If you were present at this year’s BeTCA Annual Meetup, you would have witnessed Maboof’s Hoopoe E-bike (pronounced Hoopee), which was a head-turner. The posters at the venue showed design inspiration from something that looked like a bird (the Hoopoe), and that intrigued many. The bike’s launch brought delightful smiles on everyone’s face and people literally mobbed him for enquiries. That’s Maboof Mulla, founder of Hoopoe E-bikes, Belagavi. Of late, Belagavi has been in the news for its smart tech entrepreneurs making a mark on the global scene, and Maboof is on his way to becoming the next one. This young designer from Marihal turned his childhood fascination with vehicles into a full-fledged electric mobility company.
Humble Beginnings
Maboof’s journey began in a Kannada-medium school at Marihal. After completing his diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Bharatesh Polytechnic, he couldn’t pursue engineering, but his love for design kept pushing him forward. Fascinated by vehicle aesthetics since childhood, he gave the transportation design exam and was shortlisted for admission to DYPDC Center for Automotive Research and Studies, Pune, in 2016.
He credits mentors at Bharatesh Polytechnic, like Prof. R.J. Patil, who shaped him with tough love but practical training, while the legendary DC (Dilip Chhabria) inspired him during his final year at DYPDC, especially with his “Tarzan Wondercar” designs. Life took a difficult turn when his father fell ill and passed away, forcing him to pause his education and miss campus placements. Yet, Maboof returned, completed his studies, and embarked on a career that shaped his future.
Gaining Ground in Vehicle Design
His early career took him to Studio 34, Manesar (Haryana), where he worked on OEM projects for Maruti, Tata, and Sonalika Tractors. His big break came with Sonalika’s global export brand Solis, where he designed six successful tractors — including their first electric tractor. It was here he met Rohit Raghuvanshi (IIT Kanpur), who became his lifelong mentor and taught him the design thought process.
Later, Maboof returned closer home to Pune and worked with John Deere’s design studio, gaining experience with global standards. He also experimented with a tractor startup and canopy design but realized he needed deeper understanding of startup funding. As a consultant, he earned well, but the urge to build his own dream never left.
The Rivot Chapter
In 2023, through LinkedIn networking, Maboof connected with Ajit Patil of Rivot Motors, Belagavi (Rivot has earlier launched its electric bike). After a five-hour conversation, he joined the team and soon became a key force in building their design studio. Within nine months, they launched a vehicle that earned design accolades and strong bookings. His time at Rivot taught him invaluable lessons on fund management, supplier networks, and scaling ideas into production.
Birth of Hoopoe
By February 2025, Maboof decided to chart his own course. He exited Rivot, raised seed money from his mother and wife — they gave him the family gold — and within six months, developed the Hoopoe e-Bike. The prototype was proudly showcased at KADEM, Suvarna Soudha, where it was well received.
Unlike traditional e-cycles, Hoopoe is designed to be a bike that rides like a cycle- it feels aspirational but remains accessible to youth. Maboof observed that children and teenagers wanted to ride bikes but lacked licenses or safety readiness. He saw a gap where most kids and college students just wanted to ride a bike for show-off but few wanted the speed of one. Hoopoe bridges that gap with a :
• 60 km range
• 7-gear cycle mode if battery is off – ideal for the health conscious
• Easy to ship design, fits into a box (55 inches) if the handle is detached.
• SMART BMS (unique fire-prevention battery system)
• 5-year LFP (lithium iron phosphate- Li-Fe-PO battery (2000 life cycles)
• Fully made in Belagavi with injection-moulded plastic frames
Building in Belagavi, Dreaming Global
With a pilot fleet of 100 vehicles for Belagavi, Dharwad, Hubli, and Kolhapur, Hoopoe is gearing up for a pan-India launch in the next three months. The startup already sees interest from markets like UAE, Netherlands, and the US, where compact urban mobility solutions are booming. What is worth noting is that the entire production of Hoopoe bikes is done in Belagavi with everything from prototypes to actual mass production happening in the city.
Today, Hoopoe employs 10 people, including three designers, two mechanical engineers, two diploma holders, and his wife who manages administration.
The Road Ahead
Maboof’s story is more than a startup tale — it’s about big dreams, persistence, design excellence, and solving real-world problems. Hoopoe e-Bikes are not just vehicles; they are a symbol of youthful aspiration, local innovation, and the belief that even from small towns, world-class ideas can take flight.
As Belagavi watches the first 100 Hoopoe e-Bikes hit the roads, Maboof has his eyes set on making the bird named after freedom and beauty soar across India and the globe.
See more on https://hoopoebikes.godaddysites.com/
For more information about BeTCA and how it can help you connect with Belagavi Tech Companies or find Tech resources, visit www.betca.org