​​NATURES BOOST: Revolutionizing Endurance Fuel with a 100% Natural, High-Performance Energy Gel ​

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

Endurance athletes push their bodies to the absolute limit, yet they are currently forced to fuel these incredible efforts with artificial, heavily processed gels that cause stomach cramps and taste unnatural. It’s time for a revolution in sports nutrition. We present NATURES BOOST: the first 100% natural, high-performance energy gel designed to eliminate the compromise between performance and nutrition. Crafted from real, locally sourced fruits, NATURES BOOST provides athletes with the natural, sustainable power they need to conquer the next miles. 

Goal 

The core objective of this project is to create an alternative to endurance energy gels. The goal is a natural-based energy gel tailored for endurance athletes. Current energy gels on the market often cause gastrointestinal distress, feature artificial flavours, contain refined sugars, and generate significant single-use plastic waste. Our goal is to develop a superior alternative that provides sustained energy through an optimized glucose-to-fructose ratio, utilizes local ingredients, and offers sustainable packaging options. We aim to establish NATURES BOOST as the leading natural energy gel brand in the DACH region by prioritizing performance and nutrition without forcing athletes to compromise between them. 

Methodology 

The project had a mixed-methods approach to validate the market gap and develop the product. Initially, a comprehensive competitor analysis of 23 European energy gel products was conducted, revealing a distinct lack of products that combine high-carbohydrate performance with purely natural ingredients. We defined our target personas and utilized the Value Proposition Canvas to align our solution with customer needs. Empirical data was gathered through a quantitative survey (n=52) and qualitative, in-depth interviews with endurance athletes to understand their pain points regarding price, taste, and digestibility. Concurrently, a rigorous ingredient analysis was performed, evaluating local fruits and natural sugars based on energy availability, electrolyte balance, digestibility, and antioxidant capacity. This theoretical framework guided multiple iterations of prototype cooking and testing. 

Results 

Our research successfully validated the demand for a natural alternative, with 95% of surveyed athletes expressing strong interest. The iterative product development led to an optimized recipe containing plum, apple, and strawberry puree, combined with wheat syrup and honey. We also decided to add lemon juice concentrate for its natural antioxidant properties and salt to support electrolyte balance during endurance exercise. This formulation successfully delivers nearly 40g of carbohydrates per serving while closely matching the scientifically recommended glucose-to-fructose ratio for optimal absorption. We believe that this high-performance, natural, and sustainable energy gel is both desirable to consumers and technically feasible, perfectly positioning NATURES BOOST to disrupt the mid-to-premium segment of the sports nutrition market. 

Cooperation Partner 

• ​​NATURES BOOST​ 

​​Contact Person​ 

• ​​Linus Plagemann 
  liplagemann@gmail.com​ 

Student Team 

• ​​​Franziska Beyer 
  Dominik Hofer 
  Laura Truppe 
  Linus Plagemann 
  Marie Kulke 
  Marvin Stroj​​ 

Project Manager 

• ​​​Diana Lauer​ 

• ​​Theresa Nicolussi​ 

• ​Caroline Kunesch 

• ​Dragos Vasilescu​