Boy wins $200,000 prize for towel that stays cool for 2 hours

A 16-year-old high school student has turned a simple idea into a thriving business and just walked away with a top international prize. Harrison Nott’s invention — a towel that claims to stay cool for up to two hours with a quick wet, wring and snap — landed him a $200,000 grand prize at a global startup competition, and demand for his CoolTowel has surged worldwide.

What started as a bedroom project has become a full-time challenge for the teenager from Essex, England: fulfilling tens of thousands of orders, running marketing on TikTok and Shopify, and balancing schoolwork while scaling a company that posted six-figure revenue last year.

From a bedroom hobby to a six-figure startup

Harrison launched CoolTowel in 2023 out of his bedroom. What began as a small side hustle quickly found traction on social media and e-commerce platforms. Last year, the business reached roughly £100,000 in sales (about $125,000), and Harrison reports shipping more than 30,000 orders to customers.

He gained viral attention on TikTok and pushed traffic through a Shopify store, with a single peak day reaching around £15,000 in sales. That early momentum helped him move from occasional packing sessions at home to managing a growing operation that now receives far more demand than he anticipated.

What makes the CoolTowel different — product features and use cases

The CoolTowel’s appeal comes from a simple user experience and a specific construction. Harrison markets the product as lightweight and reusable, designed for athletes, outdoor workers, people coping with heat sensitivity, and pet owners.

• Three-layer polyester construction: engineered to hold moisture while remaining breathable.
• Wet, wring, snap method: users wet the towel, wring it out, then snap it to activate a cooling effect.
• Portable cooling: advertised to keep users feeling cooler for up to two hours per activation.

Because of those benefits, buyers have used CoolTowel for sports, hot-weather travel, menopause symptom relief, and pets overheated by summer temperatures. Harrison’s product positioning — a compact cooling solution that’s reusable and affordable — has helped it stand out in a crowded market.

The pitch that won $200,000 at Alibaba’s CoCreate event

In November, Harrison flew to London to pitch at the Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch competition after applying alongside roughly 15,000 other young entrepreneurs worldwide. Organizers selected 30 finalists to present live to a panel of judges. While a number of contestants received smaller investments, Harrison emerged as the lone grand-prize winner.

He received the top award — $200,000 — after impressing judges with his business model, traction numbers, and plans for growth. One judge, former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, was reportedly impressed enough to swap contact details with Harrison, who hopes high-profile mentorship and investment could accelerate his next phase.

Running a company while still in school

With orders climbing and press attention increasing, Harrison has had to reorganize his life. His school has accommodated a reduced timetable so he can keep up with operational demands — packing shipments, managing customer service, and coordinating manufacturing.

• Daily operations: fulfilling thousands of orders, handling logistics, and answering customer queries.
• Team and support: family involvement, plus guidance from a business teacher who helped with trademarking the brand.
• Community focus: donating products to charities that support people with health challenges.

Harrison credits his father, Matthew, with providing a steady example of entrepreneurship. The family dynamic has been a resource for decision-making and resilience as the company scales rapidly.

Lessons learned, failures, and future ambitions

Entrepreneurship didn’t come overnight. Harrison traces his earliest ventures back to age eight, reselling on eBay, and says numerous failed attempts taught him practical skills: cost control, marketing basics, and how to pivot after setbacks. Those early lessons shaped his approach to product development and customer trust.

He plans to continue his education in business — taking A-level Business Studies — while expanding CoolTowel’s reach. Harrison has already started sharing his experience with peers, sponsoring school events and giving presentations about how he runs the company. He says his goal is to help others learn how to launch and grow their own businesses.

“I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but they helped me find what works,” he has said, describing a hands-on learning curve that turned small losses into practical know-how.

What’s next for CoolTowel and potential backers

The immediate focus is scaling production and professionalizing operations so the company can meet surging demand and enter new markets. The Alibaba prize money gives Harrison runway to invest in inventory, logistics, and marketing, while industry connections from the competition could lead to mentorship or outside investment.

Potential next steps include:

• Expanding manufacturing partnerships to reduce lead times
• Broadening retail channels beyond Shopify (potential wholesale and brick-and-mortar deals)
• Exploring additional product lines for cooling and recovery

His father praises Harrison’s determination and analytical approach to failure — qualities he believes will serve him well as CoolTowel grows and explores new opportunities.

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Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.