#video #Dragons Den S23E07 iP H 264 Episode 7 Engsub #drama2026 #movie2026 #hotmovie #xuxumovie
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00:02the doors to the den are open for business the place where fortunes are made and futures are
00:09forged but this time the game has changed a fresh wave of fierce investors are out to shake things
00:18up and steal the deals joining them tonight i'm jenny meek i'm a serial entrepreneur i'm currently
00:27the co-founder and ceo of a five beauty jenna welcome back to the den no thank you for having
00:33me back i'm excited for today when i look in the eyes of an entrepreneur there is literally one
00:37thing i'm looking for it's their belief that their idea is going to succeed i can see in people's
00:43eyes if they're lying to me i know exactly what i can bring to a business so if there's a
00:47fight for
00:47an investment i will be absolutely fighting for it i love disagreeing with the dragons i really really
00:52do i am not scared of any of the dragons if anything they should be scared of me
01:07my name is laura and i'm from northern ireland my business is all about oats
01:15instant oats ready made oats yeah but they're kind of they exist
01:26so the dragons i'm looking for investment from would be stephen bartlett he would be really
01:32helpful with building that community brand which is what we aim to do at oatco
01:50hello dragons my name's laura and i'm the founder of oatco superfuel today i'm here to seek an
01:57investment of 50 000 pounds in return for a five percent share of my business leading an active
02:04lifestyle and being a busy mum i found myself seeking nutritious convenient solutions and i was
02:10disappointed as to what was available on shelves this sparked the passion of me to create oatco
02:15superfuel currently in our range we have our just add milk overnight oat pouches our ready-to-eat
02:22overnight oats and our small bites with big energy super bites and at oko we aim to fuel the everyday
02:29whether it's a school run a busy day in the office or a gym workout we are currently delivering to
02:36a
02:36strong community of customers through our shopify website nationwide as well as being stocked in over
02:41150 retail stores and in the past seven months we've did 200k in sales with a 60 gross margin and
02:4928 000 in net profit currently the market is more protein focused but we aim to disrupt the food to
02:57go
02:57market with natural energy that oats can provide and we've got balls excuse the pun now i've got some
03:06samples of our just add milk pouches for you to try and i'd love for you to try them
03:13a range of oat-based food products is the offering from laura murphy that's what's that one
03:19that's a vanilla chocolate chip yeah thank you she's asking for 50 000 pounds in exchange for a five
03:27percent stake in her business how much protein is in your original so we're around six grams so it's just
03:33the natural energy however the other three we've added plant-based protein laura claims her oats stand
03:41out from the crowd you will notice under your chairs as well there's also some other products
03:46but in a sector packed with healthy promises peter jones is keen to know what makes this offering
03:53more than just a mouthful of marketing
04:00laura hi hello um so it's basically oats with bits in it to give you a super fuel is it
04:09so is it
04:10was it just protein or no so give me the so contents we aim to be different so how we
04:18feel at the moment
04:19is everything is protein lead however we want to focus on the natural energy from the oats
04:25okay and in what way is this different is anybody else doing this
04:30so i suppose it's difficult to say because we have three different products
04:34so there is three different competitors depending on which one we look at in particular
04:39in terms of the pouch product our point of difference is you actually prepare that in the pouch
04:45you can reseal take it with you and so that is the usp of the pouch product alone okay
04:54laura yeah your balls are absolutely banging thank you um when something tastes that good i worry that
05:02it's not good for my health yeah and i was looking at the nutritional information on on this packet but
05:09also on the on the balls as well are those the best balls you've ever had that is so good
05:14yeah it's really good thank you so much that's got to be like you say that's such a good point
05:19it's
05:19got to be bad for you yeah well some of the flavors are slightly more on the indulgent side
05:25but we're mindful of that and we're trying to appeal to that target consumer that still wants
05:30us to taste good but is mindful of their health on the balls it says there's uh 20 grams of
05:37sugar per
05:37100 grams yeah it is something we're definitely mindful about and we've had conversations recently
05:42on how we can improve and in our new product development we are taking that on board and
05:48100 trying to make them as well-rounded as possible okay laura hi gotta tell you um yes they're high
05:57sugar but they're delicious thank you so much um so how much are they selling for um the potter
06:04holding retails for 3.79 okay um and i've seen the overnight oats in tubs but i don't think i've
06:12seen
06:12the this on top is that yours that's our usp yeah okay so that makes it quite unique and yeah
06:18but if i
06:18was buying a sort of or standard overnight oat yeah what would that cost me um they would retail
06:25probably around the 2.99 three pound mark okay and what about your retailers you've got 150 stores
06:31who are they so we're mainly direct to store and it's a mix of spars centras apple greens is a
06:38big
06:38customer to us all based in northern ireland and this week we're actually launching into tesco as well
06:44our first tesco northern ireland or tesco northern ireland okay and do you have any um stores in the rest
06:50of
06:50the uk um not as of yet okay thank you laura hi hello um i'm probably your customer here and
07:01i think
07:01that's what makes me quite different to the rest of dragons because i'm not super educated around kind
07:06of what i need to put into my body like i look at these packaging the first thing i look
07:10at is calories
07:11because that's the world i've been brought up in i don't understand the rest so as a customer
07:15explain to me why i need your product so it's something substantial that you can eat and i eat
07:21it every morning and being a busy mom as well like it it keeps me going throughout the day okay
07:28and then
07:28what is it you're looking for in a dragon to help with this business yeah so um like i want
07:34okko to be
07:35a household name in many regions particularly in the uk and ireland and i think with the dragon on board
07:41it gives me that platform to help achieve that okay i'm going to tell you where i am
