Despite Europe’s dense urban centers, pedestrian-friendly streets, and expansive public transit networks, the private automobile remains the undisputed king of urban mobility. City dwellers routinely navigate winding cobblestone avenues and heavy traffic on foot, but when it comes to practicality—hauling groceries, transporting gear, or embarking on weekend getaways—the car is still the default choice.
Enter Any, an ambitious Belgian startup looking to challenge this deeply ingrained status quo. Rather than trying to force urbanites to abandon motorized transport entirely, Any is asking a fundamental question: Why must trading four wheels for two mean sacrificing utility, storage, and versatility?
The startup’s answer is the LUV1, a modular electric motorcycle designed to offer the speed and agility of a two-wheeler combined with the staggering storage capacity of a cargo bike. Spearheaded by seasoned automotive veterans and high-profile designers, Any is pioneering a brand-new hybrid category known as the "life utility vehicle." With strong early traction, robust venture capital backing, and a fresh push for substantial Series A funding, Any is positioning itself at the forefront of Europe’s transition toward sustainable urban transport.
Main Facts: The LUV1 and the Rise of the "Life Utility Vehicle"
At its core, the LUV1 is an engineering compromise meant to eliminate the friction points that prevent people from switching from cars to motorcycles. Traditional motorcycles and scooters excel at cutting through gridlock and squeezing into tight parking spots, but they notoriously lack trunk space. Conversely, electric cargo bikes offer ample room for cargo, but their limited speed and range make them impractical for longer commutes or regional travel.
The LUV1 bridges this divide by introducing a massive 120-liter storage capacity—intentionally engineered to replicate the convenience of a car trunk.
- Performance: The LUV1 is fully electric, capable of reaching a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and delivering an impressive range of up to 87 miles (140 km) per charge via two swappable batteries.
- Licensing Accessibility: Unlike high-powered motorcycles that require rigorous and expensive licensing, the LUV1 is designed to fall under the A1 license classification, which is comparatively straightforward and accessible to obtain across most of Europe.
- Pricing: Starting at €7,000 (approximately $8,150), the base price undercuts traditional small cars while sitting comfortably in line with premium electric cargo bikes.
- Modularity: The vehicle features an interchangeable framing system. Customers can choose between an open frame or enclosed panels tailored for specific use cases—whether transporting pets, hauling work equipment, or carrying camping gear. Additional accessories include windshields, custom racks, and weather gear.
Chronology: From Milan Design Week to Production Realities
Any’s journey from a conceptual sketch to a commercial pre-order phenomenon has moved at a rapid pace, anchored by strategic milestones and critical funding rounds.
Late 2023 – Mid-2024: Laying the Foundations
The startup brought on former venture capitalist Pieter Van de Velde as CEO roughly a year ago, tasking him with scaling the venture. Concurrently, Any secured key technical leadership, hiring Head of Engineering Alessandro Mangano—whose impressive resume includes stints at legendary automotive and two-wheeler powerhouses such as Aprilia, Ferrari, and the Piaggio Group.
May: The Milan Debut and Initial Funding
The LUV1 first entered the public spotlight in May during Milan Design Week. Its striking prototype, conceptualized by renowned former Pininfarina design director Lowie Vermeersch (founder of Granstudio, who serves as Any’s creative director and an investor), immediately dominated industry headlines. Capitalizing on the buzz, Any closed a €1.25 million top-up funding round, adding to a previous €1.5 million raise in November, bringing its total early-stage funding to €2.75 million ($3.2 million).
Summer – Fall: The Pre-Order Surge
Following the Milan unveiling, Any launched a digital vehicle configurator alongside a pre-order campaign. Requiring a fully refundable €49 ($57) reservation fee that is credited toward the final purchase price, the campaign struck a chord with consumers. According to Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Erik de Winter, the startup secured more than 600 reservations in its first 100 days.
Present Day: Scaling Up for Production
Having proven market demand, Any is shifting its focus from design and prototyping to mass production and manufacturing logistics. To achieve this, the company has initiated a major Series A funding round seeking €10 million ($11.65 million) or more, with the goal of closing the round by the end of the year to finance its first wave of customer deliveries.
Supporting Data and Technical Architecture
Any’s value proposition is backed by rigorous design choices and significant industry expertise. The choice of a 120-liter storage capacity was not an arbitrary marketing metric; it was derived from analyzing weekly consumer needs.
"It came from asking a simple question: what does a real week actually need? Groceries, weekend bags, suitcases—the stuff you don’t want to leave behind just because you’re on two wheels, not four," the startup explained in a company statement.
Financial and Operational Metrics
- Total Seed Funding Raised: €2.75 million ($3.2 million) across two tranches (November and May).
- Target Series A Funding: €10 million+ ($11.65 million+) to initiate commercial manufacturing.
- Pre-Order Traction: Over 600 reservations logged within 100 days of the configurator’s launch.
- Base Pricing: €7,000 ($8,150), with final pricing fluctuating based on modular configuration options chosen by the buyer.
- Range & Power: Dual swappable batteries delivering an 87-mile range and a 62 mph top speed.
Official Responses and Leadership Vision
The executive team behind Any brings a rare mix of mobility startup experience and heavy-hitting automotive pedigree.
Erik de Winter, CCO and co-founder—whose previous entrepreneurial ventures include the Dutch e-cargo bike-sharing service Cargaroo—has emphasized that Any is designed to appeal to a broad demographic well beyond traditional motorcycle enthusiasts. Beyond individual commuters, families, and outdoor adventurers, de Winter revealed that the startup has already been approached by last-mile delivery enterprises interested in the vehicle’s commercial utility.
Furthermore, Any’s leadership hints that the LUV1 is merely the vanguard of a broader product roadmap. The startup intends to develop an entire "portfolio of vehicles," which industry insiders note could eventually include a three-wheeled variant configured for enhanced stability and even greater payload capacity.
The involvement of Lowie Vermeersch as creative director ensures that aesthetic appeal matches functional utility. Vermeersch’s design philosophy rejects the utilitarian, clunky aesthetic often associated with utility vehicles, opting instead for a sleek, contemporary silhouette that fits naturally into high-fashion and design-forward European cities.
Implications for the Future of Urban Mobility
Any’s arrival coincides with a massive structural shift across Europe. According to projections by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), the powered two-wheeler market is expected to be predominantly electric by 2030.
Legacy giants and nimble startups alike are scrambling to capture this evolving market. Established automotive and moto-brands such as Piaggio and Harley-Davidson have steadily introduced electric two-wheelers to court eco-conscious urban riders. However, many of these offerings remain traditional in their design, failing to solve the fundamental storage limitations that anchor urbanites to their cars.
By introducing the "life utility vehicle" category, Any is positioning itself uniquely between the e-bike, scooter, and motorcycle segments. If the startup successfully closes its Series A funding round, scales its production lines in Europe, and delivers on the promise of the LUV1, it could redefine how urban citizens perceive personal transport.
Ultimately, Any’s success will not be measured merely by how many units it sells, but by whether it can successfully break the psychological and practical dependence on the car trunk—proving that life on two wheels doesn’t require leaving the rest of your life behind.
