Tilz Prosperitas is ready to deliver to Europe and take on new clients in the US and Canada after securing funding to go global.
Founded by Leeds businesswoman Tayo Adebisi, Tilz Prosperitas, an e-commerce business specialising in gift sets and Advent calendars, has secured trade loans worth up to £200,000 following an Export Assist referral from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency.
The financing, brokered by Dynamic Funding, will enable the business to meet demand from Europe and expand sales into North America.
The business started in 2017 when Tayo launched her online store with just £5,000 capital. Within four years, turnover had reached £3m. But the Covid pandemic created cash flow challenges, making it difficult to pay suppliers on time, ship goods promptly, and develop new products.
After several banks declined funding applications, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority referred Tayo to Moustafa Elgendy, international trade adviser at the Department of Business and Trade, and Alissia Deane, UKEF’s export finance manager for West Yorkshire.
Alissia connected the business to Dynamic Funding, who brokered two trade finance loans worth up to £200,000.
With the new funding in place, Tilz Prosperitas is ready to fulfil holiday season orders from established clients across the Netherlands, Germany, France and Spain, while preparing to supply a major US supermarket chain and expand into Canada. The company also plans to diversify beyond seasonal products and explore markets in Australia, China and Mexico.
Tayo Adebisi, founder and CEO of Tilz Prosperitas, said: “When I started TilzMart with £5,000 eight years ago, I never imagined we’d be supplying major retailers across Europe and North America. The pandemic taught us how crucial flexible finance is for growth – we had the orders but couldn’t bridge the gap between paying suppliers and receiving payments.
“This funding has been transformational, allowing us to confidently take on larger contracts and expand into new markets.”