07:48i mean oats are a super food yeah they're incredibly good for your heart yeah um you know
07:55control your cholesterol levels yeah so so i think the oat story is very very strong and i tell you
08:02what you've done really well this is like one of the most hotly contested markets if you go in
08:07anywhere there are loads of blinking protein balls and energy balls so to actually stand out in that
08:13and that is absolutely delicious too delicious scarily delicious exactly in fact i i meant to have just
08:22one little nibble i've been back in three times um so um so so much to like about this business
08:32but there's a problem and it's the sugar okay um i wouldn't eat that because of the high content
08:43yeah now i know i'm purist but the direction of travel is is against sugar so i'm really sorry i
08:52won't
08:52be investing no problem and i am sorry i won't be investing but i'm out
09:01laura you are fantastic um but this is just a market that i'm i'm just not happy to invest in
09:09at the moment i think it's hyper competitive and um you're going to struggle with this at the moment
09:15so i'm going to say that i'm out
09:20laura i'll tell you where i'm at i think you're amazing you're so investable there's a lot of work
09:27to do with actually defining the purpose and that kind of vision like i know you want to own the
09:32natural
09:32energy market but that's not a brand purpose that's what just that's i'm like why why like i still need
09:38to understand why what is natural energy why do i need it and i think that needs to be laser
09:42focused
09:43and i feel like i could offer so much help in terms of that in terms of the branding in
09:48terms
09:48of the lifestyle in terms of the persona i don't know the food market and that's just me being
09:54completely transparent at all
10:00so i am going to make you an offer but it's a bit of a wild card because there isn't
10:06any other
10:06offers yet you asked for 50 000 pounds for five percent i'll offer you half of the money for seven
10:15and a half percent but i'd want to share with someone else that actually understands the food market
10:20because i know what i can bring it's fantastic yeah and you're a fantastic entrepreneur once you can get
10:25the branding spot on we can make it a cool on trend product we can get the persona perfect
10:29but i want that help of the other side of the retail side as well perfect thank you very much
10:39laura
10:42i know retail
10:43yeah
10:44yeah
10:45um
10:48and i do like what you presented today
10:52um
10:54so i will also offer you half the money
10:56that's 25 000 for seven and a half percent if jenna wants to share
11:02thank you very much
11:07um
11:08laura i am
11:09i am
11:11such a big fan of you
11:13thank you
11:14um
11:15i have uh
11:16quite a lot of experience now in
11:18this industry
11:19um
11:19have a brand that came into the den that's making tens of millions now in just a couple of years
11:23from retail
11:24and actually one of the most useful things i could do
11:27is to sit you in a room with one of the investments i've made
11:33who exploded in the uk market
11:36and really understand how they did that
11:38yes
11:40um so i'm going to make you an offer because i think you're fantastic
11:45i'll offer you all of the money for um
11:46um
11:5517.5 percent of the business
12:00thank you very much
12:05so thank you so much firstly for all of the offers that it means a lot
12:09um so i suppose just stephen i did have a cap of 15 percent in my head and so i
12:17suppose if you had the money paid back within sort of a two-year period would you drop to 10
12:25percent
12:27to 10 percent
12:32considering i came in for five percent
12:38um i i um i'm not the biggest fan in the world of the deals that
12:42that drop because it's almost like punishment for success in a weird way
12:46i suppose 15 percent is what i said was was my cap and that's what i'm struggling with
12:51okay
12:56i'll do 15 percent
12:57you do 15 i'll do 15 percent
13:00well i'd love to accept your office
13:02let's do it thank you
13:03thank you so much
13:04thank you so much
13:05well done thank you
13:07and we're just the same as well
13:08i know
13:10thank you so much i can't wait to work with you
13:12thank you see you soon bye
13:14victory for laura
13:15after tough negotiations
13:17she secures stephen bartlett's backing
13:21her oat empire is officially expanding
13:28breathe i'm still catching my breath
13:33amazing i couldn't have asked for it to go better really i'm delighted
13:37that's a great entrepreneur to invest in yeah she was so good so good so excellent and it is
13:43serendipitous you did you did look the same
13:46that's a great job
14:03that's a great job
14:06that's a great job
14:16DIY? OK. Definitely DIY. Definitely DIY.
14:20I could deal with a few more DIY things.
14:22What have you got, Peter? I've got a toolkit.
14:26You've got a toolkit? Yeah.
14:27What's the last DIY you did, Peter?
14:30I think I've hung her picture up.
14:34I believe Deborah would show the most interest in her product.
14:38Just in the sector that it's in,
14:40I feel like it would perk her interest the most.
14:42So I'm definitely confident and ready to go.
14:53Hi, Dragons.
14:54My name's John O'Donnell and I'm joined today with my son, Jamie,
14:58and we form part of the family team who created Screwcaddy.
15:04Today we are looking for a £50,000 investment
15:07for a 40% stake in our business.
15:11In 2020 during lockdown, me and my mum were doing various DIY projects
15:15in and around our home.
15:17One of these projects in particular involved screwing a bracket to a fence
15:21for a hanging flower basket.
15:23Through this we had many deflected screws and it caused several near-miss injuries.
15:28So we went out to see if there was a product on the market that could solve our issue.
15:32But we struggled to find anything to solve our solution.
15:36So, as a family, we'd go at trying to create up a product of our own.
15:40So, Dragons, the traditional method for uncertain screws is you secure the screw with your fingers
15:46while also trying to handle a power tool, which is particularly difficult and can cause possible injuries.
15:55However, if you look at our product, you can see that my fingers are away from the screw.
16:00And it allows the DIYer to focus purely on the power drill.
16:07As the screw head comes down, it makes contact with the angled top side of the Screwcaddy.
16:12Screwcaddy pops off and the job's complete.
16:20We were introduced to a third party who helped us a lot during the development stages of the product
16:25and we now have a manufacturing site here in the UK.
16:30Screwcaddy is patent pending and we are looking for that dragon or Dragons
16:34who can ultimately put a Screwcaddy in every DIYer's toolbox.
16:40If you would like to come up, the wood we have actually brought in is very, very hard.
