Toast or Roast: Groclin. Polish hydrogen bicycles.

Toast or Roast is a series of essays in which I analyze and rate startups and business ventures from the perspective of an independent venture capital scout. Now, after a challenging period of illness, I am back with double the strength and fresh ideas. Today, we dive into the world of innovative micromobility and a founder with “business ADHD”. So, today’s topic: Groclin and the Polish hydrogen bike.

The Revolution or Evolution?

Groclin is a startup producing the first (as they claim, Polish) hydrogen-powered bicycles. It is a major technological breakthrough. Imagine that while our great-grandparents rode basic bicycles in the 1920s, we have now achieved mastery over chemistry and physics. The company has successfully solved the issue of hydrogen storage, which, as you know, is the lightest element in the periodic table. They have already presented their solution and test bikes to the Polish Post Office (Poczta Polska).

Product: Hydrogen bestie

So, what is the difference between a standard e-bike and a hy-bike? The hydrogen bike does not have a conventional battery; instead, it uses a cartridge containing 20 grams of hydrogen. Let’s look closer at the electrochemistry behind it. To generate a flow of protons across the exchange membrane, we need hydrogen gas, oxygen, and a hydrogen fuel cell. This process generates electricity to power the motor, and the only byproduct is water. The bike has a range of up to 60 kilometers. The biggest advantage? You don’t waste time charging; you simply swap out the hydrogen cartridge. With local hydrogen production, riding 60 km costs on average about $0.50 (2 PLN). The bikes are manufactured here in Poland in collaboration with an Asian partner.

The Founder

The driving force behind Groclin is Michał Seidel. He is the founder and current CEO of the marketing agency Good People. In addition, he founded Futureo, a startup that created the first digital bike showroom in Poland. In 2021, Futureo acquired the rights to the Groclin trademark with a clear plan to “democratize electromobility.” Seidel was responsible for pivoting the business model from B2C to B2B.

Market and Potential Customers

Groclin is not targeting the mass retail market or casual weekend cyclists. The design and pricing of the bikes dictate a purely B2B and B2G (Business-to-Government) strategy. Courier companies, for whom charging downtime translates directly into lost revenue, are the primary target. Groclin is also targeting local governments and bike-sharing operators.

Outlook and Goals

After an intense 2025 focused on research and development (R&D), laboratory testing, and building technological partnerships, 2026 is the year for commercial rollouts. The company is working to transform finished prototypes into the first pilot urban and commercial fleets (as seen with Poczta Polska). Their goal is to prove that hydrogen in micromobility is not just a gimmick from a tech fair, but a viable alternative to standard lithium-ion batteries. Currently, they are open to investors while simultaneously pursuing non-dilutive grant funding.

The summary

I view this project as a futuristic venture worth investing in, assuming a medium-term risk tolerance. The main bottleneck is the technological risk. If you introduce a minimum energy (a spark or heat) to a mix of oxygen and hydrogen, it can explode. Therefore, isolating the substance through a well-designed fuel cell is critical. Furthermore, because hydrogen is the lightest element, it requires specific storage conditions to prevent leakage. Currently, a hy-bike costs approximately $3,000 to $5,000 (12,000–20,000 PLN). Delivery companies will have to calculate what is more cost-effective: the time required to charge a standard e-bike battery versus the high upfront cost of a hy-bike. The market dynamics will shift completely once production scales and the price decrease.