Johny Salido invests in Bikeflip and believes in the future of the used bicycle market
The first Mexican rider to compete at Red Bull Rampage is now officially shareholder and ambassador of the platform.
Who is Johny Salido
Juan Diego "Johny" Salido is the first Mexican rider to qualify for Red Bull Rampage, and has built a rock-solid reputation in the international freeride mountain bike scene.
Born in Guadalajara, his passion for extreme riding came early. From 2014, when he won the Mexican national championship at just 15 years old, his career has grown across enduro, dirt jump, downhill and freeride, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a bicycle.
In September 2019 he finished second at the Marzocchi Proving Grounds, earning a spot at Red Bull Rampage and becoming the first Mexican rider in the event's history. Just weeks later, in Utah, the day before the final, a serious crash stopped him with a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding. He got back up. And he has never stopped pushing since.
He also founded Freeride Fiesta, his own event in Mexico, created with the goal of growing the local MTB scene and giving Latin American athletes the same opportunities he had in becoming a professional.
Races, digital content with tens of millions of views, events, a community spanning the entire American continent: Salido is not just an athlete. And when someone of that caliber decides to put their own money into a project, the signal is hard to ignore.
A financial investment, not just a partnership
Salido's entry into Bikeflip is not a classic sponsorship deal. He has invested his own capital, becoming a shareholder of the company and, automatically, an ambassador for the brand.
"I'm super stoked, I'm more than happy to help push the company!"
Johny Salido, at the time of signing
That distinction matters. Whoever puts their own money into a project truly believes in it, has a direct stake in its growth, and brings with them a credibility that no endorsement contract can buy.
For Salido, who has spent his career living cycling from the inside, making quality bikes more accessible is a concrete cause: the more people enter the sport, the more the community grows, and the more freeride gains ground in the world.
Bikeflip: a platform growing fast
Bikeflip was founded in 2021 in Innsbruck by Andrea Maranelli, Italian trial champion, Red Bull rider Fabio Wibmer and web development expert Nikolai Holder, with the mission of creating Europe's first vertical marketplace dedicated exclusively to bicycles.
In 2024, the platform generated one million euros in gross merchandise value, shipped across 26 countries, and closed a funding round of 1.6 million euros. The team today counts 25 people between employees and collaborators.
Why vertical platforms are winning
For years, buying a used bike meant relying on general-purpose marketplaces, with no guarantees, no sector expertise, no protection. The market is changing.
Cyclists are looking for tools built around their specific needs: dedicated categories, reliable ratings, protected payments, managed shipping. This is exactly what a vertical platform offers compared to a generic marketplace.
Just one year after launch, in 2023, Bikeflip had nearly 10,000 bikes listed for sale, millions of visitors and thousands of registered users, positioning itself as the leader among specialist marketplaces in its core markets: Italy, Austria and Germany.
The arrival of investors like Salido, who knows the market from the inside, confirms that the direction is the right one.
For Bikeflip, Johny Salido's arrival is one more step in a journey that started in the mountains of Innsbruck and is today shared by athletes, investors and thousands of cyclists across Europe.
Because when someone who lives cycling at the highest level decides to invest in a project, they are not simply backing a company. They are betting on a vision.
And Bikeflip's vision is clear: to become the infrastructure of the used cycling market in Europe.
Johny Salido
🏆 1st Mexican rider in the history of the Red Bull Rampage
🥈 2nd place at Marzocchi Proving Grounds 2019
🏁 1st Latin American at the Red Bull Hardline
🎪 Founder of Freeride Fiesta in Mexico
🎯 Mexican national MTB champion 2014, at 15 years old
Bikeflip by the numbers
5M+ Riders in the community
26 Countries with active shipping
€1M GMV generated in 2024
€1.6M Funding round closed in 2024
25 People on the team
Frequently asked questions
What is Bikeflip?
Bikeflip is Europe's vertical marketplace dedicated to buying and selling used and refurbished bicycles. Unlike general-purpose platforms, it is designed exclusively for cyclists: specific categories, protected payments and managed shipping across Europe.
Who founded Bikeflip?
Bikeflip was founded in 2021 by Fabio Wibmer, Andrea Maranelli and Nikolai Holder. All three come from the professional cycling world and built the platform starting from the real needs of bikers.
How does buyer protection work?
Payment is held by Bikeflip at the time of purchase and released only upon delivery confirmation. The buyer has 48 hours to check the bike's condition. If anything does not match the listing, the return is free of charge.
Who is Johny Salido and why did he invest?
Johny Salido is the first Mexican rider to qualify for Red Bull Rampage and one of the most followed freeride athletes internationally. He chose to invest his own capital in Bikeflip because he believes in the potential of the used bike market and in the platform's mission of making cycling more accessible.
Is Salido just an ambassador or did he actually invest?
He invested financially, becoming a shareholder of the company. The ambassador role is a direct consequence of that investment, not the other way around. It is an important distinction that certifies his genuine confidence in the project.
For Bikeflip, Johny Salido's arrival is one more step in a journey that started in the mountains of Innsbruck and is today shared by athletes, investors and thousands of cyclists across Europe.
Because when someone who lives cycling at the highest level decides to invest in a project, they are not simply backing a company. They are betting on a vision.
And Bikeflip's vision is clear: to be the infrastructure of the used cycling market in Europe.