Showing posts with label Muz Bikes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muz Bikes. Show all posts

Sunday, August 9, 2015

I'm the first to admit that Xceleration Labs does not provide services for everything that a startup founder may need to get their venture off the ground. We do a lot, but not all of it. Thus, Xceleration relies on a group of partner consultancies to extend our service offerings.

Whereas Xceleration Labs focuses on helping you get from idea to prototype and also the steps for how to do business development and sales, one of Xceleration Labs partners Insitti helps you get from "Insight to Impact." (You can reference Insitti at their website)

Insitti's Value Proposition for Startups to Existing Mature Businesses

Founder Kevin Chen of Insitti would give you an exhaustive explanation of their services, but in simple terms their service is about helping businesses and startups with branding; not just the branding in order to generate sales, which is often mistaken for branding, but the branding that helps with overall messaging - marketing.  Building brand is critical for survival and continued evolution as a startup gets beyond the initial selling stage. Insitti helps with doing planning for 3-5 years, where as Xceleration Prime is focused on your next 30-60-90 days of execution.

At first glance, Insitti's website would seem bereft of much depth or references, except this is deceptive, because in fact, 50 percent of Insitti's cases are Taiwan government as well as NGOs. (I suppose it wouldn't be terrific for government officials to "officially" admit that they were getting help from a boutique consultancy on innovation).



One excellent example of their work is on Muz Bikes. (Check out the MuzBikes website at www.muzbikes.com) The website incorporates some of the best elements of Insitti's work, besides the great visuals, the team was able to the do even more difficult task of drawing out the value proposition of in words. Instead of merely describing features of the various Muz Bikes, they also talk about the value and captured the essence of Muz Bikes. Something which sounds easier than it is.

An excerpt from the website, describing the "everyday" Muz Bike:

"MUZ 365 is the most fun and stylish way to commute around town, while taking a few detours along the way. Zip around effortlessly with a timeless classic frame geometry that can withstand the hardiest uses."

Note the way that Insitti helps the prospect visualize what it would be like to own a MuzBike and also incorporate features/functionality as key selling points.


If branding strategy is a need or even merely a possibility, one can get an introduction through Insitti's excellent coffee time where one of the partners will discuss some basics to help you get to understand how they can provide value. Regardless of how the coffee time goes, Kevin Chen is committed to providing value even in the brief 30 minute coffee session.



The coffee time is called MOCHA, which stands for:

M - Methodology
O - Opportunity
C - Context
H - Hidden Needs
A - Appliances

To understand more about their methods which are comparable to BCG or MacKenzie methodologies, as well as a mix of Insitti's own "special sauce", you'll have to contact Insitti for a coffee!

Branding Strategy for Entrepreneurs: Insitti's From Insight to Impact
Sunday, August 09, 2015

Branding Strategy for Entrepreneurs: Insitti's From Insight to Impact

Thursday, April 16, 2015

A few days ago, I posted about testing Muz bike's 365 prototype and had commented on the color of the bike, but was quickly corrected by Muz founder Kevin Chen. The following are some clarifications from Kevin.

ALTRUISTIC Black and NOT Authentic Black
Kevin Chen: The authentic black in the post "Listen to Your Inner Muz" is actually called "altruistic black" with the meaning you have addressed in that post.

Xceleration: How did you come up with the Atruistic Black as a color scheme for your Muz 365 bike?

KC: It's from an internal Muz meeting when we were discussing how to help customers become aware of our stringent rustproofing and strengthening process applied on chromoly tubes to deliver an outstanding classic piece with all the latest engineering and workmanship embedded. Karl (one of Kevin's partners) found the word to perfectly describe the "base" (foundation/primer), and we all love it!

XLabs: So what "black" was on the Muz 365 prototype that we tested?

KC: The matte black color on the bike you rode yesterday is called "stealth black," while another frame on our website, which is gloss black, is called "piano black". We love black, so for us, black also has 50 shades of its own... [smiles and laughter]

Image taken from www.muzbikes.com
The "Lime" Bike
XLabs: Will the colors only be black (of course, since black is really a "value")?

KC: The lime bike (as shown on the Muz Bikes website) that you mentioned, is called "spring bud" or "bud green", which is the 1st color to be released as part of our 2015 Spring/Summer edition, while the other colors available (as a frame, not complete bike) include bikini pink, hi-vi reflective, and either hot lava (lighter coral) or aviation blue (a shade between sky and ocean blue).

XLabs: Wow! That's colorful!

KC: I have been asking the team to take an audience point of view, instead of as a manufacturer's, so we look to gain inspiration from nature, art, literature, music and everyday life.

XLabs: I can see that. . . what are the release plans?

KC: The colors in preparation for 2015 Fall/Winter release so far are ginkgo yellow for MUZ 365 complete, and khaki sand, toothpaste mint & safety orange for frames. You can see that colors are emphasized a lot, not to mention the graphics. Andy and Karl (Kevin's partners) are all in, and they are working on some designs of their own to put on their bikes.

