Rome doesn’t want to let go of more than 20% of the business as it is “my life” and he has to bring it home for his kids.

Steven says if all of their capital is returned within 24 months, they can drop to that.

They are all happy with that – and Rome chooses Tinie, Steven… and Peter!

Steven says they can do this together and wants to invest.

He offers £33,333 for 10% of the business if two other Dragons come on board.

Tinie is straight on it and wants in on that same deal.

Peter is also keen to take that up.

And so is Touker!

Deborah says she couldn’t be happier but is out.

Tinie is massive fan of sea moss – he uses it and so do his kids.

There are competitors on Amazon turning over big money, which shows the potential, but Rome says his mission and expertise stands him apart.

He explains to Touker why the £1m valuation is valid, but the Dragon says that is not the case today.

Rome is a former engineer who started a construction business and began to bring young people through it after starting a not-for-profit youth organisation.

He tells Steven that he grew up in children’s homes after he was a “boisterous young man” growing up in Tottenham, North London before he found his way.

He generated £55k revenue with £8k profit last year.

Steven praises him but says he should focus his branding on sea moss as the products are too diverse.

Peter disagrees and says he sees it as a Holland & Barrett situation where he can have a whole range of products.

He then breaks down as he tells Rome that he is a “gift to humanity”.

“Blessings, Dragons.” A confident start!

Rome says he has used sea moss throughout his career as a Muay Thai fighter to treat inflamation and more – and that “lit the fire” for him.

He is looking for £100k for 10% of the business and hands out some gel-infused juices to the Dragons.

The closing pitch comes from Rome Haghighat, founder of Health & Holistics.

The wellness brand was launched in 2024 to sell supplements made from sea moss, a red algae from the Caribbean rich in nutrients, as well as shilajit, turmeric, ginger, bladderwrack, burdock, spirulina and ashwagandha. 

Products include gels and capsules for beauty, detox and workouts, as well as soaps.

Steven and Deborah says that introducing an investor into a family-owned company changes the dynamic. They are both out, although they have a new customer in Deborah and her sister.

Touker is extremely interested but would drive them crazy as he’s “not a passive investor” – and says they don’t really need one. He’s out.

Peter says it might take him 25 years to earn a return due to the product set, although he is very impressed. He’s out.

Tinie says he would love to get involved as he sees the value in the business, but doesn’t have a clue about this space and so is out as he would need another Dragon to come on board.

Like Rob, Deborah says her sister is in a wheelchair and hand function is a massive issue for her.

Rob says the products are meant to overcome the reduced function the hands already have.

He says he was injured in a cliff fall accident.

Tinie’s grandma is also in a wheelchair and says these products can help her.

In his Brazilian Ju Jitsu training he has also come across many ex-military people who have suffeed injury in war who might benefit.

Paralympic athletes are using their products.

Its product range started with the General Purpose gripping aid for the gym, a neoprene glove which holds the hand safely and firmly around free weights, bars, handles and resistance bands.

It also has kitchen aids, wheelchair accessories and personal care products.

Third in the den is Active Hands Company founder Rob Smith and his business development manager Jo Gumbley. 

Based near Solihull in the West Midlands and launched in 2007, the firm has developed adaptive gripping aids to help people with reduced hand function live more independently.

Smith had the idea in the late 1990s after he experienced difficulties following a spinal cord injury.

They are asking for £75k for a 5% stake in the business.

It turned over £738k last year.

Steven can’t pin down John’s ambition and goals – so to speak – and is out.

Touker isn’t impressed and is out.

It isn’t for Tinie either.

Deborah can’t see how a Dragon will add value to the business. She’s out.

Peter says he wants to pick up the conversation about the foundation away from the Den but he’s out. He says John should be proud to be a ‘social entrepreneur’.

Quizzed by Deborah, he says he made a £59k loss last year.

However he has made a profit in previous years.

He says making hires has cost the business the most money and is planning to return to profitability soon.

Steven asks about the scalability of the business. He’s not impressed by the potential £1.25m annual revenue.

Peter says he can do this himself – all his companies run their own charity events. He has had a foundation for 20 years and says this doesn’t feel like a for-profit organisation but would be interested in folding it into his foundation.

A goal has been set up and Tinie saves all penalties… except for Deborah’s!

“You let that in,” she complains.

John says he had revenue of £797k last year and has generated more than £3m to date.

He is looking for £50k for 5% of the business, and wants to expand its geographic reach.

Second to pitch is Business Fives founder John McClarey. 

Based in Edinburgh, the startup encourages businesses to enter teams into five-a-side football tournaments, golf days and mixed touch rugby events.

Founded in 2016, it has hosted events across the UK and Ireland and donates 10% of its revenue to charity alongside the money raised by teams. 

It is now branching out into eSports.

Unfortunately Sean and Alex entered the business into voluntary liquidation in September 2025 – after filming – with ‘escalating’ debts of more than £250,000.

The brothers told The Grocer that they bore no grudges against Tesco, which made up a massive percentage of its revenue, and that its Achilles’ Heel was the fact that their target market typically avoids the bakery section of supermarkets.

You can read more about it below.

The firm has raised £800,000 including £260k from crowdfunding for the chewy cookies, which are in the fresh bakery section and are made using pea protein, prebiotic fibre and its own low-sugar chocolate.

Available in four flavours, the high-protein, low-sugar cookie brand launched in 2023 following two years of research.

Jones is out.

Tinie is very nice in also saying he is out – “if you’ve lost your friends and family’s money, mine will probably go too”.

Deborah Meaden is out as she is vegan and cannot taste it.

Steve Bartlett says the cookies taste very nice for a health product, but he is out.

Touker is also out.

They tell the judges that Tesco stock its healthy cookies in 750 stores and it is part of the supermarket’s accelerator programme.

An exclusivity deal is set to expire.

However they are only selling four products per store per week.

They tell Touker that they have made losses of £150k, £325k and £245k in each of their three years of operation.

He says that if Tesco drops their product, they have a problem.

Peter doesn’t rate the product and says they should have been working night and day to get their next customer. He’s very hard on them.

The first to pitch are brothers Alex and Sean Brassill, co-founders of Jnck Bakery who formerly worked as directors at THG.

It sells chewy cookies made using pea protein, prebiotic fibre and its own low-sugar chocolate.

The high-protein, low-sugar cookie brand launched in 2023.

They are looking for 100k for 5% of the business.

Raspberry Pi shares surge as CEO buys stock

Published: February 19, 2026 at 1:49 pm

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Shares in Raspberry Pi have surged after CEO Eben Upton (pictured) bought stock in the company.

A dip last year and this saw its shares fall below its 280p IPO offer price in June 2024, and way off its peak of 766p.

They fell as low as 257p despite a positive year-end trading update after admitting that supply uncertainty remains around the memory boards used in its products.

However a 42% rise yesterday saw them return above £4, and they have remained there today.

Social media ‘buzz’ around the use of the small computer boards for running AI agents has also intensified, which may partly explain the rise.