The San Sebastián-based company combines industrial manufacturing, electronics, and proprietary software to deliver a more realistic indoor cycling experience and is now preparing to scale up to mass production.
A shared passion for cycling and a very specific need gave rise to DNAK Cycling, a San Sebastián-based company specializing in the development of high-fidelity biomechanical indoor cycling simulators. "The company was born out of our passion for cycling and our need to train at home without sacrificing the feeling of riding on the road," explains Aitor Díaz, co-founder of the company.
What began as a personal challenge has evolved into a technology and industrial venture. In 2021, DNAK Cycling took its first steps with the support of a joint programme run by SPRI and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, as well as the collaboration of several organisations and companies. That initial phase enabled the founders to develop their business plan and launch the mechanical and electronic engineering work required to turn the concept into reality. Institutional support has played an important role throughout the company's journey.
According to Díaz, the idea emerged after realizing that existing indoor training systems failed to accurately reproduce the physics and sensations of outdoor cycling. Motivated by this gap, the founders leveraged their expertise in industrial manufacturing, electronics, and firmware development to create a solution capable of delivering a more immersive and realistic riding experience.
The result is the DNAK D1, an indoor cycling simulator engineered to provide high biomechanical fidelity. The system allows users to ride using their own bicycle, preserving exactly the same riding position and ergonomics they experience on the road. The company has also developed the DNAK FR, a dedicated frame that integrates with the simulator to transform it into a permanent smart bike for home use.
The offering is complemented by a proprietary, free-to-use app that enables users to complete structured training sessions. The platform is also compatible with several of the leading virtual cycling platforms on the market, including Zwift, MyWhoosh, TrainerRoad, and BKOOL.
DNAK Cycling targets cycling enthusiasts, triathletes, and athletes looking for the highest-quality indoor training experience. Its goal is to allow riders to replicate as closely as possible the posture and sensations they experience when cycling outdoors. Following the successful completion of its product certification process, the company has launched an initial limited-run Founder Edition, aimed primarily at bike fit specialists and professional coaches.
Although this is the founders' first major entrepreneurial venture, developing the simulator has taken several years of work. "It has been a long development process, but it has been worth it," says Díaz. The product is now fully completed and certified, marking the beginning of a new phase focused on commercialization and business growth.
The company is currently at a pivotal stage. In the short term, it is preparing to deliver its first ten exclusive launch units. The next milestone will be scaling up to serial production over the coming year. To achieve this, DNAK Cycling is seeking funding to accelerate its commercial and industrial expansion or a strategic industrial partner willing to back a technology developed in the Basque Country and designed to compete in international markets.
"Our goal now is to scale production and bring this technology to a global market," concludes Díaz.
The SPRI Group offers Basque companies the opportunity to showcase their activities through its own communication channels. If your project is related to areas such as R&D, digitalisation, internationalisation, entrepreneurship, or innovation, you can take part in the "Let's Talk About You" (Hablamos de ti) initiative. Companies can also access SPRI's funding programmes and business support services.
Caption: Aitor Díaz, cofounder at DNAK Cycling.
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