Detecht Raises €395K from Chalmers Ventures to Scale Motorcycle Safety App
The Gothenburg-based app detects crashes, plans scenic routes, and connects riders worldwide — now backed by one of the Nordics’ leading deep tech investors.
Detecht, a Swedish mobile platform for motorcycle safety and navigation, has received an investment of 4.5 million SEK (approximately €395,000) from Chalmers Ventures, alongside existing owners. The capital will be used to accelerate expansion across North America and Europe, where the app already counts more than 25,000 paying subscribers.
The company is a spin-out from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg — and its core technology reflects exactly that origin. The crash detection algorithm at the heart of the app was developed from university research, using a smartphone’s built-in sensors to identify whether a rider has fallen off their bike or been involved in a collision. If triggered, the app automatically alerts emergency contacts.
Not your average GPS
Detecht is best described as three products in one: a crash detection system, a navigation tool, and a social network for riders — all built into a single app.
The navigation layer is where it differentiates most clearly from mainstream tools. While Google Maps optimises for speed, Detecht optimises for experience. Riders can set preferences for curvy, scenic roads rather than the fastest route — a feature that has driven strong organic community growth among enthusiasts globally. The social layer lets riders share routes, riding statistics, and experiences with others on the platform, creating a feedback loop that makes the app stickier over time.
This company impresses by consistently delivering results. They are very skilled at measuring and managing operations based on their KPIs. Detecht is a great example of our model where we build companies by matching research results with entrepreneurship students.
— Louise Brudö, Investor Director, Chalmers Ventures
Academia meets entrepreneurship
The team behind Detecht came through the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship, making the company a textbook case of university spin-out done right. Chalmers Ventures — which focuses specifically on deep tech and university spin-outs — has backed the company as both investor and active owner, a model that distinguishes Nordic deep tech from the more purely financial VC approach common elsewhere in Europe.
The US market has emerged as Detecht’s strongest early territory, an unusual position for a Swedish startup in a consumer-adjacent vertical. The new capital is designed to consolidate that position while opening new European markets in parallel.
Having our existing owners and Chalmers Ventures with us underscores the confidence in our growth journey. Today, we are one of the world’s largest motorcycle apps where safety, navigation, and community are integrated into a single platform. Now we are focusing on honoring that trust and scaling operations further.
— Niklas Ohlsson, CEO & Co-founder, Detecht
Investors in this round
- Lead: Chalmers Ventures
- Existing owners (participating)
Why it matters for European deep tech
Detecht is a quiet example of what European university spin-outs can become when the commercialisation infrastructure actually works. A crash detection algorithm from an academic lab has turned into a globally competitive consumer product with 25,000 subscribers — without a splashy Series A or a Silicon Valley address. As Chalmers Ventures continues to back the company through its growth phase, the next test is whether it can convert its US traction into a dominant global position in what remains a largely untapped vertical.
About Detecht: Mobile platform for motorcycle safety combining crash detection, navigation, and social features. Founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, by alumni of the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship. More at detechtapp.com.
About Chalmers Ventures: Leading tech investor and venture builder in the Nordics, focused on university spin-outs and deep tech from Chalmers University of Technology.
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