Activewear brand TALA, founded by influencer Grace Beverley, has secured a £5 million funding round from a group of prominent investors. As Sky News reports, the capital injection comes from existing shareholders Pembroke VCT, Venrex, and Active Partners.

Beverley, who launched TALA in 2019, has grown the company to 45 employees and attracted nearly half a million followers to the brand’s Instagram account. This social media-driven approach highlights consumer brands’ developing strategies to build customer bases in the digital age.

TALA plans to use the new funds for international expansion, initially focusing on the United States, where the company reports significant customer and social media traction. The brand is also exploring establishing its first physical standalone retail presence.

The London-based company has experienced a tenfold increase in monthly revenues since its last fundraising round three years ago. TALA products are now sold in all Selfridges stores across the UK.

Beverley emphasizes the significance of TALA’s women-led structure, stating that the majority of leadership and board positions are held by women. She notes that only 2% of venture capital funding in the UK goes to female-founded businesses, underscoring the statistical rarity of reaching this stage in the business lifecycle.

The £5 million investment comes amid growth in the athleisure market. Sky News cites data from Precedence Research, which indicates that the global market, valued at over $360 billion last year, is projected to reach $880 billion in sales by 2033.

Given current constraints in private funding markets, TALA CEO Morgan Fowles highlighted the importance of this funding round. She credited the company’s previous fundraising efforts for enabling faster scaling and calculated risk-taking.

Pembroke VCT CEO Andrew Wolfson expressed confidence in TALA’s innovative approach and market appeal. He believes the investment will accelerate the brand’s expansion, enhance its product range, and strengthen its global market position.