Meet Harrison Nott, the teenage entrepreneur behind CoolTowel. (Photo: SWNS)
A 16-year-old entrepreneur from Essex, UK, has chosen not to attend college to focus on his towel business, CoolTowel, which he started in his bedroom in 2023. Harrison Nott’s venture has generated more than £750,000 in revenue this year, driven by a surge in demand during Britain’s summer heatwaves. His journey received a major boost when he won the Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch competition, beating 15,000 entrepreneurs worldwide and securing a £150,000 prize. Harrison says CoolTowel has recorded around 80,000 sales through TikTok Shop and Shopify this year, although the company is yet to turn a profit.
Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, one of the judges, was impressed by the teenager and later invested in his business.
Demand soared during the summer heatwaves, with Harrison claiming the business generated £100,000 in revenue in a single night after selling out its stock, according to SWNS. He later introduced pre-orders and says the company sold £600,000 worth of stock in one week, taking its annual revenue beyond £750,000. CoolTowel sells reusable cooling towels that work through evaporation. Users wet the towel, wring it out and snap it to activate the cooling effect. Harrison chooses business over college after GCSEs. (Photo: SWNS) Ferdinand later met Harrison in London to discuss his business plans and decided to invest in the venture. The former footballer has also helped the teenager build connections and explore opportunities for growth.
