Vollebak is a technology company.
Vollebak has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round.
Vollebak has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vollebak is a pioneering British apparel company that builds futuristic sportswear and adventure clothing by integrating advanced science and technology, such as graphene, copper, and programmable materials.[1][2][4][5] It serves global athletes, adventurers, and consumers seeking durable, high-performance gear for extreme conditions, including Earth deserts, ultra-marathons, and potential Mars missions, solving problems like thermal regulation, environmental protection, and sustainability through innovations like heat-adaptive jackets and biodegradable T-shirts.[2][3][4][6] With a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via Shopify, Vollebak has achieved strong growth, including 55% US sales in 2022, expanded financial automation for efficiency, and $10 million in funding by 2021, plus awards like TIME's Best Inventions.[1][5][6]
Vollebak was founded in 2016 by twin brothers Nick and Steve Tidball, former advertising creatives at TBWA in London—Nick an architecture-trained art director and Steve a copywriter with an art history background—who were also ultra-marathon athletes.[2][4][5] The idea emerged in 2015 during grueling desert runs through the Amazon, Alps, and Namib, where they endured heatstroke, injuries, and wildlife threats, prompting questions about clothing that could actively aid survival, relaxation, or visibility—like a hoodie for meditation or gear for planetary exploration.[2][4] Early traction came with the 2015 Relaxation Hoodie featured on The Tonight Show, followed by rapid innovations like the 2018 graphene jacket developed with the University of Manchester.[3][5]
Vollebak rides the wave of wearable technology and advanced materials trends, merging textiles with computing, biomedicine, and sustainable engineering—exemplified by graphene collaborations with institutions like the National Graphene Institute.[3] Timing aligns with rising demands for climate-resilient gear amid extreme weather and space commercialization, positioning it like Tesla in apparel for future-proofing consumers against scarcity and exploration.[2][4][7] Market forces favoring it include consumer shifts to durable, tech-infused products over disposable fashion, plus funding from Venrex, Joe Gebbia, and fashion-tech awards, amplifying its influence on sportswear innovation and inspiring education in physics, design, and wearables.[3][5]
Vollebak is poised to lead the "Fourth Age of clothing," expanding its Human Futures Lab into AI-driven, robotic-integrated apparel for Mars habitats and Earth extremes, with prototypes like the Spaceshop signaling interplanetary ambitions.[4][6][7] Trends in space tourism, climate tech, and material breakthroughs will propel growth, potentially through more university partnerships and funding rounds. Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem shaper, redefining apparel as survival tech—much like its desert-born origins sparked a century-ahead vision.[2][4]
Vollebak has raised $10.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Vollebak's investors include Blu Venture Investors, Energy Impact Partners, OODA Ventures, Paladin Capital Group.
Vollebak has raised $10.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in November 2021.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2021 | $10.0M Series A | Blu Venture Investors, Energy Impact Partners, OODA Ventures, Paladin Capital Group |