A Bristol cycling accessories designer and manufacturer has secured £600,000 to fuel its expansion plans. Tailfin, on Cumberland Road, is part of the rapidly-growing 'bikepacking' market - an adventure-focused cycling discipline where cyclists carry all necessary gear on their bikes.
The company was founded a decade ago by Nick Broadbent, a mechanical engineer and product designer, and initially focused on rack and pannier accessories. Today, Tailfin has more than 12 product lines distributed from warehouses in the Netherlands, US, and Europe.
The business will use the additional working capital from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, and delivered by fund manager FW Capital, to broaden its product range, it said.
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Significant investment is also being directed towards expanding the company's Bristol headquarters, creating a state-of-the-art R&D studio with new equipment, specialised tools, and enhanced prototyping capabilities.
Extra funds will also be used to invest in high-quality video production equipment and a dedicated studio space, Tailfin added.
Mr Broadbent said: “This investment marks a significant milestone for Tailfin, enabling us to push the boundaries of design and technology further and to enhance our robust intellectual property portfolio, which already includes over 20 patents.
"Crucially, it also supports our growth strategy by enabling us to expand both our innovative product lines and our talented team of passionate cycling enthusiasts.”
Tailfin's Bristol headquarters houses a team of 25 designers, marketers, and operational specialists, collaborating with specialist manufacturing partners across China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
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Jordan Berg represented FW Capital and led the deal. He said: “Tailfin is a premium quality brand in the bikepacking world that have created an innovative range of products that appeal to all cyclists from commuters, adventure cyclists to world-class ultra endurance athletes. Nick’s vision to bring his products to market is very impressive and the success Tailfin has enjoyed is testament to that."
The South West Investment Fund provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help small and medium-sized businesses to start up and scale up. Fund manager FW Capital provides debt finance using the South West Investment Fund to businesses in Bristol, Gloucestershire, North and North East Somerset and Wiltshire.
Lizzy Upton from the British Business Bank added: “The South West Investment Fund was created to support ambitious businesses like Tailfin, helping them scale, innovate, and strengthen their market position."
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