Cycling accessories manufacturer pedals to further growth with £600,000 investment
Bristol’s Tailfin, a designer and manufacturer of innovative cycling accessories, has secured £600,000 in funding to fuel its ambitious expansion plans.
Based in Bristol, Tailfin is at the forefront of the rapidly growing bikepacking market. Bikepacking is an adventure-focused cycling discipline where cyclists carry all necessary gear directly on their bikes, often exploring off-road terrains such as gravel tracks, singletrack trails, and dirt paths, emphasising self-sufficiency and minimalism.
Tailfin is entering a pivotal stage of development and sought additional working capital to broaden its product range, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. Significant investment is also being directed towards expanding the company’s Bristol headquarters, creating a state-of-the-art R&D studio complete with new equipment, specialised tools, and enhanced prototyping capabilities.
Additional funds are dedicated to enhancing the Tailfin brand by investing in high-quality video production equipment and a dedicated studio space, significantly improving the company’s storytelling and market presence.
Founded in 2015 by mechanical engineer and product designer Nick Broadbent, Tailfin emerged from a passion-driven basement project into one of cycling’s most respected innovative brands.
Initially, Tailfin redefined the conventional rack and pannier system, creating a universally compatible and aesthetically refined solution specifically designed to complement modern bicycles. The integrated design approach, blending hard and soft goods seamlessly, set new standards for performance and practicality. Today, Tailfin offers over 12 distinct product lines distributed from warehouses strategically located in the Netherlands, USA, and Europe.
Tailfin’s Bristol headquarters hosts a highly skilled team of 25 industry-leading designers, marketers, and operational specialists, collaborating with specialist manufacturing partners across China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. This global approach extends further through partnerships with a worldwide network of R&D riders.
Broadbent said: “Innovation drives everything we do. Over a third of our dedicated team focuses exclusively on product development and engineering. 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.”
He added: “Our recent office expansion reflects the continual growth of our team, and we’re actively seeking additional talented individuals who share our passion for cycling and innovation.”
The funding came from British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, via the appointed fund manager FW Capital.
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. As they enter their next journey of growth, we’re looking forward to seeing how the investment will support further innovation and assist this globally recognised business to bring more new products to this expanding and exciting market.”
