Meet the entrepreneur who spotted the huge potential in a teenage Steven Bartlett
The Dragons' Den star has become marketing co-founder of UNTIL, a unique fitness and well-being concept, after his early mentor Marc Nohr introduced him to its founders
Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has invested in a unique health and well-being concept, chaired by creative entrepreneur and JW3 chairman, Marc Nohr, who was a mentor to Bartlett from the age of 18.
UNTIL provides high-end workspaces to more than 250 self-employed fitness or wellness professionals, who use UNTIL’s state-of-the-art facilities and business support services to regularly deliver services to clients. This means health and fitness professionals can work flexibly and on their own terms.
Nohr, who first met Bartlett at a conference in 2011, sent him UNTIL’s investment presentation. Aware of Bartlett’s enthusiasm for, and understanding of, the health and wellness industry, UNTIL’s founders, Vishal Amin and Alex Pellew, were keen to get Bartlett involved as an active investor.
The influential entrepreneur and podcaster (Diary of a CEO) Bartlett was sold on the model and has now joined as UNTIL’s marketing co-founder, and has invested as part of a £4m investment round.
Nohr told the Jewish News: “Steven loves disruptive brands and the UNTIL model hits that sweet spot of health, wellness and tech that really appeals to him. It’s part of the whole ‘high-streetisation’ of wellness and health,
coupled with the explosion of tech within health services and the increasing number of people being concerned about their well-being and owning their own health and fitness.
“Steven is really popular among that audience and the founders are really excited to have him involved. They are entrepreneurs, who are all madly interested in the world of fitness and health, and Steven can help bring UNTIL to a whole new audience. He’s there as both an investor, a business partner and an ambassador.”
It was at an Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) event in London, inspired by Nicola Mendelsohn CBE’s interest in Silicon Valley (Mendelsohn is now Head of The Global Business Group for Meta), that an 18 year-old Bartlett approached Nohr for guidance. “I was a speaker at that conference. Steven was there too, being interviewed about his first business. We spent a while chatting afterwards.”
Nohr agreed to mentor Steven and invested in his first business, Wallpark. He then advised Steven in his second business Social Chain.
“Since meeting Steven he has started, grown and sold companies and launched himself as a brand on social media and then TV. It is great to see him shine as an entrepreneur and thought leader.”
Posting a few years ago about Nohr on his Twitter (now X) account, Bartlett said: “Big thanks to @MarcNohr who has been a personal & business mentor to me since I was 18. Taught me a lot + inspired me to be more like him!”
Nohr is one of the UK’s most influential figures in the creative industries, having worked in it for over three decades, currently as chairman of creative advertising agency Fold7 and strategic marketing consultancy Stick & Twist, as well as holding a variety of other board positions.
Nohr has been a “fitness enthusiast” for over 20 years. He is the director of self-defence school London Krav Maga, where he is a qualified instructor.
“The worlds of fitness, health and gyms are all very familiar to me,” said Nohr, who was introduced to UNTIL’s founders by a former colleague.
“UNTIL is that unique fusion of fitness and health services in the form of a member’s club for professionals and practitioners, such as PTs, physios, counsellors, dentists, where they can see their clients and get support to grow their business.”
UNTIL launched with its first site in London’s Soho. A Liverpool Street location has since opened and a Marleybone spot is soon to come. There are then plans to roll out 40 across the UK and US over the next few years.
Bartlett, UNTIL’s marketing co-founder, said: “Supercharged by the pandemic, this health and wellness industry is booming – the demand for training, treatment, and coaching has never been higher. Yet the health and wellness market is broken. When I heard about this broken system, I not only believed, I knew that there must be a better way.
“That’s why I’ve joined forces with UNTIL – this disruptive solution rebalances the scales and puts healthcare and wellness professionals first. I believe in that vision and more importantly, the people behind it. There hasn’t been a fair option, until now, and I’m extremely proud to be joining a business that will change the health and wellness landscape forever.”
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