Cyql - About us

Cycling is our passion

About Us

The people behind Cyql: a platform, created by cyclists for cyclists.

The story behind the app that makes cycling more fun and safer

Cyql is a startup founded by two entrepreneurial friends with over 20 years of experience in the IT sector. Jan Kooistra and Wouter Slotegraaf, who began as internet pioneers in Friesland in 2000, have been active in the mobile industry since 2011. Both are not only passionate entrepreneurs but also avid athletes who have since caught the cycling bug. Their ambition is clear: Cyql aims to make cycling more enjoyable, safer, and more social. They do this by encouraging (responsible) performance, creating engagement and club loyalty, and optimizing communication between cyclists – both within clubs and among cyclists themselves.

The first ideas for Cyql were put on paper in 2019, with the goal of developing an app for cyclists, cycling clubs, and various groups. Two years later, in 2021, Cyql was launched and has since grown into a platform where thousands of cyclists come together every day to ride more and safer.

Cyql’s success is also thanks to the combined experience and expertise of Wouter, Jan, and their partner Gert-Jan. Wouter and Jan previously founded Speak, which they successfully sold in 2011, and in 2012 they established Freed, an IT development company that works closely with Cyql. Thanks to this partnership, Cyql is able to purchase IT development hours at cost price, giving the platform a significant competitive advantage in an industry with high barriers to entry.

Gert-Jan, with his extensive experience in the cycling industry, was a co-founder of ListNRide, the largest bike rental platform in Europe. His in-depth knowledge of the cycling industry, network, and commercial insight are valuable assets to Cyql. This unique combination of IT expertise and industry knowledge makes Cyql a platform with great growth potential and clear added value for cyclists worldwide.