At Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin, headfirst won Silver in the Startup Awards, recognised alongside two other companies solving different pieces of the micromobility puzzle: better batteries and safer last-mile transport. No two of the three winners tackled the same problem, headfirst's focus was safety and helmet design.
Founder Daan Zoetmulder said winning Silver meant a lot to the team: the company was built on the belief that the safest helmet is the one people actually want to wear. Seeing the Echo Pro's product and progress recognised by the wider micromobility industry is a strong signal that headfirst is solving a real problem, not just for cyclists, but for anyone moving through cities on two wheels.
Six startups made it to the final round, Glydz, Headfirst Helmets, Mi.City, Stark Vehicles, Taisan and Dinka Safe and the judges called the decision a close one. Battery company Taisan ultimately took Gold for its sodium-ion battery technology, while Glydz earned Bronze for its AI-stabilized electric soles built for the last-mile challenge.
Daan brings a background in brand-building to headfirst: he studied strategic marketing at the University of Amsterdam and later served as Managing Director of creative marketing agency WPK, running its Amsterdam and Düsseldorf offices, before leading marketing at a social fintech startup and serving as CEO of an Amsterdam-based sustainable design kitchen company. That mix of brand and product experience has helped shape how headfirst positions the Echo Pro, not just as safety gear, but as a helmet people are proud to wear.
The award adds to a strong year for headfirst, which also includes an iF Design Gold Award win and a successful Kickstarter campaign for the Echo Pro.
headfirst Takes Silver at the Micromobility Europe Startup Awards
At Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin, headfirst won Silver in the Startup Awards, recognised alongside two other companies solving different pieces of the micromobility puzzle: better batteries and safer last-mile transport. No two of the three winners tackled the same problem, headfirst's focus was safety and helmet design.
Founder Daan Zoetmulder said winning Silver meant a lot to the team: the company was built on the belief that the safest helmet is the one people actually want to wear. Seeing the Echo Pro's product and progress recognised by the wider micromobility industry is a strong signal that headfirst is solving a real problem, not just for cyclists, but for anyone moving through cities on two wheels.
Six startups made it to the final round, Glydz, Headfirst Helmets, Mi.City, Stark Vehicles, Taisan and Dinka Safe and the judges called the decision a close one. Battery company Taisan ultimately took Gold for its sodium-ion battery technology, while Glydz earned Bronze for its AI-stabilized electric soles built for the last-mile challenge.
Daan brings a background in brand-building to headfirst: he studied strategic marketing at the University of Amsterdam and later served as Managing Director of creative marketing agency WPK, running its Amsterdam and Düsseldorf offices, before leading marketing at a social fintech startup and serving as CEO of an Amsterdam-based sustainable design kitchen company. That mix of brand and product experience has helped shape how headfirst positions the Echo Pro, not just as safety gear, but as a helmet people are proud to wear.
The award adds to a strong year for headfirst, which also includes an iF Design Gold Award win and a successful Kickstarter campaign for the Echo Pro.