Chichester student's fitness business wins pitch on BBC's Dragon's Den

Young entrepreneur Nathan Abbott, a student at the the University of Chichester, is among the owners of start-up firm Nutri-Genetix (NGX), which makes genetically-personalised meal-shakes based on DNA.

The 24-year-old from Littlehampton, who oversees its digital marketing, said business has boomed since the company secured £50,000 from two Dragons, Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman.

Nathan, now heading into the final year of his BSc in Digital Marketing, said: “It was an intense experience – we spent a lot of time preparing the pitch.

“Sadly I couldn’t be on the set because of Covid-19, but I did make the packing for each Dragon’s personalised shake – I must have checked the spelling of their names about 100 times."

NGX provides an at-home DNA nutrition test and then a personal nutrition report, based on the results.

The business aims to help people improve on their fitness personal bests by offering the world’s first genetically personalised meal-shake - a plant-based breakfast and snack shake containing essential nutrients, personalised to each indivdual.

Pride of Britain award-winner Nathan has raised thousands for children born cleft palates worldwide

Nathan, a keen sportsman himself, is also a Pride of Britain award-winner and has fundraised for the surgery and care for thousands of cleft children in the developing world.

He was born with a cleft lip and palate and is determined to carry on his fundraising work alongside NGX, to help children in need of cleft lip and palate surgery.

Having been bullied during his younger years, he channelled his adversity into sport and now talks openly about his experiences – while completing in extreme challenges with his fundraising movement Freestyle 4 Smile.

Nathan said: “Growing up with a facial difference, I was constantly pushed down and I felt worthless, so I had to fight to give myself some purpose.

“I started openly sharing my stories of going through 30 operations, not only to raise awareness of cleft lip and palate, but to inspire others that life is worth living, even when going through adversity.

“When I got the Pride of Britain award, I realised I wasn’t just nothing, people’s lives were better because of my work, and it was the proudest moment of my life.”

With more business ventures planned, Nathan remains committed to fundraising and his passion to help children in need of cleft lip and palate surgery.

He added: “I’m determined to get the most from life.

“If you do a few little things each day, over the years it adds up to a lot of change.”