Founded by David Beckham, Backed by Sabalenka, Nutrition Supplement IM8 Completes $1 Billion Non-Dilutive Financing
On July 14, U.S. consumer health company Prenetics Global Limited announced that its nutrition supplement brand IM8 has completed a new round of $1 billion non-dilutive growth financing, with investment from the Customer Value Fund (CVF) of venture capital firm General Catalyst.
Notably, this financing is not standard equity investment, but non-dilutive financing:
CVF's capital injection is essentially a loan, providing up to 70% of IM8's marketing spend. IM8 is required to repay the loan principal plus a percentage of revenue, with a cap on repayment. General Catalyst will not hold equity in IM8.Previously, CVF had used this innovative model on smaller-scale targets; this is CVF's first capital injection exceeding $1 billion.
IM8 was co-founded in late 2024 by football superstar David Beckham and entrepreneur Danny Yeung, born in Guangdong, China. The two met at an event in 2023, and after an in-depth conversation, found their philosophies highly aligned, leading to deep collaboration. This is Beckham's first equity stake in a health supplement company, having previously turned down offers from large corporations and startups.
Above: Danny Yeung (left) and David Beckham (right)
Danny Yeung is a serial entrepreneur. In his early years, he attempted to bring Hong Kong dessert chain Hui Lau Shan to the U.S. After exiting the dessert business, he worked on exporting Chinese furniture to U.S. hotels, then founded group-buying platform uBuyiBuy. In 2014, he established health tech company Prenetics, focusing on genetic testing, precision medicine, and diagnostic services. In 2021, Prenetics completed a business combination with Artisan Acquisition Corp., a SPAC led by renowned Hong Kong entrepreneur and third-generation heir of the Cheng family, Adrian Cheng, and went public on Nasdaq in 2022.
Beckham has always been very interested in health and wellness, taking various supplements long-term, but was dissatisfied with the complexity and inconvenience of market products, hoping to develop "simple, all-in-one, truly effective" products. He personally participated in concept discussions, emphasizing science-first, taste, and daily usability.
Ultimately, IM8 launched a powder product Daily Ultimate Essentials Pro containing over 90 nutrients beneficial to 9 major organ systems, and a product specifically targeting anti-aging, Daily Ultimate Longevity, sold via subscription. The former's subscription price starts at $78/month (approximately RMB 520/month), and the latter at $104/month (approximately RMB 700/month).
In addition to Beckham, IM8 has also attracted athletes from tennis, basketball, and F1 to invest and serve as global ambassadors, such as: current world No. 1 in women's tennis Aryna Sabalenka, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, and F1 Haas driver Ollie Bearman.
Sabalenka said she tried IM8 on the recommendation of her fitness coach. Her first impression was that the portable design meant she no longer needed to carry various pills and didn't worry about missing any ingredient. As she continued taking it, she felt improvements in her gut, energy, and sleep, leading her to invest in the brand.
Above: IM8 shareholder - tennis star Aryna Sabalenka
Above: IM8 shareholder - F1 Haas driver Ollie Bearman
The brand's official press release states: IM8 is the fastest-growing premium nutrition supplement brand ever. In June 2026, the company achieved its best-ever monthly performance, with preliminary unaudited monthly revenue of approximately $17 million and a compound monthly revenue growth rate of 23%. The company expects full-year 2026 revenue to reach $300 million, and full-year 2027 revenue to exceed $400 million.
Above: Monthly revenue of IM8 over the past 19 months since its founding in December 2024
General Catalyst partner Adit Swarup, who led the transaction, said in a statement: "IM8's user economics rank among the best in our Customer Value Fund portfolio. Their user retention data is outstanding: highly consistent across regions, subscription durations, and product lines, with quarterly renewal rates setting a new industry benchmark for the direct-to-consumer health sector."
IM8 plans to launch a hydration product, IM8 Hydration, in Q4 2026, and a premium gummy series in Q1 2027.
The press release notes that IM8 is an AI-enabled company: AI and machine learning are deeply integrated into the company's entire business chain, covering marketing, product operations, user experience optimization, and user retention management.
| Sources: Official press release, beautymatter, tatlerasia
| Images: Official press release, IM8 official website, official Instagram