Janus Motorcycles

About the offering

Janus Motorcycles is building the next great American motorcycle company with a focus on small-displacement (400-500cc) street bikes that combine vintage aesthetics with modern reliability. Founded 14 years ago and based in Goshen, Indiana, the company has established itself as a cult-favorite brand with over 1,700 bikes sold and a loyal enthusiast base. Operating a direct-to-consumer business model that eliminates dealers, Janus maximizes margins while delivering an exceptional customer experience. The company offers predominantly US-made motorcycles targeting the growing small-bike segment—one of the few expanding areas of the motorcycle market as riders seek cheaper, safer, more practical, and more fun alternatives to large-displacement touring bikes.The Problem & OpportunityThe motorcycle industry is experiencing a significant shift. Large displacement touring bikes from Harley-Davidson and Indian are in a sales slump, while motorcycle dealers report shortages of 250cc and smaller bikes with inadequate supply to satisfy demand. There's growing recognition that small bikes attract both younger and older riders who want more accessible, practical options. The 400-500cc street bike market is one of the few growing segments in the industry, yet remains underserved by American manufacturers.Triumph's success demonstrates the market potential: the company sold over 40,000 units of their 400cc street bike model in the first year and now sells more than 60,000 units of that bike alone worldwide. Janus currently holds a tiny percentage of this large and growing market, representing significant expansion opportunity.Product & BrandJanus designs and manufactures small-displacement motorcycles (under 450cc) with vintage-inspired aesthetics that harken back to another era. The company has launched six model lines over its 14-year history, with lowest production number bikes in each model range highly sought after by collectors. Many owners purchase multiple Janus motorcycles, demonstrating exceptional brand loyalty.The company has developed a fully-operational electric motorcycle prototype, showing commitment to future technologies. Janus motorcycles were named the coolest product made in Indiana in 2022 and have been featured on Jay Leno's Garage, The New York Times, Esquire Magazine, and other national and international media, giving the brand significant visibility and recognition.Business Model & TractionDirect-to-Consumer Model: By eliminating traditional dealerships, Janus maximizes profit margins while improving customer feedback and experience. This approach allows for custom-built motorcycles tailored to individual buyer preferences.Impressive Growth: 1,700+ bikes sold with many owners purchasing multiple units 30,000+ email list of buyers and potential buyers representing proven distribution outlet 20x revenue growth from first production year to 2024 Record sales broken in 2024, with additional records in June and July 2025 Current backlog: 3.5-4 months of orders Production capacity: Currently 10 bikes per week The July 2025 sales record is particularly impressive given significant reductions in online advertising expenditures, demonstrating organic brand strength and word-of-mouth power.Market Position & Competitive Advantages Growing Market Segment: Positioned in one of the few expanding areas of the motorcycle industry (400-500cc street bikes) Made in America: Predominantly US-made product line differentiates from foreign competitors Direct Sales: Eliminates dealer margins while fostering direct customer relationships Cult-Like Following: Enthusiastic, passionate owner base provides organic marketing Established Brand: 14-year operating history with proven product-market fit Expansion Potential: Holds micro market share in large, growing segment with room for significant scaling Leadership & GovernanceRichard Worsham (Founder, Chairman, CEO, Head of Design): Co-founder with Master of Architecture from Notre Dame. Strong, young leader who oversees all design and has led the company through six model launches. Known figure in motorcycle world through weekly "Ramblestream" live show (7pm EST) and author of "The Rambler's Companion."Mark Zweig (Board of Directors and CFO): Founder of Mark Zweig & Associates/Zweig White/Zweig Group (Inc 500/5000 list 1995, 1996, 2013, 2024); founder of Mark Zweig, Inc. (Inc 5000 2014), and owner/director in many other ventures. Teaches entrepreneurship at The Walton College of Business. Made $190,000 personal investment stating: "As a lifelong motorcyclist and entrepreneur, I was intrigued by both Janus' products and cult-like brand."Donald Scot Ferguson (Global Sourcing Director): 20+ years in powersports industry with extensive experience in global sourcing and supply chain management. Previously held key leadership roles at Buell Motorcycle Company, Kuryakyn, and LiveWire Electric Motorcycles.Board of Directors: Highly-involved board includes a half dozen company founders and CEOs who have successfully scaled businesses and exited at extremely high valuations. One grew his company by 1,600% over 14 years. Another turned a marketing consulting firm into a software company and sold it at a high 8-figure valuation. Most are serial entrepreneurs with multiple successful businesses. Each board member has made significant financial investment in the company.Strategic Initiatives & InfrastructureOperations Improvement: Implementing Backbone MRP system in 2025 to revolutionize production efficiency, minimize supply chain interruptions, and reduce inventory investments. Goal is to reduce custom-built bike completion time from months to 30 days or less, which will significantly accelerate sales.Supply Chain Optimization: New suppliers already identified to increase volume and reduce unit costs, making profitability easier to achieve over time.R&D Investment: Significant resources devoted to new model development, including fully-operational electric motorcycle prototype, demonstrating commitment to long-term growth over short-term profits.

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