How Fendsea is Reinventing the Boat Fender with Smart Design

Sometimes, innovation starts with frustration — and a burst garbage bag at sea.

For Guillaume Labrot, co-founder of Fendsea, that moment revealed a clear design flaw in a piece of equipment found on nearly every boat: the fender. What followed was a journey to reinvent this overlooked object — blending functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics in one smart solution.

As part of the Interceltic Startup Challenge 2025, Fendsea was selected to represent Brittany at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient this August.

We sat down with Guillaume to hear how Fendsea is rethinking the marine industry, what it means to build in Brittany, and why the humble fender is due for a sea change.

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What inspired you to start your company?

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After my grandfather passed away — the person who first taught me how to sail — I got back into sailing. During a delivery trip, the trash bags inside the cabin burst open. To avoid that happening again, I cut open some standard fenders and used them to store the waste.

But when we arrived at the port in Portugal, we had only two fenders left to dock and protect the boat. That’s when it hit me: these bulky fenders serve no real purpose at sea and look completely out of place on boats worth thousands of euros. Having always wanted to start something of my own, I saw a real opportunity to rethink and reinvent this object.

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Tell us what your startup does. What problem are you solving?

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Fendsea aims to reinvent both the function and aesthetics of boat fenders by offering boaters an integrated storage solution that prevents space loss, encourages waste collection, and helps reduce ocean pollution.

Fenders have long been neglected by the marine industry and are a source of dissatisfaction among boaters because they’re bulky, inefficient, and unattractive. With our innovative, tech-forward approach, we’ve created a product that solves real technical issues while enhancing the user experience.

Fendsea is more than a product — it’s a statement. Our goal is to become the global leader in premium fenders within five years.

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Who benefits most from your solution?

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We serve a wide range of customers — from recreational boat owners to shipyards, rental fleets, boat dealers, and even military clients with specific needs.

The recreational boating market alone represents over 56 million fenders globally. Our B2C customers are owners of vessels between 10 and 50 meters. On the B2B side, we work with manufacturers and professional fleets. We also partner with retailers and distributors through a B2B2C channel.

Ultimately, anyone who cares about preserving onboard space, protecting their investment, and reducing ocean pollution can benefit from what we’re building.

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What does it mean to you to represent your region at the Interceltic Business Forum?

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It’s a source of pride and a true honor.

I grew up in northern Brittany and have always been proud of my region and the strong Breton values. That’s why it was so important for me to establish Fendsea’s headquarters in Brittany.

Brittany is a region rich in talent and home to many remarkable, human-scale companies, where mutual support is a core value. At Fendsea, it is part of our mission to work as much as possible with local resources whenever we can.

To represent this region on an international stage is a chance to showcase not only our innovation, but the values that shape how we do business.

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What’s Next?

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Guillaume and the other five winning founders will take the stage at the Interceltic Business Forum in Lorient on August 4th, representing the best of Celtic innovation.

They’ll pitch their ideas to investors, connect with potential partners, and help shape a more collaborative future for startups across the Celtic nations. For Fendsea, it’s not just a business opportunity — it’s a homecoming to Brittany, and a springboard to go global.

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🎟️ Be there to support them → Register for the Interceltic Business Forum

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