The Faction Collective raised CHF 8 million to fuel R&D and acquired snowboard brand United Shapes

20.09.2022 14:39, Guillaume Tinsel

Founded in Verbier in 2006, The Faction Collective is an award-winning global ski equipment and apparel brand with a B2B sales network in 17 countries and four subsidiaries, including the recent acquisition of snowboard brand United Shapes. Part of the raised CHF 8 million will fuel R&D and enable the company to establish a new production in Europe and re-vamp the entire United Shapes collection. The Faction Collective was ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards in 2011 and 2012.

'The Faction Collective' and its team of 54 employees have transformed the ski industry. The company's designs and products have indeed shaped a freeskiing culture to challenge industry stagnation and create a more liberated, sustainable space in the outdoors. Today, Freeride World Tour champions, Olympic and X Games gold medalists, and more than 100,000 fans have used Faction’s skis and apparel. The company has subsidiaries in four countries including Canada, the US, Japan, and China, plus branches in the UK and Sweden.

Since developing other brands, the company created the concept of Full Stack Supply Co (FSSC) as its B2B multi-brand platform comprising Faction Skis, FW Apparel, and now United Shapes, the company’s new acquisition in the United States. The newly acquired brand will leverage the existing infrastructure that is delivering 46% YoY growth and a forecast €16m revenue for the company this year, 70% of which is pre-sold.



High Net Worth individuals invest in FSSC

“We are experiencing a period of sustained high growth, underpinned by sound business fundamentals and our strongest products yet. It is an exciting time for the company, and this is reflected in strong follow-on investment from our High Net Worth (HNW) backers as we implement the next steps of our strategy,” says Alex Hoye, Co-Founder and CEO of FSSC.

The new investment round saw the company raise CHF 8 million, bringing the total capital to CHF 45 million. Part of the investment will fuel R&D, establish a new production facility in Europe and re-vamp the entire United Shapes collection ahead of an initial launch in 2022/2023 with an early release of select snowboards for the season. FSSC is also planning to launch a new technical footwear brand set in fall/winter 2023 – a new generation of Freeski boots harnessing the energy of freeskiing culture will be the first product.

Brand Co-Founder and Snowboarder Gray Thompson says, “United Shapes is a modern brand building the future of snowboarding. This acquisition by FSSC represents an opportunity to amplify the brand we love to a truly global audience while staying true to our core and bringing the grand vision of United Shapes to life.”

Sustainability efforts get recognition

This emphasis on sustainability differentiates FSSC from competitors. In August 2022 the company became a certified B-Corporation, having undergone a rigorous third-party assessment of its environmental and social responsibility and achieving a very high B-Corp score of 93.5/100, significantly ahead of the median score of 51.6.

 'The Faction Collective' was ranked at the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards in 2011 and 2012.

Source: The Faction Collective Press Release and startupticker.ch