16:45So, just to make you aware, you need to give it some welly to get in.
16:52A lockdown invention that takes the pain out of drilling is the offering from John and Jamie O'Donnell.
17:00So, your fingers go to the side.
17:02Yeah, no, I've got that. I'm just doing that while I...
17:04OK. All the way down.
17:07The inventive father and son duo are seeking an investment of £50,000 in return for a 40% share
17:15in their business.
17:17Yeah, and then pull it off. OK. That's good.
17:23The product gets a nod of approval from the DIY doyen of the den, Deborah Meaden.
17:30But it's Tuukka Suleiman who's the first to drill down into the potential of the business.
17:38John and Jamie, just so you know, I've got no investments in DIY.
17:45This could be my first.
17:48So, have you shown this to any major retailers?
17:53Yes. So, the very first people we contacted was GML, and they asked for costs and samples for up to
18:01£750,000.
18:02We have been to B&Q, and they've had samples, so we have had a lot of interest, but it's
18:11converting the interest to sales.
18:13So...
18:14It's been a blocker.
18:15Have you turned over anything?
18:19£80.
18:20We saw...
18:21£80?
18:22Yes.
18:22Right.
18:23So, £80 turnover, but I can see you want to give away 40% of the business?
18:29Yes.
18:31So, you really want to entice a dragon?
18:34Yes.
18:36Jamie, John.
18:38When I was watching Deborah have a go at it, it still looked quite dangerous to me.
18:45I think because this screw, when put in the biggest hole here, is still really about five millimetres away from
18:50your finger still,
18:51which means it could still, you know, hit the edge of the plastic and then hit your finger.
18:57So, I just wanted to see if you had a response on that point.
19:00Yeah.
19:01I take your point about the apertures at the side of screw caddy.
19:08You are a couple of millimetres away from your...
19:09Do you agree with that? Because I don't.
19:12Sorry?
19:13Do you agree with that? I mean, it's your product and I'm about to defend it for you.
19:17Is there another answer to that?
19:21He agrees with it.
19:24So, the danger is the wobble.
19:27Mm-hmm.
19:28This stops the wobble.
19:30OK.
19:31So, it's not the proximity to your thumb.
19:34It's the fact that if the screw head wobbles to one side...
19:38Yeah.
19:38..then you're in danger. That's holding it solid.
19:42Is that what you meant to say?
19:43Yes, sorry.
19:44That's what he meant to say.
19:47My other point was around the combination of metal and plastic.
19:52So, what I did is I took the screw in and out over and over again.
19:56Yeah.
19:56Repeatedly like this.
19:57Yeah.
19:57And the plastic has worn off, so now it basically doesn't fit anymore.
20:02So, what we've...
20:03The third party who done the development work with us, they tried to destroy it with the roughest screws they
20:10could find.
20:11They worked out.
20:12So, if you were using it the same aperture, the same size, you'd be talking and you'd get about 35
20:17screws.
20:19So, one is...
20:1935 screws?
20:20Yeah.
20:22And how much does this cost?
20:24499.
20:25OK.
20:26The equation is not great there, being able to do 30 screws before it breaks.
20:30And actually, I think the consumer will have a bigger expectation of longevity from the product.
20:37While the question was about the percentage, what's the current shareholding between you guys?
20:43There's three shareholders. It's me, my wife and Jamie.
20:46And it's just a third share each.
20:48OK.
20:49Which means that the Dragon would be the major shareholder.
20:51Yeah, we would change our structure, obviously, to make it a 60-40 spot.
20:57Keep it simple.
21:00Guys, can I ask you, what's your patentable step?
21:04What's your claim?
21:06Erm, it's the way it holds the screw and it's the way it releases the screw.
21:09It's the angled edge and it's the transfer of that vertical force, the horizontal force that forces the screw caddy
21:16off.
21:17OK, so it is quite specific as to why this works and what you're telling me is it wouldn't work
21:23if you didn't have those angles right.
21:25Yes.
21:25You've obviously been through lots of iterations.
21:28Yeah.
21:28OK, thank you.
21:32John, Jamie.
21:34Hi.
21:34Hi.
21:36I think it looks really good.
21:38I think it does what you said it was supposed to do on the tin.
21:43But I think it's really expensive at five pounds.
21:46You know, you can get a pack of screws for five quid and you're selling your product that holds the
21:51screws for the same price.
21:52So I just wonder whether this becomes like a really considered purchase, so I don't really want to buy and
21:58spend five quid on it.
22:00Or is this something that, frankly, what you should really do is perhaps license this to the people that put
22:07these screw packs together.
22:09And this could be a product that you see in the pack as a giveaway.
22:13Yeah, adding it on to buying a bag of screws was something that we considered right at the very start.
22:20It's interesting, though, because I don't think it's attached to the screw.
22:22I think it's attached to the drill.
22:23The dangerous bit in this whole process is the drill.
22:27And the trouble is this product feels very expensive against a pack of screws.
22:31Yeah.
22:32It doesn't feel at all expensive against a drill.
22:38John, Jamie, I do think the price is probably an issue.
22:45And to me, it feels like you would like a dragon to come in and run the business for you.
22:53And I say that because you've not had any luck yet with sales and you're willing to offer the dragon
22:57the opportunity to be the single biggest shareholder in the business effectively.
23:01And that comes with an obligation that I don't feel comfortable meeting.
23:07So I'm going to say that I'm out, but I wish you the very best.
23:13John and Jamie, hi.
23:14Hi.
23:15I'll just tell you where I am because I think where I'm stuck with this is given the 40%
23:20away, it's no one is going to drive this business more than you two standing there.
23:26And, like, I got 50 no's from a retailer.
23:29And I think they even blocked my email address at one point because they were like, this girl is so
23:33annoying.
23:34But I was delusional.
23:36And you have to be so delusional in your product that, like, I know it's like a...
23:43I'll try another way.
