The Velits brothers aim to lead the peloton once again

Years ago, they exchanged bicycles for pumping the pedals of business

Isadore Apparel introduced cycling clothing and accessories on five continents. With the help of investors, they have more triumphs within reach.Brothers Martin and Peter Velits have been building a business model in the form of a global e-shop for the past six years. They toyed with the idea during their active cycling career. Securing the funds to start a business didn't pose such a challenge. After ten years of professional cycling, they shifted gears and began designing highly functional and stylish cycling clothing and premium-quality accessories. The brothers drew on their real-life experience: “We know exactly what cyclists want to wear, what they value and what they don’t,” they say. Their brand meets the needs and demands of professionals and recreational athletes.

From cyclists to entrepreneurs

Four years after establishing the company, which had grown significantly during that time, the Velits brothers reached a point where they had to make a decision. Build a family business with slower growth or seek an investor that would put them on a completely different path? “Outside capital meant the entry of a new investor, which would accelerate the company’s growth, as well as someone else being part of it,” they explain. The partners eventually settled on crowdinvesting. “Everything in its own time. We initially considered other forms of investment. We needed to come to a decision.” say the Velitses.

The brothers carefully weighed the options. Pros and cons. Banks, funds and investors. “We negotiated with potential investors from the United States, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia," they explain. Realizing how difficult it can be to get money for marketing or expanding the company. the duo says they looked for contacts and studied materials, realizing that crowdinvesting offered much more.

“We liked the idea of ​​a professional investment platform. Though the initial investment is higher than with standard crowdfunding, the company can have a closer relationship with several investors, which is not possible with thousands of investors in the case of crowdfunding,” they say. With Isadore Apparel, which has an annual turnover of approximately EUR 2 million, the entrepreneurs relied on private investors from the Crowdberry platform. Within three weeks after the call was issued, they raised more than EUR 900,000 of the required EUR 1.2 million. The company’s business model, success in the international market and growth potential appealed to investors.