Hanan Tantush, founder of adaptive fashion label Intotum, has won £70,000 in the first round of NatWest Pitch, a new £1 million competition for start-up business leaders.
Tantush, from Cheshire, launched Intotum after watching her grandfather struggle to find stylish clothing that met his needs during cancer treatment. Her brand designs comfortable, functional and fashionable clothing for people with disabilities and health conditions, eliminating the need for alterations.
The opening Pitch event was held at NatWest’s Spinningfields Accelerator hub in Manchester, where judges debated for two hours before naming Tantush the winner. Two other entrepreneurs also secured funding: Jas Schembri-Stothart of teen healthcare app Luna Life received £20,000, and Alex Somervell, creator of scams-protection tool Ask Silver, won £10,000.
Tantush said:
“I’m feeling very overwhelmed—it hasn’t really sunk in yet. We make ready-to-wear clothing with all the functions and comfort the disabled community needs every day.
“We’ll use the NatWest funding for our next collection and to launch an exciting adaptive sportswear project to create a new class of inclusive athletic clothing.”
The competition celebrates 10 years of the NatWest Accelerator, which has supported 10,000 entrepreneurs across the UK since 2015. NatWest Pitch invites founders to submit a 60-second video outlining their business success and growth plans. Shortlisted entrants will present a 10-minute live pitch at events in London and Birmingham, with further rounds planned for Bristol, Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2025.
Darren Pirie, head of NatWest Accelerator, said:
“Congratulations to all of the finalists—the standard of entries made judging a real challenge. Given Manchester’s long history of entrepreneurship and innovation, it was the ideal place to launch this celebration.
“As Britain’s biggest bank for start-ups, we believe supporting small business growth is key to a strong economy. NatWest Pitch gives entrepreneurs a fantastic opportunity to showcase their ideas and explain how funding will help them scale. My advice for future applicants: don’t be modest—tell us what makes your business special.”