23:44I'll try another way.
23:45And I'm just not feeling that.
23:47So that's kind of where I'm at.
23:49And I can only get behind something that you need to be more delusional than me on this.
23:53And right now, there's no delusional here.
23:55So, well done.
23:57But I am out.
24:04Guys, to try and sell this product on its own will cost you a lot of money.
24:10Yeah.
24:11You could make it into a set.
24:14Somebody comes in.
24:15They want to buy that screw.
24:17It's already in the packet.
24:18And that's Peter's idea.
24:19I won't take it away from him.
24:21But I would say this.
24:22I'm not your right dragon for this.
24:26So I'm going to say that I'm out.
24:27I wish you all the best.
24:28Thanks, Peter.
24:32John, Jamie, I really think it's genius that you came in and offered 40%.
24:40Because you want to make it attractive for a dragon.
24:42Yeah.
24:44So as a dragon that really likes opportunity and never likes to miss out, and bear in mind there is
24:50one dragon here that's had quite a good little bit of success with DIY.
24:54I'm just going to pause for a moment and reflect.
25:09So somebody stood in here about 10 years ago, a couple stood in here, Jenny and Martin, and they had
25:17a genius DIY product.
25:20And Martin said, I'm an inventor.
25:22I haven't got a clue about business.
25:24But I'm an inventor and I know it works and it's brilliant.
25:27That was Marksman Pence.
25:30They didn't know the numbers.
25:32They haven't talked to the right people.
25:35But there was something about them and there was something about their product.
25:38And apart from anything else, I wanted to find out whether or not they really had something.
25:45And that product now we sell millions of.
25:55So I'm going to make you an offer.
25:59Thank you very much.
26:03We haven't heard it yet.
26:07So you asked for £50,000 for 40% of the business.
26:12Yeah.
26:12I'm going to offer you all of the money.
26:17And I want 30% of the business.
26:20Whoa.
26:24Wow.
26:24Because it's your business.
26:27And I don't want to be the majority shareholder.
26:34So...
26:38I think you guys are...
26:40You're really great.
26:41I think you've got a really good idea.
26:43It's really neat.
26:45Um...
26:45And...
26:46I think that you've got the perfect dragon for this.
26:50So...
26:51I'm not going to make you an offer and say that I'm out.
26:54But it'll be interesting when you reflect over there what your decision is.
27:01Do we need to reflect?
27:02Don't think so.
27:05We would love to accept your offer.
27:07Well done.
27:09Excellent.
27:09Well done, guys.
27:10Well done, you guys.
27:12Great.
27:13Success for the father and son team.
27:16Thank you very much.
27:16John, Jamie.
27:17Thank you very much.
27:18Well done.
27:19Can you be a little bit more excited?
27:21Seriously, I'm more excited than you at the moment.
27:24Come on, a little bit of a...
27:26Yeah, thank you.
27:27Thanks very much.
27:29The DIY duo have secured their dream dragon
27:33and managed to achieve that rare feat of leaving the den,
27:38having given away less equity than they offered.
27:43I'm all over the moon that I've got Deborah in the team.
27:46I can't believe it.
27:47It's absolutely amazing.
27:48They seemed in shock.
27:52That was like, yeah, thanks.
27:57I can't wait to film on.
27:58I'm so proud of my dad because to see the whole journey come together
28:02like this is just unbelievable.
28:16Well, here we are.
28:17Right then.
28:18The den.
28:19My name is Fred Parry and I'm from London.
28:21Look at this thing.
28:24I can't imagine many people who have been dressed as a chicken in the den.
28:28I am wearing a chicken costume because I built a game
28:31where someone hides in a chicken costume.
28:33And I thought it was only right to put me in it today.
28:38The dragons are probably going to guess we're a birthday party,
28:42fancy dress thing.
28:44They're going to think someone's obsessed with chickens probably.
28:49Children's entertainer.
28:50Oh.
28:52Oh.
28:55Honestly, it's a really good chicken.
28:56Do you know what?
28:57It's good to know you have a plan B sometimes in life.
28:59In life, you should always have a plan B.
29:05I'm nervous.
29:06This chicken costume seals in all the heat.
29:09I'm going to be roasted in that den.
29:12Roasted chicken.
29:17One.
29:19Two.
29:20Three.
29:21Four.
29:22Five.
29:23Six.
29:24Seven.
29:24Eight.
29:26Nine.
29:26Ten.
29:27Five.
29:39Ten.
29:40OK.
29:50I don't know what to do now.
29:52I was about to applaud and then I thought, maybe not.
29:55Oh, please. Please.
29:58Wow.
29:59Scary.
30:01Please.
30:06Hello, dragons.
30:07My name is Fred and I'm asking for £50,000
30:10in exchange for 10% of my business, Chicken Rush.
30:13We are a real-world GPS-powered game of hide-and-seek.
30:17Teams race to find someone hiding in a pub or bar dressed as a chicken
30:20and use our app as a live radar.
30:24Along the way, they complete silly challenges,
30:27compete for points, and submit photos and videos as proof.
30:31It's team-based, tech-driven, and utterly ridiculous.
30:34In year one, we turned over £55,000.
30:37In year two, we forecast £164,000.
30:41We've had over 7,000 players across 50 countries with no full-time staff.
30:46We've had over 5 million views on social media with barely any marketing spend.
30:51I built the platform myself, the tracking, the booking system, the scoring, the lot.
30:56It's scalable tech that can pop up in any city tomorrow.
31:01I've proven it works.
31:02Now I want it to grow.
31:04With your help, we can achieve global chicken domination.
31:09A real-world game of hide-and-seek with a tech twist.
31:13Using GPS and a custom-built app,
31:16Fred Parry is reinventing outdoor play for the digital age.
31:22Good to see you.
31:24The entrepreneur is seeking an investment of £50,000.
31:29Terrifying.
31:30In exchange for a 10% share in his feathered venture.
