Founding Partner & Resident Futurist

Jay Townley brings nearly seven decades of experience in the bicycle and micromobility industries, with a focus on regulatory compliance, risk management, and strategic transformation. As a former Schwinn executive, he established the company’s product safety and governmental affairs programs, chaired U.S. delegations to international standards bodies, and played a central role in shifting global manufacturing operations.

Today, Jay advises OEMs, importers, insurers, and legal teams navigating the complex challenges of e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries, product liability, and compliance. He is a trusted expert witness in litigation, a frequent industry speaker, and principal writer of the HPS Bicycle Business Reporter newsletter and NBDA News Hour podcast.

Known for his direct and pragmatic counsel, Jay helps organizations strengthen compliance, reduce exposure, and position themselves as credible leaders in an evolving regulatory environment.

Past Positions

Senior Executive US, President, Vice President Purchasing, Vice President Product Safety & Governmental Affairs, Vice President Marketing</p>

Founding Partner & Chief Technology Officer

Mike Fritz is Chief Technology Officer at Human Powered Solutions and one of the most seasoned engineering leaders in the U.S. bicycle and e-bike sector. He began at Schwinn in 1973 and later was recruited by Lee Iacocca to serve as VP of Product Development at EV Global Motors, one of the earliest modern e-bike initiatives. He subsequently held VP/CTO posts across propulsion systems companies, led engineering for major brands, and for the past decade has advised OEMs, importers, insurers, and law firms on compliance, battery safety, recalls, and product liability.

Mike contributes to UL and SAE committee work on e-bike systems and batteries and frequently collaborates with the National Bicycle Dealers Association on safety and retailer-education efforts. Known for translating standards into practical engineering decisions, Mike approaches complex problems with a pilot’s discipline and a communicator’s clarity—making him a trusted technical voice in litigation, risk reduction, and market entry.

Past Positions

Senior Executive US/Global, President & Chief Technology Officer, Vice President Technology Development, Vice President New Product Development, Vice President Engineering, Research and Development

Senior Advisor

From launching Schwinn’s European joint venture after the fall of Communism to directing compliance operations in the aviation, telecom, and software sectors, Steve has consistently led teams through transformation and complexity. His experience spans North America, Europe, and the Middle East — including stints in Budapest and Kuwait, where he guided multinational teams through systemic change.

As a former executive with Sprint, Giant Bicycle, Schwinn, Lockheed, and Commvault, Steve’s value lies in his unique ability to bridge the practical and the strategic, often surfacing creative, cost-effective solutions that others overlook. He is passionate about educating and empowering clients to make proactive, data-informed decisions, especially in areas like product safety, tariff mitigation, and U.S. market entry strategy.

In addition to his corporate work, Steve has served in key leadership roles for the American Chamber of Commerce in Hungary, Honor Flight, and other civic organizations. At HPS, he is a trusted guide for brands navigating an increasingly fragmented and high-risk bicycle and e-mobility market.

Past Positions

Sales Operations Manager • Regional Marketing Manager • Director of Operations • Executive Vice President • Director, Finance and Administration