Tailwind Origins
Meet our founder
Darren Engels, CPA CA, CFA has dedicated his career to enabling businesses to grow and make their vision a reality.
Tailwind was founded by Darren Engels, CPA CA, CFA in 2018, after spending most of his career in equity research.
During his tenure at FirstEnergy Capital, he routinely observed high-potential companies fail to grow because they were dramatically underprepared to pursue capital. Darren heard from investors that their private portfolio companies generally did not meaningfully sustain communication after capital was secured, resulting in eroded trust and increased perceived risk, and therefore impacting the cost of capital.
This inspired him to apply institutional rigour to private capital markets. Darren observed that early- and growth-stage companies were often underserved – too small for most investment banks, and too advanced for accelerators and ecosystem programs – and that the learning curve to do it on their own carried a heavy opportunity cost for management teams.
Darren established Tailwind to better prepare companies for the responsibility of pursuing and stewarding capital.
“Getting your company ready for external capital is a skillset that most entrepreneurs don’t have out of the gate – it’s a competency that takes time and support to build.”
Darren designed FlightPlan™, the original methodology that leverages deep research and analysis to build a comprehensive capital strategy, structure the evidence to demonstrate the value proposition, and elevate the right story based on that foundation – to connect with the right investors, build trust, and ultimately earn conviction.
Tailwind continues to evolve the approach to suit market dynamics and expanded applications, but FlightPlan™ remains the core of our methodology.
“To me, it’s a responsibility. Our work helps founders build better businesses, and we improve the risk-reward relationship for both ventures and investors.”
Our vision & values
We exist to empower people to build great companies, because we believe economic prosperity uplifts humanity.
We challenge the status quo by developing our clients’ competencies to ensure they’re trustworthy – and therefore investable – enabling them to grow and achieve their purpose.
Embody Honour.
Live honourably with impeccable words and actions that nurture trust with each other, our clients, investors, and community.
Create Happiness.
Create the conditions for happiness – the fuel for a thriving life full of optimism, high-performance, and a life of abundance.
Think Bigger.
Commit to a curious, growth mindset and innovative spirit to create meaningful impact, shaping a better world that uplifts humanity.
Exemplify Tenacity.
Demonstrate unwavering determination and dedication to transform challenges into opportunities and goals into meaningful achievements.
Ignite Delight.
Through intentional design and flawless execution, we craft delightful experiences that exceed expectations, ensuring every interaction is meaningful, memorable, and inspiring.