31:35But will the dragons flock to the opportunity
31:38or cross the road to avoid it?
31:45Fred, I can't work out whether you're looking for an investment
31:49or you're looking for a dragon to dress up as a chicken.
31:53Very much looking for an investment to grow the game.
31:56Most of our games at the moment are team-building games.
31:59So someone dresses up as a chicken,
32:01often the boss of a company, perhaps, and hides.
32:05Okay.
32:06So I'm trying to work out what this business is.
32:11Um, it's hide-and-seek for adults.
32:13So one person hides, a circle appears on a map
32:16that gradually shrinks around their location.
32:19And then there's also challenges teams do
32:21while they're playing the game.
32:23So it's not just about finding the chicken,
32:25but you get 100 points for finding the chicken first.
32:28Okay.
32:30So I want to know about you.
32:32What's your background?
32:33Yeah.
32:34You built this yourself.
32:35I just want to know, who am I invested in?
32:38Which chicken am I going to invest in?
32:39Yeah.
32:40From the beginning,
32:40um, I was building online learning games for kids.
32:44But over time,
32:46and I think a lot of people now
32:47who are software developers find this,
32:49they're not meeting people on the other side.
32:51They're not seeing how their tech is used.
32:54So I had a bit of a disillusionment with that.
32:56So I wanted to prove that I could build one bit of tech
33:00where I know that people were enjoying using it.
33:03Meeting the people, playing the game,
33:04this was like the perfect example
33:06and perfect case study for me being able to do it.
33:09And then we hosted a public dating event
33:11for 40 singles to get it off the ground,
33:13which is a bit strange.
33:14Like, there's one thing, a chicken chasing game,
33:17and then there's also a date involved with it.
33:19Well, people want to be distracted
33:21by the fact that they're on a first date.
33:23So it turns out our dating events became really popular.
33:25And we had a wait list of over 2,000 singles in London.
33:30Single people...
33:30Yeah.
33:31...wanted to come and play this game
33:33to meet somebody else.
33:34People have found love while hunting chickens, yeah.
33:39Right, so let's look at the serious part of this situation,
33:44the business part.
33:45So how do you monetise this?
33:48How do you organise it?
33:50Yeah.
33:50Just want to know.
33:51Yeah.
33:53So there's two types.
33:55You get the tech and you play with your friends
33:57for £15 per person
33:59in a team-building setting or just for fun.
34:02Or sometimes with large companies,
34:05they've got a big budget,
34:06they just want to hassle-free someone to come here,
34:08hand over a chicken costume,
34:09explain the rules,
34:10and then you play the same game.
34:13Fred, how does this get big?
34:17What does big mean to you?
34:23Big is getting into definitely at least every city in the UK,
34:28as well as any city which has enough hiding spots in them.
34:33And in terms of quantifying big,
34:35what does that look like?
34:37The number I've had in my head is 100 games a day.
34:40And if you did 100 a day,
34:41what does that look like in terms of revenue?
34:45It's 30 grand revenue.
34:48A day?
34:48Yeah.
34:49Okay.
34:52Fred, hi.
34:54Hello, Deborah.
34:54Have you forgotten by now that you're dressed as a chicken?
34:58You do start to, if you wear it enough times.
35:02Okay, so what next?
35:05I mean, you know, it's a cool, funny, eye-catching idea.
35:12Yeah.
35:12And I can imagine my corporates would,
35:14who are desperate to find the next thing
35:16and not do the old paintballing thing for corporate events.
35:21So I can imagine them thinking,
35:22oh, that looks new and different.
35:24But if you're really going to leverage this business,
35:26you need to become the place to look to
35:29the innovative ways of building teams, don't you?
35:32So, you know, so what next?
35:35What's your plans?
35:36At the moment, my core focus is just grow outside of London.
35:40With your investment, though,
35:41it's about scaling the casual games.
35:44So birthdays, stags and hen do's.
35:46Easter.
35:47Easter, turkey hunt for Christmas.
35:49All of these things.
35:50But at the moment, it was just been me working on this.
35:53So I just had to focus on one small thing at a time.
35:57Okay, so you're on your own at the moment.
35:59Yeah.
36:00Are you just going to keep moving yourself around the country?
36:02For the next year, that would be our main focus.
36:05It's you.
36:06Yeah.
36:07But we'd have part-time help brought in for each event.
36:12Fred, hi.
36:13Hi.
36:14I love adding the crazy into business.
36:16But then on the flip side, I hate organized fun.
36:20Yeah.
36:21I love the dating idea.
36:23I think that's genius.
36:24But I think where you're almost missing that trick
36:26is actually making this a thing
36:28before you pigeonhole it into the corporate world.
36:32Into the dating world.
36:33And it's like, if that wasn't on Inventbrite in London,
36:36Yeah.
36:37And you've got everyone in London like,
36:39Hey, do you want to go to Pilates today?
36:40Do you want to go and get coffee?
36:42Or do you want to go and do this crazy thing
36:43I just saw called Chicken Rush?
36:44Like, you get everyone doing it.
36:47And then you pigeonhole it into corporate, dating,
36:50whatever you want.
36:51And it's like, yeah, how do we make this bigger?
36:55And how many people come back?
36:57So once they've done Chicken Rush,
36:58do they then delete the app or do they stay on?
37:01Do they do another one?
37:01Like, what?
37:03So as far as numbers are concerned,
37:065% in year one of our corporates came back.
37:10And then 10% of the people
37:11that came to one of our events came back.
37:14Some have played over five times.
37:28I'm like, I'm really, I'm really into businesses
37:31that are able to bring people into the real world
37:34and find ways for them to connect.
37:37And especially businesses that are a platform
37:39to scale that globally.
37:42So what am I investing in here?
37:43Am I investing in a platform that has scale?
37:46That's really the pitch that I think
37:48really would have swung me,
37:50is something like that.
