Hello!

It’s Julian from OMATA again. I’m writing to you now because you may have heard, we’re in full-on fundraising mode. It's now Week 6 of the 12 week clock I set for myself — which started on March 1. (Pardon the productive mess above!)

We're slowly getting closer to our goal to raise funds to ramp the business up, kick production into gear, and grow the team. I've been having incredible conversations with people who are in a position to help us grow, and who love the brand, vision, and product. 

But, I’m anxious we won’t make it in a timely fashion so I want to let you in on our current plan. You might be able to help me spread the word.

But first, let me back up for a moment and tell you my story about how a non-sense idea came to make perfectly good sense and start a bit of a passionate movement within a lucky little community of cycling enthusiasts.

328 weeks ago, when I founded OMATA, I was wondering why all the cycling computers on the market looked like a smartphone, rather than a considered, thoughtfully-designed bicycle component. This to me was a remarkable opportunity to offer choice where there are currently a few rather bland, undifferentiated products. I also wanted something that could record the data from my rides, but didn’t look like a data capture device or something that belongs in an Amazon data center somewhere.

And those who were lucky enough to get one told me that “it changed the way they ride” And that was a good thing!

That’s amazing! OMATA changed something. It made cycling better. That's a mark of a successful product. I was absolutely humbled. 

OMATA made you stop worrying about what your ride would look like on Strava — you just ‘rode your damn bike.’ And that didn’t mean you were going slow — not by a long shot. More than once I’ve had people show me on Strava how they PR’d their nemesis climb or sprint. They were convinced that not looking down all the time at their digital computer kept them focussed and in that flow state. 

Sometimes it’s just better to listen to your body and breathing and sense your effort rather than be told by an algorithm how your ride is going.

These are some of the reasons why I didn’t lazily reproduce the old uninspired consumer electronics product tropes. There are enough square plastic things with a liquid-crystal display, all mass-manufactured commodity items chasing bottom-dollar prices at the cost of character, quality, and real meaningful values.

I want to preserve what we’ve built and grow OMATA so we can continue the vision. I need to raise funds to grow and I could use your help to get us there.

I need to grow the team, and ramp up production to restock and re-engage my key partners so I can grow the portfolio to include the concepts and prototypes I’ve been sharing.

I need to expand the portfolio to include accessories, merchandise, and the kinds of compelling content that helps tell the world how we believe in the power of cycling to make the world a bit more of a habitable place.

I want to take OMATA to where it becomes a large and vibrant brand, led by the values we’ve imbued in the product and the values the cycling community passionately responds to.

Working on fundraising is challenging under most any circumstances, but particularly so while doing it alone..and during a global pandemic. To be transparent, my network for prospective co-owners is quite small, and I’ve reached its furthest edges. That network has gotten OMATA to where it is now, but we need to go further.

I feel fairly certain that there is “someone who knows someone” who would see it as a unique opportunity to join as an owner.

Here is how you can help. This is easy! 

Please pass the word throughout your network that OMATA is fundraising. This will help me expand the network of prospective investors beyond my own Rolodex.

Below are links to my 2024 Vision and the more formal pitch deck that has been slowly circulating. Please take a look. It’s fun stuff, I’ve been told. And then share it out through your network. Also — ask me questions! Let’s get on the horn and hae a chat! It’s just me back here and I’m not going anywhere, so I’ve provided a link so it’s easy to schedule a little bit of time.

2024 Vision Document
https://tinyurl.com/omata-vision-2024

OMATA Pitch Deck
https://tinyurl.com/omata-2021

Schedule a Chat
https://calendly.com/julian-bleecker/omata-coffee-chat

Thank you for your help and your belief in OMATA!

I’m genuinely grateful for your help!

Julian Bleecker
OMATA Founder
Venice Beach, California