Hexis, pioneers of AI-driven fuelling plans for athletes, has raised a £1.6 million pre-seed fundraising round.
The company aims to enhance sports performance through intelligent personalised nutrition technology.
The round includes investment from APEX, a world-class athlete-backed venture capital firm with a track record of backing successful technology startups, and Sport Republic, a global sports investment company with controlling ownership of the football clubs Southampton FC, Valenciennes FC in France and Göztepe SK in Turkey.
The company is also backed by other high-profile sports VCs including Dopamine Sport Ventures, along with Tour de France stage winners and Olympic medallists.
Every athlete can now have a fully personalised fuelling plan matched precisely to their requirements. This is made possible by its exclusive scientific Carb Coding system, which calculates and predicts how you should fuel.
Hexis says it is also the first to offer a fuelling plan that adapts in real-time according to an athlete’s workout to optimise performance and accelerate recovery.
Hexis is led by CEO and co-founder Dr David Dunne, whose work on behavioural design thinking has helped bring co-founder Dr Sam Impey and Professor James Morton’s research to life in technology.
He has also directed the nutrition for the Ryder Cup Team Europe over the past eight years, collaborating closely with athletes like Rory McIlroy. His expertise spans a range of sports, including Harlequins Rugby, British Canoeing, and high-profile athletes from the NBA, the Premier League, Super League, World Tour cycling and professional boxing.
Dr Impey is highly regarded not only for his work on the UCI World Tour but also for his substantial contributions to sports nutrition, notably as a co-author of the landmark paper ‘Fuel for the Work Required’. This is the most widely cited piece of sports nutrition work in the last decade and has significantly influenced how athletes manage their energy and nutrition intake to influence how they perform, adapt and recover.
Professor James Morton, previously a performance nutritionist for Liverpool FC and head of nutrition and physical performance at Team Sky, brings extensive experience from the pinnacle of elite sports. Through his work with INEOS, Morton plays an important role at Manchester United FC, where he is helping to shape the team’s performance strategies.
The Hexis team has also welcomed Stephen Moon, the former CEO of Science in Sport (SiS), to its board. With over a decade of leading the world’s number one endurance nutrition brand, Moon is contributing to the brand’s strategic direction and success.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with David and the entire Hexis team,” said Koen Bosma, head of venture capital at APEX.
“In sports performance, proper nutrition plays a critical role, and Hexis stands out by making personalised nutritional guidance accessible to everyone. This kind of support will be crucial for athletes and sports organisations across the board.
“The Hexis team structure is impressive, with a CEO who has progressed from practitioner to PhD graduate to founder. The broader team of advisers, encompassing both academic and sports backgrounds, helps ensure that the team stays true to its mission of empowering athletes through nutrition.
“We can’t wait to embark on this journey and see the positive impact Hexis will have on the future of sports performance.”
Professional cyclist Bob Jungels, a long-time advocate and user of Hexis, says: “I’ve been using Hexis for quite some time, and it has become an essential part of my training and recovery routine.
“The platform’s focus on personalised data and recovery optimisation has made a significant difference in my performance. I am delighted to see Hexis secure this funding and to be part of its journey. It further reinforces my belief in the brand’s ability to revolutionise how athletes train, recover, and perform.”
The brand’s long-term vision includes expanding into new sports markets and establishing itself as a leader in sports technology and athlete performance.
Dr Dunne said: “We are proud to have the backing of APEX and Sport Republic as we continue to push the boundaries of intelligent personalised nutrition technology to enhance performance. Their investment is a major vote of confidence in our mission, and it will allow us to accelerate our efforts to support athletes, coaches and organisations with cutting-edge solutions.
“We’re excited to collaborate with them and leverage their expertise and industry connections.”
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