November 5th, 2026 | by Sam Spelman
Today, we’re settling the long-standing debate on how exactly to pronounce our brand name. We’ve heard many different versions over the years: Biko, Biro, Vivo, we’ve heard it all! It’s occasionally followed by the question, “What does Bivo stand for?” If you’ve always wondered the same thing, we’ve finally got an answer for you.
Today, we’re settling the long-standing debate on how exactly to pronounce our brand name. We’ve heard many different versions over the years: Biko, Biro, Vivo, we’ve heard it all! It’s occasionally followed by the question, “What does Bivo stand for?” If you’ve always wondered the same thing, we’ve finally got an answer for you.
Is it BIH-vo or BEE-vo? I sat down with Bivo’s creative director Mark Beard to settle the debate.
His answer: it’s whatever gets people talking!
For real, it’s pronounced “BIH-vo” with a short ‘i’ sound.
Although we get asked to clarify pronunciation often enough it could probably get added to our FAQ page, Mark never tires of the question. The way he views it, the simple act of asking “BIH-vo or BEE-vo?” sparks a conversation and invites folks to think about us for even a second longer. In his words, “it literally sticks in people’s heads better!”
Is it BIH-vo or BEE-vo? I sat down with Bivo’s creative director Mark Beard to settle the debate.
His answer: it’s whatever gets people talking!
For real, it’s pronounced “BIH-vo” with a short ‘i’ sound.
Although we get asked to clarify pronunciation often enough it could probably get added to our FAQ page, Mark never tires of the question. The way he views it, the simple act of asking “BIH-vo or BEE-vo?” sparks a conversation and invites folks to think about us for even a second longer. In his words, “it literally sticks in people’s heads better!”
Mark Beard, Bivo's creative director and the man behind the name.
Mark Beard, Bivo's creative director and the man behind the name.
Mark’s not alone in this, either. Well-known names like Nike and Teva have sparked friendly pronunciation debates for years. We didn’t pick the name to start a conversation, but we’re always glad when it does, especially since we almost missed out on that opportunity.
Six years ago, when Bivo founders Robby and Carina approached Mark with their original idea, they pitched the brand under a very different name: “Drinkwell”.
Mark’s blunt response: “Yeah no, that’s not gonna cut it.”
Within a week, Mark was back with something better. Drawn by cycling’s roots in Europe, he turned to Latin and found two words that said it all: bibere, “to drink,” and vivere, “to live.” Put them together and you get Bivo.
If you speak a Romance language, you’ll recognize the roots: bere e vivere in Italian, beber y vivir in Spanish. That familiarity may be why some people reach for a long “ee” when they say our name.
Mark’s not alone in this, either. Well-known names like Nike and Teva have sparked friendly pronunciation debates for years. We didn’t pick the name to start a conversation, but we’re always glad when it does, especially since we almost missed out on that opportunity.
Six years ago, when Bivo founders Robby and Carina approached Mark with their original idea, they pitched the brand under a very different name: “Drinkwell”.
Mark’s blunt response: “Yeah no, that’s not gonna cut it.”
Within a week, Mark was back with something better. Drawn by cycling’s roots in Europe, he turned to Latin and found two words that said it all: bibere, “to drink,” and vivere, “to live.” Put them together and you get Bivo.
If you speak a Romance language, you’ll recognize the roots: bere e vivere in Italian, beber y vivir in Spanish. That familiarity may be why some people reach for a long “ee” when they say our name.
The minute “Bivo” was born, everything clicked into place. Mark had stumbled serendipitously upon a designer’s dream: a simple four-letter name, available to trademark, where the name and logo could be one and the same. Plus, the perfect website domain was up for grabs.
Some logos take dozens of drafts. Ours took one. Mark sketched the word “Bivo,” and noticed something special in the word. With two circles flanking a slanted V, Mark saw a bike hiding in plain sight.
Of course, he’ll tell you it was never meant to be a bike (we didn’t want to be boxed into one market). But if you spot one, you’ll make Mark’s day.
The minute “Bivo” was born, everything clicked into place. Mark had stumbled serendipitously upon a designer’s dream: a simple four-letter name, available to trademark, where the name and logo could be one and the same. Plus, the perfect website domain was up for grabs.
Some logos take dozens of drafts. Ours took one. Mark sketched the word “Bivo,” and noticed something special in the word. With two circles flanking a slanted V, Mark saw a bike hiding in plain sight.
Of course, he’ll tell you it was never meant to be a bike (we didn’t want to be boxed into one market). But if you spot one, you’ll make Mark’s day.
Maybe you see a bike in our logo. Or maybe you notice that the ‘b’ is the shape of our nozzle. That one is no accident, though the order may surprise you: the logo came first, and the nozzle followed. While Robby and Carina were working through their lid design, they needed a nozzle shape that would also cover the valve of our gravity flow system. Mark pointed out that they already had the perfect shape right in front of them.
Maybe you see a bike in our logo. Or maybe you notice that the ‘b’ is the shape of our nozzle. That one is no accident, though the order may surprise you: the logo came first, and the nozzle followed. While Robby and Carina were working through their lid design, they needed a nozzle shape that would also cover the valve of our gravity flow system. Mark pointed out that they already had the perfect shape right in front of them.
With the name, logo, and design in place, all that was left was to name the products. Well, of course, the first bottle designed was called the Bivo One. From there, they turned back to the Romance language roots they initially sprang from and the Duo was born. Naturally, the Trio followed.
Now that Bivo is expanding beyond cycling, we’re glad that the bike stayed an accident. Mark, meanwhile, has one important question rattling around his brain: what in the world will the Bivo Quatro be?
With the name, logo, and design in place, all that was left was to name the products. Well, of course, the first bottle designed was called the Bivo One. From there, they turned back to the Romance language roots they initially sprang from and the Duo was born. Naturally, the Trio followed.
Now that Bivo is expanding beyond cycling, we’re glad that the bike stayed an accident. Mark, meanwhile, has one important question rattling around his brain: what in the world will the Bivo Quatro be?
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