37:51We have built that events platform in the background.
37:54So a huge part of it is for all our dating events.
37:56The thing you pitched to me today was a chicken game
37:59where people hide in pubs.
38:01True.
38:03If it sounded different,
38:05if it had started with the big picture,
38:07the macro, loneliness epidemic,
38:08people despairing at dating apps, letting them down.
38:11So we're building the platform
38:12for social, competitive, in real life games.
38:16I would have been like, ooh, here we go.
38:18I rewrote that on Sunday,
38:19but then I got worried that you wouldn't understand
38:21what the game was.
38:22So the whole pitch was,
38:25all around us, pubs are closing,
38:27there is a loneliness epidemic.
38:29That was the pitch.
38:30That was the pitch.
38:31The whole thing.
38:31That was the pitch.
38:32The key to pitching for me is you start with the why.
38:36Pubs are closed, loneliness epidemic.
38:37I would have been nodding like a dog.
38:39Yes, yes, yes.
38:40And then you build it up and say,
38:41so we've made this.
38:42And I go, ooh, interesting.
38:44But what you did is you started with the what?
38:45You started with the chickens hide in pubs.
38:47And I'm like, ugh.
38:49My original pitch was just that exact story.
38:52It might be the story,
38:54but it's not the business either that you have.
38:56That's the difference, is it?
38:57Well, this is one.
39:00This is a chicken game with a GPS tracking device.
39:03Yeah, we get hundreds of people outside interacting.
39:08The whole aim and ethos of this
39:11is just trying to get people outside
39:12and playing and meeting new people.
39:15That's why I set it up anyway.
39:17Yeah.
39:17Fred, I think it's great.
39:19I think that it's a tough one to invest in.
39:24It really is.
39:27And sadly, I'm going to say that I'm out.
39:29But good luck to you.
39:32Thank you, Peter.
39:37I do think you need an investor,
39:39but I think it's going to be tough for you
39:41to get an investor based on what your pitch was today.
39:44Okay.
39:44The chicken thing.
39:45Because it's really, really fun.
39:47But it's also quite distracting
39:49in a way where an investor is trying to understand
39:52the potential and the scale of this business.
39:55The way that you came in with the chickens
39:57and that Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones' face,
40:00I mean, that was distracting.
40:01But the whole thing kind of diverted me
40:03from the real problem you're trying to solve here,
40:05which I've managed to tease out of you,
40:06which is loneliness, connection,
40:09bringing people together in real life
40:10in an increasingly digital world.
40:12That is it.
40:15That's an inspiring proposition,
40:17but the proposition I saw today wasn't that.
40:23So I'm going to say that I'm out,
40:25but I wish you the very best.
40:30Fred, I think you need investment
40:32because you need people around you.
40:36My issue is that I can't personally
40:40see how I can spend the time that you need
40:44in this business.
40:46So I won't be investing, I'm out.
40:49Thank you, Deborah.
40:54Fred, I'm going to tell you where I am.
40:55Hi.
40:56I'm not interested in chicken games at my age.
41:00OK.
41:01I'm going to say I'm going to go back
41:03to my little cage.
41:05Yeah.
41:05Not invest, and I'm out.
41:07Thank you, then.
41:12Hi, Fred.
41:13Hello.
41:15I just panicked that I got your name wrong.
41:16I was like, I did it.
41:17I know, it was Fred.
41:19No, I just think you're great.
41:21I think you're great, and I think you're amazing.
41:23And for me, I feel like there is something
41:25in this chicken play.
41:28But I think this needs to be blown up stronger.
41:32Make it massive, and then you cash in
41:34with corporates, with dating.
41:37Once you've made this chicken game a bigger thing,
41:40I do generally feel that if I came on board,
41:42I would just be giving you the same advice
41:44that I've kind of given.
41:46But I would love to help you in however I can,
41:48so I'm not going to be your business partner,
41:50but I can be that person to call,
41:52and this is going to be huge, and you're going to be huge.
41:54I think you need to keep going.
41:55But I am out, but I wish you all the best,
41:57but I will definitely help you.
41:59Good luck, Fred.
42:00Good luck, Fred.
42:00Cheers.
42:00Thank you very much.
42:01Cheers.
42:04Sadly for Fred, he's failed to land any of the dragons.
42:09Though he has managed to secure a wingwoman in Jenna Meek.
42:14I love the idea of getting everyone out together
42:17and creating something.
42:20It just wasn't something enough.
42:23Jenna was really helpful.
42:25She gave me some advice about how to have mainstream appeal,
42:28so I expect to see more chickens popping up in other cities tomorrow.
42:32Maybe.
42:45I'm Rachel Williams.
42:47I'm from a small town in Lancashire in the north of England,
42:50and my business was born on the top of a mountain in the French Alps.
42:57Nice, bright packaging.
42:59Lip creams.
42:59It's a lip brown.
43:00I'm definitely a lip brown.
43:03It's been a long journey,
43:05and many, many people said,
43:07you'll never make it in this industry.
43:10And being a northern girl, I kind of thought,
43:13well, I'll show them.
43:14So I did.
43:16So, yeah, I feel quite proud I got here.
43:29Hello, dragons.
43:30I'm Rachel.
43:31I'm a physiologist, and I'm the founder of Albus & Flora,
43:36a specialist, award-winning skincare brand
43:39that provides targeted support for the lips and skin around the mouth.
43:43I'm here today to ask for £50,000 in return for 15% equity in my business.
43:53Lines and wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips, chronic dryness, cold sores, sunburn, and lip cancer
44:02affect the confidence and comfort of millions of men and women every day.
44:07UV exposure and sun damage are known to impact on these concerns.
44:14However, UV lip protection is not always used on a daily basis in people's skincare routines.
44:21We've launched two products so far, lip shield, which is an SPF lip balm, and lip facial,
44:28which is an exfoliating and plumping treatment mask.
