NOVUS secures eight-figure funding to take its electric Lightbike from Germany to California

Backed by 468 Capital and a network of automotive, technology, and consumer industry executives, NOVUS is scaling production of its lightweight electric two-wheeler and developing a more affordable second model.

Mobility company NOVUS has closed a double-digit million funding round, led by Berlin- and San Francisco-based venture capital firm 468 Capital.

The NOVUS One is a lightweight electric two-wheeler that sits somewhere between an e-bike, a scooter, and a motorcycle. Designed for everyday urban travel, it combines the straightforward operation of an electric bicycle with the speed and performance of a motorcycle, without a clutch or conventional gears.

Founded in 2019, the Braunschweig-based company began delivering its first vehicle to European customers in spring 2026.

I spoke with co-founders René Renger, CEO, and Hannes A. H. Krieger, Chief Strategy Officer, to find out more.

From a university design project to a mobility startup

NOVUS was founded by Renger, a former Volkswagen designer who worked on the Golf 8 and ID. Buzz. Renger grew up in a small town in central Germany, about an hour from the nearest major city.

“The first thing you did when you turned 16 was get a small motorcycle licence so you could get out of town.

It wasn’t just about mobility. It was about having something of your own, something you could identify with. You also wanted to impress the girl in the next town. That’s genuinely how it started.”

He subsequently studied industrial and automotive design, where an academic project became the starting point for NOVUS.

“At university, we had a project called Lightweight Future Mobility. It was around the time the first electric bicycles were appearing, but they weren’t particularly exciting products.

They were largely associated with older people and weren’t lifestyle products.

However, they demonstrated that new technologies were becoming available, including electric drivetrains and different wheel architectures.We saw an opportunity to create something entirely new.”

Making motorcycles desirable — and practical for everyday use

Rather than starting with a mass-market commuter vehicle, NOVUS chose to develop a premium product for customers who value design as much as mobility. Renger believes a product’s emotional appeal can be as important as its practical capabilities.

“At our core, we’re a design company, and design is ultimately about user experience. It’s the first impression, how you handle the product, how it works, and what it gives you.

We strongly believe a successful product must first convince people emotionally.

You need to love it and love using it. Initially, that might appeal to a relatively small group of people, but you can grow from there.

He contends that if something is purely functional, you might never reach the point where people genuinely desire it.

“We’re approaching the market the other way around.

First, we create a product that people desire. Then, with our second and third models, we can address a broader customer base and make the technology more accessible.”

NOVUS One has the performance of a motorcycle; the company is also targeting car drivers and people who have never owned a powered two-wheeler. Krieger said hundreds of test rides across Europe revealed interest from customers who did not identify as motorcycle riders.

“For them, an e-bike wasn’t fast enough, a scooter wasn’t exciting enough, and a conventional motorcycle was too heavy or intimidating.NOVUS combines the advantages of all three.

You can ride slowly through a city, but you also have the performance for much faster riding.”

Inside the NOVUS One

The NOVUS One accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in under two seconds, with up to 430 Nm of torque and 25 kW (33 hp) of peak power. Its 6.2 kWh battery offers a claimed range of up to 150 km and can charge from 0 to 80 per cent in 90 minutes.

It features a self-supporting carbon frame and hub-mounted drivetrain.

The vehicle includes three riding modes, over-the-air software updates, smartphone integration, and keyless operation.

NOVUS says most first-time riders can learn the basic controls in around three minutes. Licensing requirements vary by country, though in some markets you can ride the entry configuration with a standard car licence.

The NOVUS One Founders Edition starts at €21,300 excluding tax.

From prototype to production: the €1.5M motor challenge

Renger recalled that one of the biggest early challenges was knowing where to begin. Fortunately, he had some very optimal neighbours:

“I was a designer without the necessary engineering expertise. One of my neighbours happened to be a battery engineer, and another was a CAD engineer. I convinced both of them to help.”

When the team approached Bosch about developing a motor with the performance they needed, they were quoted approximately €1.5 million.

“I’d just quit my job, so that was a slightly terrifying moment. But you find solutions.”

Each stage brought new challenges, from building the first prototype to securing certification and industrialising production. But he credits the vehicle’s relatively simple architecture for streamlining manufacturing:

“Our architecture is closer to an e-bike than a conventional motorcycle. We don’t have the complexity of gears, liquids, or traditional cooling systems.”

Fewer mechanical components simplify assembly and create opportunities to increase production.

