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What did you make of the pitches?

Published: October 2, 2025 at 9:05 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Have your say by clicking on the link above.

You can also find a complete record of all the current Dragons’ investments prior to this show here:

Deborah Meaden

Steven Bartlett

Touker Suleyman

Sara Davies

Peter Jones

It’s a deal!

Published: October 2, 2025 at 9:01 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Jones and Bartlett agree to each invest £100k for 16% of the business apiece.

They know that this product is established and sells.

Our final entrepreneur of the night is a happy man.

Two offers…

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:59 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Davies isn’t impressed – he says Phil is doing all the talking and it should be the Dragons who are doing that. She’s OUT.

Meaden expresses similar sentiments and is also OUT.

Bartlett says Phil has an AHA! business, but he hasn’t had an AHA! moment – as he is “terrible at marketing”.

However Bartlett is offering all of the money – for 33% of the business! He says he would assume a lot of responsibility.

Jones asks him what he wants and he says he wants to spend more time with his family. Phil is getting emotional now… and Jones effectively matches Bartlett’s offer!

Bananas valuation

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:54 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Touker says the valuation is “stupid” despite being profitable.

Jones agrees that it is “bananas”.

Phil is struggling with the maths (and also struggled with his pitch a little…)

He says he could turn over £30m on his own – and £100m isn’t out of the question with help.

So far he’s done just £1m… he says conversations about the product are happening at sports pitches everywhere right now.

I’m bananas for this one

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:50 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

He wants £200k for 6% of the business.

I actually have a pair of these upstairs in my boiler room, currently making my trail shoes smell nice… well, better…

I can vouch for this product. Shame I don’t have £200k!

Bananas for fresh shoes

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:48 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Closing the show is Phil Osband, a former climbing instructor who has taken on the problem of smelly footwear. 

His company, Boot Bananas, produces banana-shaped deodorisers filled with a natural blend of salts, minerals and botanicals such as lavender, lemon and tea tree.

Launched in 2012, the product slots into shoes or boots after use. 

In a quirky touch, the bananas even change colour over time – turning brown when it’s time for a new pair.

It’s a deal! Bartlett wins the day

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:45 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

They’re asking Bartlett to come down to 4%.

The Flight Story entrepreneur counters with £80k for 5%.

They agree on £90k for the 5%.

Bartlett works with a few brands of this type with his Flight Story business – including podcasts.

The offers come in…

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:43 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Meaden offers them the £60k for 4%.

Davies will go as low as 3.5% for the money.

Jones says it’s not interesting enough to him as a business proposition. He’s OUT.

Bartlett, who stopped drinking a few years ago, says he’s been waiting for this product. He’s asking for 5% of the business. “Daylight robbery!” says Suleyman.

They’re now having a row… Suleyman says he has 50 years of experience, “more in my little finger than you!”

Suleyman is interested but OUT.

Tastes good… but can the Dragons stomach the losses?

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:39 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

They are looking for £60k for 2% of the business, which has attracted 23,000 new customers in last six months alone.

They have raised around £1.1m funding so far as the startup is loss-making.

All the Dragons like the product. Meaden and Davies are fighting over the drink, it tastes so good!

A drink without the alcohol

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:32 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Bethan Higson and Alice Galsworthy arrive next with Mother Root, a non-alcoholic aperitif made from organic ingredients.

Higson came up with the idea in 2018 while pregnant and craving a grown-up drink without the alcohol content.

Mother Root Ginger is made with organic apple cider vinegar, blossom honey, ginger juice and a touch of chilli for warmth. 

Served with soda water, each 500ml bottle can stretch to around 20 drinks. 

It retails for just under £30 on Amazon and directly via the company’s own site.

No investment for Liha Beauty

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:31 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Peter Jones says he loves the product – he’s applied the shea butter and his hands are the softest they’ve ever been – but the numbers don’t stack up…

Steven Bartlett says “it feels like you’re trying to employ me!” after the pair said they are looking for help with marketing.

Jones is OUT.

Touker Suleyman is OUT.

Deborah Meaden is OUT. “The numbers really aren’t good. It’s just not working for me.”

Sara Davies loves the product but is OUT. She says you’re investing in the person, not the product – and the numbers tell a story. But she will leave them a nice review on their product!

Bartlett says the odds of them succeeding are as good as winning the lottery. And he ain’t betting £100k on that! He’s also OUT.

Losses… and more losses

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:24 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

They have several years of operation behind them – but the Dragons want to know about P&L.

And they’ve made losses year after year after year… they won’t even be profitable this year.

They’re looking to move to a direct-to-consumer model as they’re effectively being penalised by retailers for not providing stock at scale.

African-inspired skincare

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:19 pm

Next to step into the Den are Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan, the duo behind Liha Beauty. 

Founded in 2014, their brand combines African botanicals with English aromatherapy traditions. 

The product range, which includes body oils, cleansers, balms and raw shea butter, is sourced ethically from Nigeria and Ghana.

Already attracting celebrity fans such as Lenny Kravitz and FKA Twigs, Liha Beauty is stocked on its own website and through major retailers including Sephora. 

It’s a deal!

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:17 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

He asks whether all three will come in at 5% each… while each giving £100k.

They’re not having that – after some negotiation, they agree to give him £50k each – a combined £150k – for a combined 15% of the business.

“Having three Dragons involved is going to be really, really helpful,” he says.

The Dragons say they are betting on the brains as much as the business.

The offers come in

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:13 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Peter Jones will give him the £100k, but for 12.5%…

Deborah Meaden undercuts him with £100k for 10%…

Touker Suleyman also makes an offer – £100k for 10% – and says he can help him lower the cost of the device…

Sara Davies is OUT…

Steven Bartlett is also OUT… he says Pippa could become “massive”, but also could become “nothing”.

 

Founder with AI chops

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:09 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Dr Sam is asking for £100,000 for 5% equity.

He’s a key figure behind LeakBot, a listed InsurTech which is expanding around the US. He also worked on early self-driving cars.

The AI software inside Pippa is all developed by the company itself.

Fire safety gets smart with Pippa

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:04 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

The pitches begin with Samuel Bailey, an inventor who believes he can make kitchens safer. 

His company, Pippa, has developed a wall-mounted device designed to spot problems before they turn into disasters. 

Using sensors to monitor the temperature of pans on the stove, the gadget can give audible warnings minutes before a fire risk develops.

If you’ve left the house, it can send a text or even call you to alert you, though that feature requires a £39.99 annual subscription on top of the £179.99 device price.

Waiting with bated breath…

Published: October 2, 2025 at 8:00 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Mad dash to put my daughter to bed before the show starts – I’m even in time to catch the end of EastEnders.

It seems Stacey amd Max are still going strong – it’s probably 15 years since I last clapped eyes on the Square!

The Dragon who likes to… count his chickens?!

Published: October 2, 2025 at 7:55 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Many faces have entered and exited the lair of the Dragons on the BBC – but one face has been an ever-present.

Peter Jones CBE has sat in the chair since the very first episode of Dragons’ Den in 2005 and remains the only original Dragon still on the panel.

At 6ft 7in, he has become the show’s most recognisable figure; but behind the on-screen persona is a career built on early setbacks, high-street revivals, international television formats and a commitment to enterprise education.

But who is he? And what dos he get up to at home?

Who is pitching tonight?

Published: October 2, 2025 at 7:46 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett and the departing Sara Davies will once again hear pitches from founders convinced their ideas can stand the heat of the Den.

But who is set to enter first?

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