Do you know where your bike is? Snik does.

“Launching a hardware product is a huge undertaking. Bell helped us make sure it worked right out of the gate, and their ongoing support is helping us make it even better as we grow.”

When a bike is stolen, it’s often gone for good. Fraser Vaage knows this firsthand. When he was a teenager, Fraser’s bike was stolen from his home in British Columbia. Mountain biking was his greatest passion — he would later compete in races around the world — and the loss was devastating. Since then, he’s seen countless others go through the same experience, with very few of them ever seeing their bikes again.

Vaage knew there had to be a way to solve this issue. As smartphones became increasingly common, and GPS and data networks improved, he came up with an idea that would harness those technologies and create a real solution to bike theft. The result: Snik Bike Security, made possible with mobile connectivity and a cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) management platform from Bell.

Designed to help retrieve stolen bikes

Snik is a small, unobtrusive device that uses cellular connectivity to track a bike’s movement. It pairs with an app on the rider’s smartphone and lets them know immediately if the bike starts moving when they’re not nearby. From there, the rider can use the app to keep track of the bike as it moves. To get as many people watching for the missing bike as possible, owners can also share its live location with the entire Snik community, as well as with friends and family.

Unlike other wireless tracking devices that are easily removed (therefore making them ineffective in case of theft), Snik was specifically engineered to prevent bike theft. The device can be inserted into any bicycle’s stem and is barely noticeable when installed – and nearly impossible to remove without a unique key.

A supportive partner from day one

Vaage was confident in the hardware itself, but he knew Snik’s commercial success depended on finding the right connectivity partner. He needed a reliable network, full coverage across North America, and cost-effective solutions.

“I did due diligence; I shopped around,” he says. “Bell had everything I was looking for. On top of that, the rep I spoke to immediately got it – he really believed in the concept – which was so important.”

To help understand what was possible and account for technical considerations, Vaage brought the Bell team in while the Snik design was still being refined. For example, Bell’s guidance informed the final design of the device by helping determine the best place to install it on a bike, ensuring that the antenna receives a clear signal.

Bell also worked with Snik’s app developers to ensure all software, hardware and other physical components worked seamlessly together.  In addition, Bell’s relationships with major electronics retailers helped Vaage connect with sales and distribution partners.

“Even though we were in the prototyping stage, Bell was incredibly supportive,” says Vaage. “They understood we needed flexibility in our timelines, and they provided really clear and transparent forecasting for what our costs and services would look like as we scale. That information is so critical for business planning and gave us a lot of confidence to move forward.”

Ready to scale up

With sales in 2024 projected to increase 20 times their current output, Snik needed a solution that could grow with them. Each device includes a Bell SIM card, managed through the Bell Control Centre. The cloud-based IoT management platform gives Snik staff access to a wide range of data points that help them understand the use of the devices, providing insights for future product enhancements.

Data passes over Bell’s reliable LTE-M network, providing coverage across North America, including in some highly remote areas. “The primary use case is likely going to be in urban areas,” says Vaage. “But it’s great to know that even in the mountains or other remote areas, we’re still connected.”

On top of its direct-to-consumer sales, Snik is in active negotiations with bicycle manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Within the next few years, Vaage wants to see bikes sold with Snik devices pre-installed. He’s also heard from rental companies and other bicycle fleet owners interested in incorporating Snik into their fleets.