When you think of Indian-made bicycles, you probably imagine rugged city bikes or basic roadsters and not sleek, performance-driven machines that can rival global names. For Abhiraam Sadineni, that gap became an opportunity. What began as a weekend hobby soon turned into a full-fledged mission to design and manufacture world-class bikes in India. His journey from corporate professional to founder of a cycling startup is one of grit, learning, and staying true to passion.
From Mechanical Engineer to Bike Builder
For most people, a love for cycling ends with weekend rides. For Abhiraam, it became a calling that pushed him to quit a secure corporate job and build a bicycle brand from scratch.
“I’m a mechanical engineer by education,” he begins, “but I spent almost nine years working in IT. During that time, around 2016, cycling became a hobby of mine. It quickly became a serious passion.”
This interest was further fuelled during the pandemic. While most people stayed indoors, Abhiraam was busy assembling bike parts and helping friends repair and customize their cycles. A community project soon changed everything. “Hyderabad Bicycling Club asked me to build prototypes for electric bikes. The deal didn’t go through, but that experience reminded me how much I loved building things.”
By 2021, he had made up his mind. He would leave his corporate job at Verizon and start a company that designed and built world-class bicycles in India. “There’s no Indian brand that makes bikes at global standards,” he says. “I wanted to be that first guy.”
Building Abe Bikes: Lessons from the Ground Up
In January 2022, Abhiraam registered his company and opened a retail storefront in Hyderabad, catering to professional cyclists and triathletes. “I had about seven employees. Everything was a learning — how to create invoices, make GST payments, manage stock, even basic accounting was new to me,” he recalls with a laugh.
While the store helped him understand India’s premium cycling market, it also made him realize he didn’t want to become just a trader. “I wanted to focus on manufacturing, on actually building something,” he says.
His persistence led him to T-Hub, Telangana’s innovation hub, where his idea gained structure through the Lab2Market program. Then came another turning point: his selection into the Bower LEAD program.
Finding Focus Through LEAD
“That was a real shift for me,” says Abhiraam. “Before LEAD, I had a broad idea of what I wanted to do. But through the sessions and conversations there, my vision became much sharper. I began to understand how VCs think, what investors look for, and what it really means to scale a business.”
He adds that being part of a community of founders and mentors helped him connect the dots between passion and execution. “The learning is intense but practical,” he says. “We debate, we challenge each other, and the faculty — people like Ajit (Rangnekar) sir, MSR, and Pavan (Allena) — bring real-world insights that stay with you. It’s not theory; it’s about building something real.”
The network also opened new doors for his company. “Ajit (Rangnekar) sir took personal interest in what I was building and even introduced me to the Bower investors group. During demo days, I got verbal commitments from Hyderabad Angels, and Pavan (Allena) himself said he’d invest personally. That kind of validation means a lot when you’re starting.”
Designing India’s Future in Cycling
Today, Abhiraam’s startup is working with the National Center for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM) and ARCI to create 3D-printed carbon fiber bike prototypes. “We’ve actually built bikes ourselves,” he says. “The plan is to use the upcoming INR 2–4 crore pre-seed round to move from zero to one — get prototypes ready, finalize the plant design, and set up distribution.”
His vision extends beyond business to building a cycling ecosystem for India. “Europe has 300 velodromes, Japan has 33, and India only has 15. Wherever there are velodromes, there are more cyclists,” he explains. “I want to create a Section 8 company that partners with corporates to build 100 velodromes across India. It’s a long shot, but doable.”
“Even a Bad Idea Can Work If You Keep at It”
Looking back, Abhiraam believes entrepreneurship is less about perfect ideas and more about persistence. “Even if your idea is bad, keep at it,” he advises. “At the same time, know when to pivot. Be real about your doubts, ask questions, and use the network you have.”
For him, the LEAD program offered more than knowledge. It provided community, access, and confidence. “If you’re starting in Hyderabad, being in Bower’s ecosystem is the best spot to be. Your idea becomes clearer in an accelerated way. Even if it’s bad, you’ll make something out of it,” he quips.
From quitting a corporate job to raising capital for a made-in-India bicycle brand, Abhiraam’s story reflects the journey of many entrepreneurs who turn conviction into creation. As he gears up to manufacture India’s first globally competitive bikes, his words sum up the spirit of his ride:
“I believed in my idea when no one else did. Now, others do too — and that makes all the difference.”
