In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Rene Wiertz, founder and managing partner of Fundracer BV, who shares how his experience building and leading premium bicycle brand 3T led him to launch a micro-mobility-focused fund that he believes has been overlooked by traditional venture capital. Rene discusses the post-COVID stabilization and renewed double-digit growth in cycling and micro-mobility, driven by urbanization, space constraints for cars, and rapid infrastructure changes in cities like Paris, London, and New York. Rene explains how new tech talent from firms like Microsoft, Google, Apple, BMW, and Tesla is bringing advanced technologies into a historically hardware-driven industry to make micromobility safer and more convenient. He outlines what helps startups raise capital—perseverance, strong go-to-market planning alongside product development, and speed to market—while warning founders against inconsistent valuation shifts and being vague about use of proceeds. The conversation highlights Funracer’s key investment themes in safety tech adapted for two-wheelers, including lightweight ABS, low-power AI vision detection for collision avoidance, and reusable airbags, as well as emerging autonomous capabilities such as steer-by-wire. Rene also describes how Funracer co-invests with larger funds by providing micromobility expertise to unlock capital for the sector, and he closes with relationship-building advice for founders.

Visit Fundracer BV at fundracer.capital/ Reach out to at rene.wiertz@fundracer.capital, and on http://www.linkedin.com/in/ren%C3%A9-wiertz-76637/ ________________________________________________________________________

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Hall T Martin is the director of Investor Connect, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the education of investors for early-stage funding. All opinions expressed by Hall and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Investor Connect. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for the basis of investment decisions.