NOVUS manufactures in Braunschweig, close to Volkswagen’s base in Wolfsburg. The established automotive industry in the region provides access to engineering, production, and industrialisation expertise.

Building an investor network beyond the motorcycle industry

NOVUS is backed by over 30 investors drawn from technology, automotive, fashion, consumer goods, and venture capital

Its shareholder network includes founders and executives associated with Kembara VC, Adidas, Audi, BMW, Chrono24, FINN, Grover, Mercedes-AMG, New Balance, Vay, and Xiaomi, as well as Formula E driver Sophia Flörsch, venture investors from Silicon Valley and Europe, and several family offices. The company says no established two-wheeler manufacturer is among its investors.

Krieger recalled that in 2023, he and Renger began looking beyond the conventional mobility sector for people who could help them build a manufacturing business.

“We realised we needed people who had already solved parts of the challenges we were facing.Nobody had built exactly what we were building, but there were people with relevant experience in automotive engineering, premium consumer products, technology, finance, fashion, and brand development.

So we deliberately built an ecosystem across those industries.”

Among them is Eric Bach, former Senior Vice President of Product and Chief Engineer at Lucid Motors and former Director of Engineering at Tesla. Bach is an investor and board adviser who contributes to NOVUS’s vehicle engineering and development. Martin Hoffmann, the former CFO and co-CEO of Swiss sportswear company On, is another investor. His experience includes helping scale On and taking it public.

Krieger describes the approach as deliberately different from seeking investment solely from mobility specialists.

“We did not go looking for traditional mobility investors. We built something closer to our own Y Combinator: a network of leaders who have scaled and disrupted markets in tech, automotive and consumer.”

Why NOVUS is resisting the pressure to scale fast

Despite securing new funding and beginning deliveries, Krieger says NOVUS is deliberately avoiding the rapid production targets that have caused difficulties for other vehicle startups.

“I’ve seen many manufacturers make the same mistake: they try to scale too quickly. They want to produce thousands or tens of thousands of vehicles almost immediately.

Then a supply-chain problem emerges, and suddenly thousands of customers are waiting for delayed deliveries.”

NOVUS is initially producing smaller volumes and developing close relationships with early customers:

“Several of our investors were customers first. They bought the product and then decided to invest in the company.”

The company also established the NOVUS Club, connecting shareholders, customers, and industry partners.

“My advice to any hardware founder is never to walk alone. In the beginning, you’re relatively isolated. Nobody knows your company, your brand, or your product.”

One example is NOVUS’s collaboration with Hugo Boss, which began before the vehicle had received certification. The partnership brought fashion materials into the vehicle’s design and provided an association with an established premium brand.

“Boss lent a bit of their brand trust to us.”

From Germany to California: NOVUS’s expansion plans

NOVUS has delivered vehicles to customers in Germany and Spain, with further deliveries planned for the UK, France, and Italy. Its US launch is scheduled for late 2027, beginning in California before expanding to other states.

The funding will also support wider European distribution and development of the NOVUS Two, a higher-volume model with a lower entry price than the NOVUS One.

Production of the second model is scheduled to begin in late 2027.

Beyond its next two-wheeler, NOVUS intends to apply its lightweight vehicle architecture to other urban mobility products, including four-wheel vehicles.

Renger also sees opportunities for software and AI to play a greater role in future vehicles, including systems that adapt to how people ride and provide assistance. These remain longer-term ambitions rather than features demonstrated in the current production vehicle.

The company plans to establish retail partnerships in major cities, letting prospective customers see and test the vehicles before buying. In locations without a retail partner, NOVUS will sell directly to consumers and provide delivery and servicing support.

Krieger also sees potential in the corporate market, particularly through employer-supported mobility schemes. In Germany, these can offer tax advantages to employees who receive eligible vehicles through their employers.

Do something else for an easy life

When asked what advice he would give aspiring hardware or vehicle startup founders, Renger doesn’t hold back.

“If you’re looking for an easy career, you should probably do something else. But if you’re willing to work harder than almost everyone you know, and you’re prepared for a journey that could take years, then it’s possible.”

While AI tools have made technical information and guidance more accessible, Renger believes the real challenges lie in persistence, building relationships, and inspiring others to support a vision. He also strongly recommends gaining experience at an established automotive or manufacturing company before launching a mobility startup.

“There’s a narrative in the startup world that traditional companies are boring, but I think that’s nonsense.

You learn from highly professional teams, understand production processes, and discover what it means to deliver against deadlines that cannot simply be postponed.”

The new funding will support expansion across European cities, development of a lower-priced second model, and a planned US launch in 2027.