Temple Cycles looks to fund expansion of its UK manufacturing business

Temple Cycles’ owner, 26-year-old Matt Mears started out restoring classic bicycles when he was studying at Bristol University, founding the business is 2014. Since then, he’s developed a range of stylish bikes, relying on funding from within the business.

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All its bikes are built out of steel in Temple’s Bristol workshop. They include hybrid bikes as well as adventure road, cross and fixie machines, with a quietly retro look. It’s also got quite a range of matching accessories, offers special builds and will make custom bikes to order.

Temple sells its products from its website and its workshop and also via a couple of bike shops in the UK and one in Denmark. It says its primary aim is to produce simple, low-maintenance, stylish machines.

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Temple is now looking to fund the development of new products, including e-bikes and high-end children’s bikes. It’s also looking to refine its range of adult bikes and expand its accessories offering.

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Matt Mears says: “We want to make beautiful, stylish British bicycles here in Bristol and sell them throughout the World. There was a time when the UK’s bicycle industry was the envy of the World - it’s our dream to bring those days back.”

Temple is looking for £150,000 to realise its business expansion ambitions and recruit 15 new employees. Its Crowdcube campaign is already overfunded with over three weeks to run, so it’s offering an additional 3% share of the business for further investors. Minimum investment is just £10.

It’s also hoping that investors will bring their own experience, ideas and expertise into the business.