Brake Free: Helmet Light

Brake Free is a detachable helmet accessory designed to make riders more visible and safer on the road. Brake Free senses when a bike decreases speed and is wireless, app-less, and easy to install on most helmets. The detachable feature also allows the units to be used by multiple helmets or users.

Brake Free was started by Henry Li and Alexander Arkhangelskiy, two motorcycle enthusiasts. Li had previously worked as a mechanical Engineer for several companies such as Wolfe Engineering, zSpace 3D, Fitbit, and castAR.

Arkhangelskiy had worked with Parrot Cellular, EGO Boutique, and AT&T prior to really using his degree in entrepreneurship when they founded their own company. Li joined Facebook in 2020 as a product design engineer in addition to his duties at Brake Free.

Their goal was to design a way for motorists to see if a biker was slowing down on the road, whether it be by brakes or deceleration. Since bike tail lights are small and not always as responsive as braking, Brake Free provides a quicker assessment of speed and a secondary visual aid to drivers.

Li and Arkhangelskiy were also inspired to design a safety tool that included an element of style. As a bonus, their design would fit on nearly any helmet, making it easy for riders to upgrade their current gear instead of replacing it outright. They built their first prototype in April of 2014.

Did Brake Free Get a Deal on Shark Tank?

On Shark Tank Season 12 Episode 8, Henry Li and Alex Arkhangelskiy entered the Tank seeking $200,000 for 10% ($2 million valuation) for their Brake Free helmet.

The duo accepted an offer of $200,000 for 20% ($1 million valuation) from Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec.