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Name | Solvej Biddle |
Pitching | Content and Calm (Traykit) |
Investment Required | £80,000 |
Equity Offered | 10% |
Brief Description | A company specialising in innovative children's products, the Cot Canopy, Protectishade & Traykit (the newest in the range, a bag that folds out into a tray). |
Quite often the question lurking on every Dragon's lips is "What on earth are you doing here?" Usually, however, that is because the entrepreneur needs too much help - not too little.
Solvej has developed a carry-on bag for children to use while travelling. It is drawn from her own experience and designed to prevent children dropping their possessions in the car or aeroplane.
Several large retailers have shown interest in her product, including Mothercare, which is already stocking it and about to put it in their print catalogue.
Solvej mentioned that she has brought another product to market. James Caan asks to see it and Solvej shows him a cot canopy, another invention based on her own needs. James finds out that Solvej has a background in law and is now working full time as inventor.
Duncan Bannatyne says the Den more usually sees entrepreneurs who can't reach the big retailers. In Solvej's case, three of them are begging her for her product. She is already a success - what could she need from a Dragon?
Solvej's response is that she needs Duncan's advice and help to upscale to meet the demand.
Questions from Theo Paphitis uncover that Solvej has distributors in Singapore and Australia. Theo, too, thinks Solvej doesn't need anything from him. Solvej is adamant that she needs business advice and an overview. Theo wonders how much of his time that will take.
Deborah Meaden asks about the sales figures for the cot canopy, Solvej's previous invention. She finds that Solvej has no UK distributor and has been handling it with the help of another mum from school.
An unusually quiet Peter Jones has been building up to something. Now he comes out with an offer of £80,000 for 25% of Solvej's business.
Theo is prepared to be honest: he hasn't the time to provide the support Solvej needs. Duncan Bannatyne, however is not willing to miss the opportunity and matches Peter's offer.
Solvej turns next to James Caan, who offers her the full amount for 15% of her company - much closer to the 10% Solvej originally offered.
Deborah Meaden matches Peter's offer of £80,000 for 25%. She reiterates that her knowledge is worth more than James's offer, which would let Solvej retain 10% more of her company.
Solvej negotiates further with Peter, who will accept 22.5% but suggests that he and Deborah join forces. Deborah agrees to it. Solvej tries to argue Deborah and Peter down to 10% each, but failing that, the market knowledge of the two Dragons wins out over James's more generous percentage, and Solvej accepts their joint offer.
Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden: £80,000 for a 22.5% stake in Content and Calm (Traykit)
Last updated: 6th September 2010
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