Toronto-based Vanhawks offers technology that could reinvent the bicycling experience.

In the age of sustainability and at a time when many are pushing for more human-powered forms of transportation, Vanhawks helps commuters and others to travel with state-of-the-art navigation and exploration tools.

Central to the Vanhawks model is the Vanhawks Valour, a tech-outfitted bike with a carbon-fibre frame and fork, as well as a carbon belt drive and special road tires. GPS and sensor features are also built into the Vanhawks Valour, as is Wi-Fi connectivity. The Vanhawks Valour has riders in more than 42 countries.

Vanhawks has been operating for three years in Toronto.

“It might sound cliche, but what got us started and kept us going is the hunger to change and solve a problem we faced as founders.” Vanhawks co-founder and CEO Sohaib Zahid told Toronto Business Daily. “We have scratched the tip of the iceberg, and have a long way to go. Focus is essential in keeping your mission true to your vision. … When you have passion to change something … you aren’t going to back out when you get knocked down and rest assured, you will get knocked down, over and over again. And isn’t getting back up what winning is all about?"

Honesty is the most important value to bring to a business, Zahid said.

“Keep yourself true and honest to your customers, employees and product,” Zahid said. “It goes a long way.”

Zahid also spoke about the company's place in the Toronto community.

“We are proudly based out of Toronto,” Zahid said, citing a good cost of living and access to Toronto/Waterloo universities. “(Being close to the universities) gives you access to amazing talent, and we have a very strong tech community in the city, which is accessible and helpful when the need be,” Zahid said.

He said future efforts will centre around refining solutions for travel.

“We are working towards solving the problem of short distance travel and to become the default routing engine for safer, smarter routes for bike commuters in the congested centres,” Zahid said.