Michele Boschetti and the next chapter of MissGrape: a new alliance to reach the world
For more than a decade, Michele Boschetti has been one of the defining voices in European bikepacking innovation. As founder and CEO of MissGrape, a brand he launched in 2012 to create reliable, Italian-made bags for his own cycling adventures, he has built a company synonymous with durability, craftsmanship and long-distance performance. Now, a new partnership marks the beginning of a significant expansion phase for the brand and its visionary founder.
MissGrape has officially joined the Elite group, a historic Veneto-based company internationally recognized for indoor training equipment, hydration systems and high-performance cycling products. While MissGrape becomes part of Elite’s industrial network, the two brands will maintain their independent identities and operational autonomy. For Boschetti, the acquisition is not a departure, but a continuation: “MissGrape was born from the need for bags I could truly rely on during my bike trips. Thirteen years later, the journey continues. We’ve grown a lot, but to go further we needed a partner who genuinely believed in the project. In Elite, we found an entrepreneurial group interested not in a simple financial transaction, but in building the future of the brand together”. He will remain at the helm of MissGrape, now supported by a reinforced team and the industrial strength of Elite. The brand’s direction remains unchanged, only broader.
Elite’s entry into the bikepacking world marks a notable shift in its long-established focus on performance and technology. In recent years, the company has cemented its leadership in indoor training, yet the acquisition reflects an ambition to embrace new dimensions of cycling culture. “Cycling today is not just performance, it is also adventure, nature, and the pleasure of riding. We were struck by Michele’s passion and expertise: values we share. We are ready for this new phase and we want to give even more strength to the MissGrape project”, said Nicoletta Sartore, CEO of Elite. The new structure promises tangible benefits for riders who rely on technical, long-lasting bikepacking equipment: a wider product range supported by greater production capacity, enabling new materials, solutions and technologies; stronger global distribution, making MissGrape bags easier to find not only across Europe but internationally: preservation of the brand’s artisan DNA, with robust, field-tested products that have already proven themselves in demanding events such as the Silk Road Mountain Race, The Traka and Badlands.
Since its early beginnings, MissGrape has been among the first European brands to believe in industrial-level production of bikepacking bags. Over the past decade, it has earned international accolades, including the 2023 “Gear of the Year” Bikepacking Award, and accompanied athletes and adventurers around the globe.