XLabs: So this isn't just for Muz fans, you yourselves are enthusiasts?

KC: Yes! Indeed. (See Muz Facebook page)

XLabs: How do you hope to get the word out?

KC: We put all such stories on our blog "Muzings", and hopefully it helps our audience to initiate and plan their own MUZ bike and MUZ experience.

XLabs: Looking forward to seeing everyone's creation!

KC: Thanks! From 8 to 80, Muz 365. We welcome everyone to create the bike of their inspiration!
50 Shades of Black: Further "Muzings" from Muz Founder Kevin Chen
Thursday, April 16, 2015

50 Shades of Black: Further "Muzings" from Muz Founder Kevin Chen

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Aki Liao with Kevin Chen, Founder of Muz Bikes, roading testing his Muz 365 prototype.
(photo by Vince Hsieh)
Since our last update, Kevin Chen, Founder of Muz Bikes, came by the office, and gave us a chance to test out his prototype Muz 365.

For this tester, definitely an excellent bike. Surprisingly light weight, given the classic BMX look. As you can see from the BMX style frame, it harkens back to our childhood days of zooming around the neighborhood (a la E.T. "Ride in the Sky" style). Reminiscent of a simpler time, when kids played in the streets, and you simply rang the doorbell of your best friends house to invite him out to play. This is pre-internet kids!

Upon riding this Muz bike, I simple kept trying to back pedal brake, not remembering that this isn't simply a child's bike. As Kevin Chen says, "From 8 to 80, it's for everyone!" With a few quick adjustments the innovative Muz original frame allows for various sizes and shapes of riders. 

Five gear shifter

Bicycle enthusiasts are probably familiar with the above pictured 5 gear shifter (on this Muz prototype), but for this everyman, this was cool! This is what I mean by this isn't simply the bike from your childhood. Instead of the usual, external gear shifter that you push with your thumb, for this component fitted on Muz bike, you simply turn your wrist up or down to up or down shift.

Muz Black Frame

This particular Muz bike comes in "Altruistic Black." As Kevin explains, "It is the base color that allows Muz to implement all of its various colors." I prefer to nickname it "original black" or "black, black." But we defer to the product designers on this.

For more on the possible color palette to suit your inner "Muz", check out the Muz website at Muz Bikes (hint: lime green). Also be sure to "like" them on facebook.

Muz will be previewing at this year's Sea Otter Classic, April 16-19, which marks the opening of the North American outdoor bicycle season.

So get in touch with your inner Muz and look for Muz, coming soon to your neighborhood!







Listen to Your Inner Muz: No Finish Line
Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Listen to Your Inner Muz: No Finish Line

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Recently, we were treated to the internal launch and preview of a startup venture, Muz bikes. We had last reported on this venture in 2013 and am glad to bring you some updates.


Founder Kevin Chen and team hav been busy at work, designing and implementing new components for a new bicycle and system of appliances sure to take the cycling market by storm.


We were shown many innovative and patent pending parts that is sure to innovate, if not revolutionize our thinking about cycling.

Muz has identified key gaps in the already saturated cycling market, that Muz will exploit in their Q2 2015 launch.


The most rewarding part of the preview as the tactile nature of the demonstration. There were physical parts to handle, a protoype Muz bike to sit on, and generally lots of "wow" design items to look at. Its so refreshing, especially after a day of working only with "virtual products," such as software as a service products or platforms.


Though it has taken time to develop the components that comprise the Muz bike and system of appliances, their journey like many startup venture journeys is not a race to a finish line, but rather a quest for enriching people's lives. In that sense, there is truly "no finish line", as often times its about the journey, rather than reaching the destination.

A good reminder for all of you startup folks as you take and continue your journeys. Looking forward to seeing updates from the Muz team!
No Finish Line: The Essence of a new Startup Venture
Sunday, October 12, 2014

No Finish Line: The Essence of a new Startup Venture

Thursday, March 21, 2013


Patisco was definitely in the house at this year's 2013 Taipei Bicycle Show.  More to come from that show in a later article.

This is a preview of a new client who's inspiration is derived from his love of this classic - the "ET Bike" by Kuwahara Bike.  For those of you who can remember this is the bicycle that Elliot rode with ET in the classic Spielberg movie about a visitor from outerspace who was just trying to phone home.  Spielberg ordered 40 of these bikes for use in the film.  Our client picked up one of these bicycles when he was a youngster and rode it everywhere.  It was his loyal companion that took him to faraway places and new adventures throughout his youth and well into his college years.  It is because of this bike and other factors, that our client has decided to launch his new startup.  

More to come on our new client in future posts. . . for the time being, enjoy this classic beauty!


Classic "ET Bike" as seen at this year's 2013 Taipei Bicycle Show

ET Bike: Inspiration for New Startup
Thursday, March 21, 2013

ET Bike: Inspiration for New Startup