44:31We currently provide products to 370 aesthetic clinics, spas, and beauty salons.
44:39We also supply direct to our customers via our website.
44:43Today, we have delivered £695,000 worth of accumulated turnover,
44:49and we want to develop a clinic and consumer brand that can be accessed globally.
44:55Today, thank you.
44:58I can breathe now.
45:00Breathe.
45:01I can breathe.
45:05Products which both prettify and protect the lips are the offering from Rachel Williams.
45:12In the large square box, you've got a part of the lip facial,
45:15and then in the smaller boxes, you've got the SPF lip shield.
45:20She's looking for a £50,000 investment in return for a 15% share in her business.
45:28Can I just tell you, when you do your lipstick,
45:30you only have to put it out that much, Stephen, not even that much.
45:34Just a bit of the end.
45:35That's it.
45:37Rachel believes her targeted approach fills a gap in the ever-growing skincare market.
45:43How does it look?
45:44Oh, that's good.
45:46But will the dragons be convinced by her pout-focused pitch?
45:54So have I got this straight that this is essentially the unique selling point of this business,
45:59is that it protects my lips from sun damage?
46:03Yes, and people don't realise how much damage you can get from daily UV.
46:09And the lip is so thin and delicate, and that means it dehydrates quite quickly.
46:14So is this a health product versus a beauty product, per se?
46:19The SPF is a lifestyle product.
46:22Everybody's got a pair of lips, and we need to look after them.
46:25And how is this different from a lip balm?
46:27Because it's a broad-spectrum UVA, UVB protector.
46:31What does that mean for a muggle like me that there's nothing about UV anything?
46:35So it's going to protect you against the damage that UV rays can do,
46:39because UV would come into the skin, and it can impact on the cell's physiology and function,
46:45and sometimes that UV damage is accumulated through your lifetime.
46:50So it is like a lip sun cream, then?
46:53Yes, the lip balm is, yes.
46:55Because I put some of this lip balm on.
46:57But what's weird, this lip balm, I've got a bit tingly,
46:59and it feels like my bottom lip's going thicker.
47:03So that isn't a lip balm.
47:05So that's the advanced treatment mask.
47:06It's not a lip balm.
47:07No, so the lip balms are in the sticks.
47:10So what's that supposed to do?
47:12So the lip facial is an exfoliating and plumping treatment mask.
47:17It's plumping.
47:19So that is a product that we use.
47:21So that's why that feels like it's getting thicker.
47:24It's swollen up.
47:26Could I ask you a question while we're playing with each other?
47:29No, we're not playing.
47:30I'm just asking some very important questions.
47:32Just tell us about your qualifications in this sector.
47:35Qualifications?
47:36I've been a physiologist for many years
47:39and supported British teams in three Olympic cycles,
47:43really looking at the impacts of environment
47:45on health and, you know, physiology.
47:49So my interest, just so you know,
47:51I own the trademark lipstick.
47:53OK.
47:54And I'm about to go retail with it later in the year.
47:58Cool.
47:59So this is of interest.
48:00Yes, cool.
48:01Just want to make sure you've done 695,000 turnover in total.
48:06Yes.
48:06So can you break that down so we can get an idea?
48:09So the last three years, in 2022,
48:12we did 139,000 with a net of 41,000,
48:17which obviously gave us a 29% net profit.
48:20And then in 2023, we did 143 turnover and 27,000 net.
48:30And then in last year, we did again 140 and a 15,000 net profit.
48:40Profits have been going down.
48:42Yes.
48:42Is that because of marketing?
48:43No, it's a strategic decision by me because when we had that 29% net profit,
48:50I knew that the decision to become a really specialised, focused brand,
48:55you know, really supporting the professional retailers was working.
48:59But I'm, you know, a single entrepreneur with not a huge amount of working capital.
49:05Yeah.
49:06And I needed, therefore, to prepare the business to scale.
49:10So I wanted to put in foundations in the last two years to help me do that.
49:14So I've got a new office, a part-time member of staff.
49:18We launched the new product.
49:20We did a rebrand and a refresh because I wanted to make sure the image was right
49:24for both clinic, market, as well as retail.
49:30Look, you've done quite well.
49:32I mean, the product looks really great.
49:34We do have, it just so happens, an experienced expert in the den today with Jenna.
49:45My question is actually not just to you because I don't know a lot about this market,
49:49but it would be to Jenna.
49:50Are these sort of types of products widely available?
49:53Is this already out there?
49:55Yes, I guess that was, hi, Rachel.
49:57I think that's what I'm trying to struggle with is I can probably already find something
50:02similar because it's a very crowded market.
50:06I think one of the things that's confusing me a little bit is that kind of vision of where
50:10you see the brand going.
50:12So, like, is this going to be SPF, everything will be focused around SPF, or will it be
50:18more focused around lips?
50:20Like, how does a product range build from here?
50:22So, we've got a few collections planned.
50:24So, the SPF products are all part of the daily care range.
50:28The lip facial is also in the daily care range.
50:31There's then the targeted care range.
50:34This range will focus on supporting clients who've got inflammation, you know, when they're
50:38on acne medication.
50:40Solution-based.
50:40So, you're going to have a daily for everyone, a solution-based range, and then?
50:45And then third one would be targeting sort of 40 and upwards.
50:50Okay.
50:50So, if you had a magic wand, what beauty retailers do you see this branding?
50:54Just so I understand the vision.
50:55Yeah.
50:56So, I think the more premium end, definitely sort of Liberties, Selfridges, Space NK, Sephora.
51:04But I think for, you know, Sephora, we would need to increase, you know, our kind of digital
51:08footprint first.
51:12Do your customers love the product?
51:14Yes, they do.
51:15Do they tell people about the product?
51:17They do.
51:18I'm not very good at sharing.
51:20So, they love the product and they tell people about the product.
51:23So, why, for the last three years, has the revenue been stagnant?
