Retractability at Change the World: Our Mission, Our Momentum

At Retractability Bicycles, we’re committed to reshaping how people get around—starting right here at Arizona State University and extending to campuses and cities across the globe. We believe that commuting should be efficient, secure, and sustainable, and that means reinventing the tools we use every day—like the traditional bike.

Our journey began with a simple problem: if even a skateboard isn’t safe from theft, how can you trust leaving a full-sized bike outside all day? Our solution? A full-sized folding bike that you can take with you—into class, into the library, into your dorm. And where better to launch that vision than at ASU’s Change the World event?

What Is Change the World?

Hosted by Arizona State University, Change the World is a campus-wide celebration of imagination, innovation, and student-powered solutions. According to ASU, it’s an event that “celebrates the imagination, efforts and achievements of lifelong learners.” It was exactly the kind of platform we were looking for: a place to showcase our vision, meet like-minded changemakers, and put Retractability in front of people who face the very problems we set out to fix.

Meet the Team Behind the Movement

This year, we tabled at the event with our recently expanded team:

• Lucas Somoshegyi-Szokol
• Basel Kurian
• Zephan Deepu
• Savannah Balbin

What We Showcased

• A live demo of our current prototype
• A walkthrough of our product’s journey so far
• Our mission to solve real-world student problems with accessible innovation

What made the experience so memorable was not just the tech we brought—it was the people we met. Families, students, entrepreneurs, and curious visitors stopped by to see the bike, hear our pitch, and share their own thoughts on campus commuting. Their feedback was inspiring, and their excitement reminded us why this project matters.

The Pitch That Powered Us Forward

• A tight pitch under pressure
• Rapid-fire Q&A
• Real-time reactions from people seeing our idea for the first time

Although we didn’t secure funding that day, the experience was invaluable. Pitching in front of a live audience while a crowd passed by taught us how to tell our story with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

What’s Next?

This was just the beginning. We’re continuing to develop our prototypes, refine our design, and connect with communities that are hungry for better solutions to the same old problems. If you’re a student who’s ever had your bike stolen, or someone who wishes their commute could be more flexible—you’re who we’re building this for.

Thanks to ASU and the Change the World event for giving us the platform to share our dream. We’re just getting started—and we can’t wait to show you where we’re going next.