GoPro to buy Australia’s Forcite helmets
World-first innovation helped a small Australian business attract the attention – and cash – of a global technology giant.
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An Australian start-up building world-first smart motorcycle helmets is set to be acquired by video giant GoPro.
Sydney-based Forcite sells motorcycle helmets equipped with tech including a video camera, speakers, microphone and battery.
The helmets even use data from companies such as Google Maps and Waze to warn riders about hazards such as speed traps by flashing red and blue warning lights in the rider’s peripheral vision.
Alfred Boyadgis co-founded Forcite after a crash on his motorcycle. A video camera mounted to the side of his helmet cracked its shell and compromised his safety, so he set about integrating a video camera and other features within the helmet’s core design.
The resulting product became the first helmet with built-in video to pass strict crash tests and go on sale to the public.
It is a competitor of sorts to GoPro, a company that makes compact action cameras often used by the motorcycle and motorsport community.
GoPro chief executive Nicholas Woodman said his company would take Forcite to the next level.
“We’re excited for the Forcite team to join us so that together we can work towards enhancing the performance and safety of various types of helmets, starting with motorcycle helmets,” he said.
“GoPro has built a strong brand internationally across all forms of motorsports and has enjoyed a strong following with motorcycle enthusiasts.
“We’re excited to leverage our brand reputation along with our technical and operational capabilities to address what we believe is a long-term growth opportunity for our business.”
Mr Boyadgis was not available to comment on the sale.
GoPro plans to use Forcite’s know-how to launch its own line of helmets and work together with other helmet brands to introduce video cameras and other features to their models.
Forcite has been working with universities and motorcycle manufacturers through the Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct to better integrate warning systems found on modern motorcycles.
It currently functions like a dashcam with crowd-sourced warnings, but the plan is to link blind spot monitoring and other active safety feature on bikes into the helmet in the future.
It also sponsors a handful of motorcycle racers, and its helmets are used by MotoSchool at Sydney Motorsport Park to conduct advanced rider training.
MotoSchool founder Haydan Parker said his chief instructor, Giuseppe Scarcella, was the first rider in the world to race professionally while wearing a smart helmet.
“I believe in the product,” Parker said.
“We use the Forcite helmet when we do our one-on-one coaching – the coach can actually talk to the rider in real time.
“This is a world first in motorcycle riding innovation.”
Founded in 2013, Forcite has raised more than $8 million in cash through grants, venture capital funds, and crowd-funding.
The company raised more than $1 million through a crowd-funding campaign with Equitise in 2022 that encouraged riders familiar with the product to invest in Forcite.
Boyadgis said at the time that “Forcite’s success is down to the involvement of the motorcycle community who have been with us every step of the way, providing invaluable feedback during product development”.
“Our equity crowd-funding is another way to foster this partnership with riders,” he said.
Forcite and GoPro have not published a sale price for the deal, or an estimated return for investors.
Originally published as GoPro to buy Australia’s Forcite helmets
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