhs in sales and have delivered 20 to 30 cycles so far. We currently have over 300 pre-bookings, and our production capacity is 30 to 40 units per month.

Can you tell us about the models you offer and their pricing?
Maboof Mulla: We currently have two models. Our top model, the 'Conqueror'. Our second model, the 'Warrior'.

How do you handle marketing, and where can people buy the bikes?
Maboof Mulla: Marketing has been incredibly organic. Because the product design is unique, whenever we take it to exhibitions, YouTubers and the public take photos and videos, and it naturally goes viral on social media. Customers can order directly through our website, and we guarantee delivery anywhere in India within a week. We are also listed and selling well on e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal.

Are there any plans to expand the product line?
Maboof Mulla: Absolutely. Every single nut, bolt, and component is designed, manufactured, and assembled right here in Belagavi; we do not import anything. We currently have an R&D team of 15 people (with a total team size of 20-22). We are actively working on a new unisex model, which will launch in 6 to 7 months. We intend to scale production to 500-600 vehicles a month and hope to open franchise stores in the future, offering at least 4 to 5 different SKUs.

Why did you choose to build this in Belagavi instead of Bengaluru, keeping the 'Beyond Bengaluru' initiative in mind?
Maboof Mulla: A common complaint from startup founders outside of Bengaluru is the lack of skilled talent. However, skill doesn't exist until you train people. I am a professional in my field, so I actively train local college students and interns who join our company. While organizations like KDEM (Karnataka Digital Economy Mission) have provided excellent mentorship and free exhibition spaces, the primary business advantage is cost. Conducting R&D and manufacturing in Bengaluru is very expensive, whereas Belagavi is highly cost-effective, which has been critical for our bootstrapped journey.