The Best of Both Worlds: Cutting-edge Technology in Start-ups.

With years of experience leading various start-ups and an appetite for exciting new technology on the market, Evert Bulcke is onto the next big thing in tech. At Karel de Grote Hogeschool, he coaches young student-entrepreneurs through their first steps. Now, together with two colleagues, he is spearheading BikeTrust.

The market for e-bikes is growing faster than ever. When the bike malfunctions, or needs repair, customers often have no choice but to send the bike back to its manufacturer, who operates through a closed system (this means that the mechanisms with which the bike functions are not available to the public). It’s a process with long waiting times and high costs. This is what Evert noticed, and decided to change. BikeTrust is a test bank, making protocols available to local bike shops and specialized manufacturers of e-bike parts, like batteries for example.

It’s the best of both worlds: customers don’t have to endlessly wait for their bike to return from a far away manufacturer. On top of that, the repair becomes more sustainable. And a lot more bikes can be repaired on a monthly basis. It’s a win-win situation!

BikeTrust is a well timed move. because since 2025 new European legislation was confirmed. Companies are no longer allowed to keep their systems closed. This is telling of Evert’s philosophy: “Oftentimes students start their business guided by an intuition or a passion. Making your business into a success story is not always a very romantic process. Do your homework, find your niche and you’ll find the perfect opportunity for you.”

Want to hear more? Find Evert Bulcke speaking at TechNight 2025.