KEEGO founder Lukas in interview
After the lockdowns here in Austria, we were finally allowed to get out and show KEEGO live and in color at events. We really missed that in the last few years. Meeting the many enthusiastic KEEGO users - that was certainly a highlight this year. The TV broadcast in the "Höhle der Löwen" (Lion's Den) also brought in many more. We had also been waiting for this for a long time. The recording was already in February 2021.
Absolutely right! Just in time for the summer, our first combination product with Fidlock is ready. For us it was clear that we have to bring together the best water bottle and the best holder system.
Even though it was difficult, we got it done in record time thanks to our production in Europe.
The combination of squeezable titanium bottle and integrated magnetic holder sets new standards for drinking on the bike. But that's not enough, we stick to our principle: We keep going.
Does that mean there will be more new products? Can you tell us something about that? What new products do you have in the pipeline?
A long-awaited KEEGO baby in the form of the new 500ml bottle has recently hit the market.
We are always in lively exchange with our community and know that in addition to the 750ml, a smaller variant bottle makes a lot of sense.
- Female cyclists with smaller frame
- Bike lovers who have less space available because of their bags, batteries or suspensions
- And, very important: the sporting offspring
Our customers have repeatedly mentioned that their KEEGOs are also used extensively by their children. Apparently, the low weight and the attachment are ideal for the kids. However, 750ml is a bit too big.
Now we have the perfect size for kids to drink plastic-free in the future. On the bike, as an everyday bottle in kindergarten, at school or during sports.
That sounds like small, big news! Is there already first feedback?
Yes, and that is overwhelming.
"Kids love KEEGO" already sounds great. What's so special about the bottle? What distinguishes it from conventional bottles?
Conventional sports bottles and comparably lightweight drinking bottles are made of plastic because they weigh little and must be squeezable. These are important properties of a bottle. However, with these bottles you always drink with some plastic - which you also taste. Everyone knows the typical bland taste of water that has been in a plastic bottle for some time. In addition, such bottles like to mold, which leads to high wear and tear. With KEEGO, the water simply stays much fresher and free of plastic thanks to the titanium inside.
Why is this important especially for children?
According to a WWF study, we consume the equivalent of a credit card's worth of plastic every week. The effects of these substances on our bodies have not yet been sufficiently researched. One thing can be said, however: we are certainly not getting any healthier as a result. We believe that plastic consumption and plastic contact should be avoided whenever possible. This is especially true for children. In the special phase of development of the body and brain, foreign substances with unsafe or even hormonal effects simply have no place.
What do you want from parents?
Many parents worry about the amount of time their children spend watching screens. I think the best recipe against this is to give children as many opportunities as possible to discover the joy of sports and exercise. In addition, sport in a club also brings many encounters. Many different characters come together in a team. This is not always easy. Learning to deal with this can be a real enrichment for the rest of your life. Current studies also show that, in addition to the joy of movement, the fine motor skills of the younger generation in particular are deteriorating alarmingly. No wonder, when you consider what our and our children's everyday lives now look like. Focusing on fun movement can have a positive long-term impact on kids' lives and development. Small motivational pushes, such as a colorful sports bottle, can help strengthen the desire to move.
Besides the smaller KEEGO, is there any news you'd like to share with us?
But with pleasure. We feel like a part of the bike scene. The gravel scene in particular is growing very strongly right now, and we know why. The new paths that are possible with an all-rounder bike like a gravel bike have a great appeal. That's why we love to be at gravel-specific events, like the Gravelgames in Germany or the Austrian gravel festival Into the Wold. Here we have direct contact with the scene and can better understand the demands on their water bottle. Likewise, we are constantly expanding our Ambassador community in this area as well. As a result, a few weeks ago we released a KEEGO Limited Edition with gravel cover - the KEEGO Gravel Green.
What makes KEEGO Gravel Green special?
On the one hand, we based the design on the fact that the KEEGO Gravel Green looks as if it belongs there in all terrains where graveling takes place. Green is the color you'll find everywhere you go when you're outdoors. The special outer layer gives the KEEGO a raw look, which will look great even with dirt and scratches that are sometimes hard to avoid when off-roading.
The topic of "sustainability. There is currently a lot of movement in this area, especially from Generation Z and Alpha. What is your perspective on the topic and what role does sustainability play in your work?
When it comes to companies and products, I think this term will no longer exist as a special designation in the medium term. For products and new developments, it will be a basic condition that they are as sustainable as possible.
We are convinced that we can all make an important contribution if we only buy products that give us pleasure for as long as possible, that can be used for a long time and that we therefore throw away less. KEEGO is such a product - developed to be used for as long as possible.
But of course we also think about the "after". For this we have created our Refresh program program into being. We can recycle our bottles and use them in new KEEGOs. Currently, we are already using recycled material in the outer shell.
An important point is certainly also the short transport routes. Thanks to production in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Denmark), we have very good conditions here. But we don't want to stop there. There are other improvements that we want to tackle, such as optimizing the energy sources for operating the production machines.
What are your plans for the future of KEEGO? What are the goals for 2023?
KEEGO is very well received in the cycling community. In addition, many have already discovered that KEEGO is also an ideal bottle in other ways. Our goal is to emphasize more strongly that KEEGO also makes a lot of sense in other sports and application areas.
Up to now, we have placed the market focus strongly on the German-speaking neighboring countries. In the coming year, we plan to expand our radius somewhat and also make KEEGO accessible to athletes from other countries. This will be an exciting challenge that we are already looking forward to.
How can you support KEEGO?
Best to test for yourself, convince and recommend.... (laughs)
In all seriousness, I'm convinced that the best and most honest advertisers are our customers and pioneers... and this is where we want to continue to develop, as we have in the past. The level of satisfaction in our last customer survey was strikingly high. A full 92% are certain that they would recommend KEEGO to others. Not many companies can say that about their products. At the same time, our annual survey always gives us valuable feedback and important ideas on how we can improve even further. We firmly believe: Evolution never stops! 100% honest enthusiasm for KEEGO - that must always be our goal.
Final question: What are you giving for Christmas this year?
Oh, if I arrive with anything other than the new little KEEGO, I just don't do the requests justice! That's pretty easy for me this year. (laughs)
