Tengiva Company Profile

Background

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Tengiva is a pioneering digital supply chain platform dedicated to transforming the textile industry. The company's mission is to modernize and streamline the complex and outdated sourcing and distribution processes prevalent in the textile sector. By offering comprehensive digital solutions, Tengiva aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability across the global textile supply chain. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including textile businesses, industry associations, governmental organizations, and finished product brands, operating in over 120 countries and supporting more than 1,000 users.

Key Strategic Focus

Tengiva's strategic focus centers on providing an all-encompassing digital solution tailored specifically for the textile industry. The company's core objectives include:

B2B Distribution and Sourcing: Facilitating real-time, direct online sourcing of textiles for apparel brands, thereby reducing lead times and improving procurement efficiency.

Data Management: Centralizing and structuring data for textile manufacturers and apparel brands to optimize resource usage and increase supply chain transparency.

Sustainability: Promoting better practices within the industry, such as CO₂ emissions calculations, material recyclability assessments, and recommendations for environmentally friendly production processes.

Tengiva's platform is designed to scale with businesses, ensuring that as clients grow, the system adapts to their evolving needs without the necessity for frequent upgrades.

Financials and Funding

In May 2022, Tengiva secured CAD$4.95 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialization of its platform, establish a state-of-the-art warehouse, and execute its global expansion strategy. The funding round was led by Fonds Ecofuel, with participation from Inovia Capital, Anges Québec, Active Impact Investments, and N49P. The round included $1.7 million in commercialization funding from the Investissement Québec Innovation Program and a $100,000 grant from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).

Technological Platform and Innovation

Tengiva's platform stands out due to its proprietary technologies and innovative methodologies:

Digital Supply Chain System: An internal collaborative platform that allows teams to manage and collaborate on product information, including inventory, pricing, and specifications, all in one place.

E-commerce Solutions: A transactional portal enabling clients to order sample swatches, place production orders, and purchase from inventory seamlessly.

Marketplace Builder: A tool that allows organizations to launch multi-supplier platforms, generating transaction revenue and expanding market reach.

The platform integrates with existing systems like ERP, PLM, and accounting software through API connections, ensuring seamless data flow and operational efficiency.

Leadership Team

Tengiva's leadership comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the textile industry:

Annie Cyr, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer: With over 20 years in the industry, Annie is a board member of TechniTextile Quebec and author of "The Guide to Textile Fibers." She was a delegate at the 2021 G20 YEA Summit and a speaker at the 2024 World Summit of AI, focusing on quality data for digital success and driving innovation in the industry.

Carlos Agudelo, Ph.D., Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer: Carlos brings 30 years of experience, holding a Ph.D. in Engineering Polymeric Fibres for Textiles from Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña. His previous roles include COO/CTO at Eko-Terre, Director of R&D at Logistik Unicorp Inc., and postdoctoral fellow at Kyoto University.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global textile industry is a trillion-dollar market, yet much of its supply chain operations remain offline and inefficient. The push towards digital transformation is driven by the need for increased efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. Companies like Tengiva are at the forefront of this shift, offering solutions that modernize sourcing and distribution processes.

Competitor Analysis

While Tengiva is a pioneer in digital supply chain solutions for textiles, other companies are also addressing supply chain challenges:

SwatchOn Co., Ltd.: Provides a B2B marketplace for textiles, connecting designers with fabric suppliers.

Smartex.ai: Utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance textile production processes.

Reverse Resources: Focuses on building networks for textile waste to find recycling opportunities, promoting circularity in fashion.

Tengiva differentiates itself by offering a comprehensive platform that not only facilitates transactions but also integrates seamlessly with existing systems, providing a holistic solution for the textile supply chain.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Tengiva has established significant collaborations to enhance its market position and innovation capacity:

Kingwhale: A Taiwan-based company specializing in sustainable, high-performance textiles. Kingwhale leverages Tengiva's internal collaborative platform to gain operational efficiency, sharing data, tracking product statuses, and managing inventory effectively.

Montloup: Utilizes Tengiva's solution to allow direct swatch sample orders, place production quote requests, and showcase new collections, thereby enhancing their international growth.

AITE: Launched the first digital marketplace for Ecuadorian-made textiles using Tengiva's Marketplace Builder, enabling clients worldwide to source and discover Ecuadorian textiles efficiently.

Operational Insights

Tengiva's strategic considerations in relation to major competitors and market position include:

Comprehensive Digital Solutions: Offering an all-in-one platform that addresses various aspects of the textile supply chain, from sourcing to data management.

Scalability: Ensuring the platform grows with clients' businesses, eliminating the need for frequent system changes or upgrades.

Sustainability Focus: Integrating features that promote environmentally friendly practices, aligning with global sustainability goals.

These differentiators position Tengiva as a leader in the digital transformation of the textile industry.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Tengiva's strategic roadmap includes:

Global Expansion: Leveraging recent funding to commercialize the platform and establish a state-of-the-art warehouse to support international operations.

Technological Advancements: Continuously enhancing the platform's capabilities to meet evolving industry needs and integrate emerging technologies.

Sustainability Initiatives: Further developing features that assist clients in reducing their environmental impact, such as CO₂ emissions calculations and material recyclability assessments.

By capitalizing on these opportunities, Tengiva aims to solidify its position as a transformative force in the textile industry's digital landscape.