Cowboy Appoints Pola Karolczyk as Legal Counsel as Company Prepares for the Next Growth Phase

Cowboy, the leading e-bike brand, today introduces Pola Karolczyk as its first in-house General Counsel, reaffirming the company's unwavering commitment to product excellence and innovation. Taking charge of the Legal and Investor Relations function, Pola assumes a pivotal role, steering legal strategy, influencing strategic development, and overseeing initiatives across Cowboy's operations.

In her expansive career, Pola served as a senior legal counsel at Apple, providing instrumental support for sales and operations across 20 countries in CEE and offering valuable advice to policy and environmental teams on a wide range of EU law topics. Prior to Apple, Pola held roles at Sidley Austin, one of the world's leading law firms and, briefly, as the Global Competition Counsel at eBay. With over 15 years of diverse experience, she specialises in providing creative yet compliant legal support and risk management for leaders in the tech industry.

“Pola's incredible talent makes her a great addition to the team. It's a pleasure to work with colleague's of Pola's calibre who can provide counsel as we enter our next phase of growth. Her impressive and diverse experience in Europe will be invaluable and we are absolutely delighted to have her onboard.”

Adrien Roose, Co-Founder and CEO, Cowboy.

This announcement follows a series of leadership updates in 2023, starting with the hire of Oliver Barleben, former Philips VP procurement in March, and culminating in the recent appointments of former Oura CEO, Harpreet Singh Rai, as a Board Member, and ex CCO of Peloton, Kevin Cornils, as Advisor. These appointments mark a transformative phase for Cowboy, and the appointment of Pola, a seasoned EU attorney, further demonstrates the company's ambitions for 2024.

Built on innovation, Cowboy has changed the way people think about e-bikes, creating the ultimate fully automatic rider experience. Cowboy's software expertise has enabled advances in safety and theft features with its crash detection and anti-theft protection. Cowboy is the only e-bike manufacturer to achieve B Corp status advances in safety and theft features with its Crash Detection, Anti-Theft Protection and AdaptivePower, which senses changes in the rider's environmental conditions and provides the right amount of power.

“I'm thrilled to announce that I've stepped into the role of General Counsel at Cowboy, and I couldn't be more excited about this new chapter. The company's dedication to sustainability, fresh perspectives on urban mobility, and the innovative product drew me to the team. The collaborative atmosphere provides an ideal setting for applying my legal expertise and making a meaningful impact. I look forward to integrating my experience into the mix and playing a part in Cowboy's exciting journey in the e-bike market.”

Pola Karolczyk, General Counsel, Cowboy.

Looking Back at 2023

2023, marked a year of noteworthy achievements for Cowboy, including securing 13 million euros ($14.1 million) in additional funding in April and reporting a 38% YoY revenue increase for its top models, a 40% margin, and a noteworthy 83% reduction in losses. The company launched multiple innovations including its latest best-seller Cruiser model in July and new software launches included key updates to its anti-theft 'Find My Bike' function in November, an improved in-app navigation experience built with Google Maps Platform, and the introduction of AdaptivePower; software which adjusts power depending on the rider's environmental conditions.

Offline, Cowboy opened its new Brand Store in central Brussels and launched its Retail Partner Network, enabling riders to shop and service their bikes conveniently through local, independent bike shops across Europe. Winner of the Wallpaper* Smart Space Awards 2023, for Most Revolutionary Personal Transport for the Cowboy Cruiser, the company has now sold over 60,000 bikes and sees its global community completing more than 1.5m rides per month.