Dragons’ Den has secured itself as one of the BBC’s most iconic shows since hitting our screens in 2005.
Over the last two decades viewers have seen incredible products pitched to the Dragons in a bid for some cash and expertise from the professionals.
We’re often reminded about the many success stories from the BBC show – for example Sam Jones’ firm Gener8, which after an investment of £60k on the show is now worth a mind-boggling £36million.
Then you hear about the companies which proved the Dragons wrong – who went on to be roaring successes despite failing to secure funding on the show.
For example, Mark Wong pitched his relaxing non-alcoholic beer Impossibrew to Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett and Touker Suleyman – and is now worth £12million despite being unanimously rejected.
But not every business has been so fortunate – some showed huge promise but when it came to the crunch after securing investment, failed to turn a profit.
Foldio 
Christian Lane took part in the BBC show back in 2007 and entered the Den with his idea of Foldio – a stationary folder product
Christian Lane took part in the BBC show back in 2007 and entered the Den with his idea of Foldio – a stationary folder product.
He told the Dragons: ‘Last year I studied graphic design at A-Level and I was forced to carry around these huge A2 graphic design folders. Now I found these very awkward to carry because they were so large.’
Christian continued: ‘My new product Foldio reduces the size of the paper by 50%, leaving it perfectly flat, without a crease.
‘It does this by folding the paper in the center of the folder, so it doesn’t actually crease the paper, but reduces it half the size.’
The businessman, who was the youngest to appear on the programme at the time, wanted £80,00 for 15% of his company.
He impressed Theo Paphitis and ended up with the money he wanted, but with a 34% equity.
After the investment was made, Foldio was available to buy until the company stopped trading in 2015, surviving for just eight years.
First Light Solutions 
Matthew Hazell appeared on Dragons’ Den back in 2006 – and the entrepreneur wanted £100,000 for 5% of his technology company First Light Solutions
He explained to the experts: ‘It is a technology based company dealing in hardware and software from within the electronics industry…’
Matthew Hazell appeared on Dragons’ Den back in 2006.
The entrepreneur wanted £100,000 for 5% of his technology company First Light Solutions.
He explained to the experts: ‘It is a technology based company dealing in hardware and software from within the electronics industry.
‘The system is an alarms system for a man overboard situation, more specifically, a man over board device used for the ledger marine industry using sonar technology.
‘Our inspiration came a couple of years ago when my partner in America, he is a yacht broker, and when he went to an old captain’s house, and asked “Why are you selling the boat?”
‘It turned out the previous year on an overnight trip, the guy had lost somebody over the back of the boat. They didn’t know when, and they didn’t know how. It just happened.’
First Light Solutions meant that a crew member would wear a pendant, and if they fell, it would produce a sonar acoustic digital packet, picked by under the water, and would be sent to the helm unit.
He walked away with what he wanted, and a new partnership with Richard Farleigh, but had to give up 30% of his business.
However, just six years after appearing on the BBC show, the company closed down.
Gaming Alerts Limited 
Emmie Matthews and Ed Stevens appeared on the fifth season of Dragons’ Den to ask for a whopping £200,000 for 10% of their business
Emmie Matthews and Ed Stevens appeared on the fifth season of Dragons’ Den to ask for a whopping £200,000 for 10% of their business.
Ed explained: ‘Gaming Alerts is the umbrella site for four comparison sites poker alerts, bingo alerts, casino alerts and bookie alerts.
‘Each comparison site offers users with the latest odds, offers, tournament information to our punters.’
Emmie added: ‘What our unique selling point is in our name, gaming alerts, users can download
‘From any of our five websites. Their desktop is completely free and they can opt in to receive poker, casino, bingo or sports betting alerts.’
The pair managed to secure £200,000, but had to compromise and hand over Theo Paphitis 30% of their company instead.
But Gaming Alerts Limited only lasted for four years and dissolved in 2011.
Umbrolly 
Charles Ejogo appeared on the first episode of Dragons’ Den back in 2005
Charles Ejogo appeared on the first episode of Dragons’ Den back in 2005.
He was asking for a £150,000 investment to help with his Umbrolly vending machine concept, and was willing to give away 20%.
‘Essentially, our business serves quite a niche. We’ve developed the world’s first and only umbrella vending machine. But it’s a multi-media vending machine.
‘It also has a screen in front of it which we display TV type quality adverts.’
Charles impressed both Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne – but they ended up with 20% each.
However the deal fell through and Charles said one year later: ‘Since the dragons pulled out last year, we have found it increasingly difficult to raise the capital required to grow the business, as it is simply too large for friends and families, but too small for the banks and venture capital firms.
‘Our adverts are as much a last attempt to find investment for our business, which will otherwise collapse, but also an attempt to highlight the lack of options available to small high-growth businesses seeking investment in the UK today.’
But that didn’t stop Charles and later started working with Seymour Powell, which allowed his business to flourish.
Sadly that wasn’t enough to save the business and it shut down in 2010.