2015 – that still sounds like it was just a few months ago. Ten years later, we look back on an exciting journey full of small and large steps. From a simple DIY project in a shared room in Berlin to our own workshop with a team and our own shop. A lot has happened – and many things turned out completely differently than we ever planned. But that's exactly what makes it special for us: PARAX has always been and always will be an adventure.
The beginning: Lots of ideas, little space, lots of love for cycling
It all began in June 2015 in Berlin. Torben, like so many others, had limited space in his apartment, but a bike that was dear to his heart. What was missing was a solution to store the bike in a space-saving, safe, and, above all, attractive way. This simple idea quickly evolved into something more: a minimalist design that combines function and aesthetics. The first prototypes were created, friends became curious, and we decided to do it right.
2016 was our springboard: Our first Kickstarter campaign for the D-RACK went live. We still remember those exciting weeks clearly. Either we found some like-minded people, or the project would remain a chapter in the drawer. Fortunately, things turned out differently.
From prototype to product – our first shop
The Kickstarter campaign went surprisingly well and gave us the boost we needed. We still laugh when we watch our first Kickstarter video, which took us countless hours to create. If you're up for a trip back in time, it's worth it!
That same year, our first online shop went live. It was a completely new experience: people who didn't know us personally were ordering our products. It was surreal—and simply amazing.
Our production was anything but glamorous back then: a small rented workshop in Berlin, a lot of learning by doing. The finished D-RACK was stored in small batches directly in a small room in Torben's apartment. Assembly, packaging, and shipping were carried out to order. For two years, PARAX ran as a side project – without marketing, without sales, but with a lot of passion.
Moving to the countryside – and a new chapter begins
In 2018, a major change was imminent: We left Berlin and moved into an old workshop in Bönen. Finally, there was more space, more peace and quiet, and more opportunities to experiment with our craftsmanship. This is where PARAX truly began to develop.
In 2019, we finally decided: we'd go full-time. We quit our jobs, added new space next to the workshop, grew our warehouse, expanded our offices, and put all our energy into PARAX.
2020: Between bicycle boom and team building
2020 was a year of crisis for many – for us, the opposite happened. The bicycle boom brought with it the upswing. The S-RACK became our bestseller, and we hired our first employee: Laura. A milestone that finally transformed PARAX from a two-person project into a small team.
In the years that followed, we continued to grow: more products, more ideas, and more people on the team. Today, our product range includes seven different wall mounts, a floor stand, and accessories – all under the motto: minimalist design, quality, and fair production in Germany.
New paths: HOLZGESTEIN® and the BergLampe
The next big step followed in 2023: a new shop, new branding—and the birth of a second brand: HOLZGESTEIN® . Here, everything revolves around connection to nature and honest craftsmanship. Our first product, the BergLampe , was born from a spontaneous idea and countless nights spent in the workshop. The 2025 Kickstarter campaign launched just in time for our anniversary—and showed us once again: Authenticity is the key to reaching people.
Ten years and not a bit tired
Today, we look back on tens of thousands of bike mounts sold, wild Black Friday and Christmas shipping days, countless kind messages from customers, exciting product ideas, and major challenges we mastered together. All without investors, without pressure—but with plenty of initiative, genuine team spirit, and a whole lot of fun.
What's next? Honestly, we don't really know ourselves. But we're sure it will be just as exciting, surprising, and beautiful as the last ten years. And we're really looking forward to it. 🤩
