Dragon's Den winners: Where are they now?
FOR many Dragon's Den is simply great TV but for others, it has been the start of million-pound ventures.
Here are the entrepreneurs who have thrived since securing investments on the famous BBC show.
Where are the Dragon's Den winners now?
Levi Miller – 2007
Levi Miller, aka Levi Roots, is one of the biggest names to come out of Dragon's Den.
He appeared in front of the Dragons with a dream to create a global sauce brand.
He won over the investors and sold a 40% stake in his Reggae Reggae sauce company to Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh for £50,000.
The sauce was so successful that it was stocked by Sainsbury's and can now be found in all major supermarkets.
Roots himself is now worth an estimated £30 million.
Peter Moule – 2007
Peter Moule came to the Dragons with an idea for a plastic cable device that helps store electrical wires.
James Caan was impressed with the businessman. He later said: "Peter had recognised that it’s not solely capital which drives success in business: knowledge, experience and contacts can all play a vital role."
Duncan Bannatyne and James Caan invested £150,000 in return for a 36% stake in his business.
Peter's gadget went on to make £25 million in global sales since first appearing on the show.
Denise Hutton-Gosney – 2007
Denise Hutton-Gosney pitched her idea for Razzamataz Theatre Schools to the dragons.
She secured an on-the-spot investment of £50,000 from Duncan Bannaytne, meaning the company was table to launch all over the UK and abroad.
In 2014, Hutton-Gosney bought Bannatyne's stake in the company for £70,000 and now owns 90% of the company.
Neil and Laura Westwood – 2008
Husband and wife Neil and Laura Westwood pitched their idea of a 'Magic Whiteboard' – a portable whiteboard in a roll – to the Dragons.
Despite a rocky pitch, they secured a £100,000 investment from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis.
The product is now used in schools nationwide and is stocked in Ryman stores and supermakets.
The couple bought back control of their company from Theo and Deborah in 2015.
They have introduced new products such as the reusable Magic Notebook and the Magic Blackout Blind.
James and Richard Gold and Lewis Blitz – 2010
North London brothers James and Richard Gold and their pal Lewis Blitz pitched their phone case business to the Dragons. It was called Skinnydip – a well-known brand these days.
They accepted an offer from Peter Jones but the deal never went through.
However, the business went from strength to strength nonetheless and Skinnydip now has eight of its own stores.
It is a multi-million pound company and the founders are hoping to expand into the Japanese market.
Kate Cotton and Louise Ferguson – 2013
Kate and Louide pitched their brand Skinny Tan to the Dragons.
The concept was a naturally-deriving fake tanning lotion which reduces the appearance of cellulite.
Kelly Hoppen and Piers Linney invested in the idea.
In 2020 the products were available in 2,900 shops, including Superdrug, compared to just 250 in 2016.
In 2020, the online customer base for Skinny Tan product increased to 683,000.
Oliver Murphy – 2013
Oliver Murphy beat Kirsty Henshaw as the youngest entrepreneur to ever win investment in the Den at just 20 years old.
His brand, Reviveaphone, specialises in DIY products which can fix damaged mobile phones and Kelly Hoppen made the decision to invest.
In 2018, the brand made an exclusive agreement with Samsung to provide device repairs to its UK customers.
Scott Cupit – 2014
Scott Cupit pitched his dance school, events and entertainment brand to the Dragons back in 2014.
After walking away with £65,000 investment from Deborah Meaden, the company now offers weekly classes, festivals, dance workshops and four performance troupes.
One of the groups even performed for prime minister David Cameron and his family at 10 Downing Street.
Cupit has since written his own book, Swing Dance, which has been published in four languages – English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Jon Hulme and John Burke – 2016
Jon and John approached the Dragons with an idea for a subscription box service delivering monthly artisan gins and sparkling wines.
They accepted Sarah Willingham’s offer of £75,000 in exchange for 12.5% equity.
A year after their appearance on the show, the company saw its membership grow by 70%.
During 2020's lockdown, their membership grew by 66 per cent, selling the equivalent of one gin and tonic every 2.5 seconds.
Jonny Plein, Ben Corrigan and Vikram Simha – 2017
Jonny Plein, Ben Corrigan and Vikram Simha went into the Den with their idea for free browser extension Pouch.
The extension automatically finds discount codes for online shoppers
The trio accepted an offer of £75,000 in exchange for 18% equity split three ways between Touker Suleyman, Jenny Campbell and Tej Lalvani.
Although the deal didn't go through, in May 2018 Pouch was deemed one of the UK’s top 100 most exciting start-ups in Startups 100 2018 index.
Andy Dixon and John-Paul Gardner – 2018
Andy Dixon and John-Paul Gardner approached the Dragons with their healthy snack company Oatein.
They secured a £50,000 from entrepreneur Peter Jones, which soon after resulted in its bars going on sale in Holland & Barrett.
Their gluten-free and zero-sugar millionaire’s shortbread is now available in 830 Aldi stores countrywide.
Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood – 2019
Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood presented their brand of gin based alcoholic drinks in 2019.
After the den, Jenny invested the money for 33.3% of the business.
In 2021, the company hit £3m in sales – just three years after first appearing on the show.
They have also released a line of ready-to-drink products which are sold in Co-op, Booths and WHSmith.
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