51:29I've almost never seen numbers like this, where it's almost exactly the same for three years,
51:34140k in revenue three years in a row.
51:35Super consistent.
51:37And the reason being that I've invested in the infrastructure and the operations to get ready.
51:42And I've not been able to do that at the same time as put money into the sales and marketing.
51:49Okay.
51:50So, one of the things investors look for in businesses when they're trying to invest is this thing called the
51:54growth profile.
51:55And the growth profile is essentially the history of the business and how it looks from a revenue or profit
52:01growth perspective.
52:02Yeah.
52:02If it's flat, it kind of suggests that the future could be flat.
52:07And I like businesses that have a good growth profile, which is a challenge a lot of entrepreneurs face.
52:12When you're a solopreneur on your own, you have decisions you have to make.
52:16It's trade-offs.
52:17And the trade-off that you made was to focus on infrastructure and those things first, versus the growth profile
52:23of the business.
52:25I think it's quite important to make a different decision, which is to focus on that growth profile.
52:29Because that will give an investor the confidence that they have enough growth to get a return from the business
52:35in future.
52:36But the growth profile of the business is an amber flag for me.
52:39And I find it hard to see, based on the last three years and the current year, how an investor
52:44would get their 50k out and a multiple on the money.
52:48So, for that reason, I'm going to say that I'm out.
52:49But I wish you the very best.
52:51And, Rachel, I'm going to be the same.
52:53You've created a great product.
52:56I'm struggling to see the size of the opportunity.
53:01So, sadly, I'm going to say that I'm out.
53:05But, yeah, congratulations on creating a great product.
53:12Rachel, I think you've hit a market.
53:14And you really, really know your stuff.
53:16And you explain it really well.
53:18But the truth of the matter is, you are in a highly contested space.
53:22This is readily available for me.
53:24And I buy it.
53:26So, I'm afraid it's not an investment for me.
53:28I'm out.
53:35Rachel, hi.
53:36Hi.
53:36I think, I mean, obviously, I know what it's like to develop a beauty product.
53:40So, just, please, well done.
53:43The packaging is lovely.
53:44The branding is lovely.
53:46It's really, really just stand out.
53:48I think in terms of investment, where I'm at, is it's not something I feel like I want to invest
53:56in.
53:56Many because it is probably too close to my current business.
53:59But more because I can't necessarily see the bigger vision in terms of everything you want to do.
54:04Yeah.
54:05But I would like to throw you a lifeline because I do think this is a good product.
54:09I will help you get this product in front of Selfridges, Space and Care, Sephora, in the UK, so that
54:15you've got that step to entry.
54:18Because you can tell how passionate you are.
54:20I'm not going to invest.
54:22I am out.
54:22So, I'm sorry.
54:23But, yeah, I will help you do that step.
54:25And you'll be able to take it from the rest.
54:27OK, thank you.
54:28That is a great offer.
54:29Yeah, it's an amazing offer.
54:30Thank you so much.
54:34Rachel, you are investable, but that's not.
54:37OK.
54:38And that's where I'm torn.
54:39And I'll tell you why I'm torn.
54:42I am launching a lipstick retail concept later in the year.
54:48OK.
54:49Lip care is definitely a sector that could be included.
54:56What I'm interested in is your knowledge.
55:00And I'm trying to think how I can kill two birds with one stone here, how you can help me
55:05with the knowledge and help you with your business.
55:07Yeah?
55:08Yeah, that would be exciting.
55:09So, your offer was 50,000 for 15%.
55:14Yes.
55:17I'm willing to give you the 50,000 pounds.
55:23But I would want 35%.
55:2935,000, obviously, is quite high for me as a brand.
55:33And I know that it's most likely going to be multiple rounds to move forward to take the brand to
55:38where I want it to go.
55:39So, that's quite challenging.
55:42Would you be prepared to reduce that offer if you got your money back?
55:47Well, if I got my money back within 12 to 18 months, down to 25%.
55:56Would you be prepared to drop to, um, 20%?
56:01No.
56:0625%?
56:0930%, I'll go down to 25% when I get my money back.
56:15Okay.
56:17That's a fantastic offer.
56:20Um, I would be happy to work with you, excited to work with you, and definitely happy to accept your
56:25offer.
56:25Great, great, great, great, great.
56:27We're going to be a teaser.
56:28Yeah, we can do that.
56:29I think so.
56:31It's a win for Rachel.
56:32Thanks for all your time.
56:34Well done, thank you.
56:35She walks away with an offer of support from skincare savant Jenna Meek.
56:41But it's Tuca Suleiman who's put his money where his mouth is, securing a stake in the business.
56:48Really excited.
56:52Just fabulous to get investment from Tuca.
56:56And, yeah, also absolutely lovely, you know, offer from Jenna.
57:00So, I'm super grateful and humbled.
57:05How exciting.
57:07It was her that I really loved.
57:10I'm investing in her as an entrepreneur.
57:13Well, you've got an expert.
57:25Dragon's Den will return later in the year.
57:29Perfect.
57:29I think this is the first time in the den there's been more females than men.
57:35I think this is what I've been looking for for a long time.
57:38I just came out of being your worst nightmare.
57:40I'm about to go back in again.
57:41You're sassy.
57:42I'm like, ooh, go on, go sell more.
57:44Is that the way you work?
57:45Is that what you guys do as investors?
57:47I think this is a wonderful opportunity and that's why I'd like to talk to Tiny.
57:51Hello, Peter.
57:52I was hoping you'd say that.
57:54Am I happy to share with Peter?
57:56My business used to tell me I should not invest, but my heart tells me I should.
58:02You're setting us all off.
58:03Come here, mates.
58:05I'm so proud of you.
58:06Wow, Gary, you teed that up as if we were teammates.
58:09And then...
58:10That's the most guilty I've ever felt in my life.
58:12Yeah, no, it's great to have you back, Gary.
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