Here are the main pitches on Ireland’s Dragons Den – Episode 7.

Animatazz - http://www.animatazz.com/

Key People: Michael Connolly

First into the Dragon’s Den on this week’s episode is Michael Connolly from Kildare with his business ‘Animatazz’, a kit to teach children aged 8 years and up how to animate, making characters. The product is aimed at children as young as 8 yrs old but at that age they would need a little help from a parent or older sibling.

Michael was looking for €80,000 and offering 25% equity. Gavin first off, enquired about the potential market in schools and Michael agreed that there would be a market there, Gavin also enquired about the retail cost, Michael explained that it would retail at €25 and it cost €650 for 1000 units and as the product becomes more in demand the cost per unit would become even more cost effective.

Niall compliments Michael on the creativity on the product and felt that it should be in every toy store. Micheal commented that he is hoping to develop the product in order to make different kits for different age groups. Bobby comes in and states that he likes the product and enquires about the plan of Animatazz to be brought to market. Michael explained that initially it would be smaller shops like hobby shops and arts and crafts shops and bookshops, as well as toy shops. Sarah states she hates these type of kits as a mother (What does this woman like?), as it is a long term project and will often need more parent involvement than a child’s and declares herself out. Surprised? I think not.

Sean comes in and says he wouldn’t have enough expertise in this area and declared himself out. Gavin comes in and makes an offer of the full €80,000 but for 45% of Michael and not just a. Niall and Bobby both declare themselves out and Micheal asks for Gavin to explain what he will bring to the business and then finally accepts the offer. Success! but was he a bit impolite for Gavin Duffy?

Girls Night In (GNI) - http://www.girlsnightin.ie

Key People: Vera Wade

Vera Wade was the next to pitch her business in the Dragon’s Den with ‘Girls Night In’/ GNI, an idea of nights in that are catering for hen nights, sweet sixteens, pamper nights, salsa pole dancing etc etc… where ‘Girls Night In’ would have mini treatments, drinks, music, chocolate fountains and strawberries etc brought to the customers house and also offer GNI men as waiters.

Vera was looking for €50,000 and offering 15% of her business. The dragon’s enquired about the cost of these parties and Vera explained that it started off at €350 for roughly 6 ladies. Throughout the pitch it came across very clear that Vera was very passionate about her business and knew what she was talking about.

Sarah enquired about the sales over the last two years, Vera explained that in the first year there was €31,000 turnover with €7,000 net profit and in year two it would be €120,000 turnover with about €25,000 net profit. Sarah continued to enquire about what the €50,000 would go towards. Vera discussed that €35,000 would be going on putting packages together so that it could be offered to customers outside of the Dublin area and the other €15,000 would go on trademark protection and branding as it was important for the success and uniqueness of the business.

Gavin cheekily enquires about the employment policy and enquires about whether anyone could become a GNI man and Sean comes in on this and Vera explained that Sean wouldn’t be a candidate, Sean takes off his jacket and jokingly enquires why he couldn’t become one and announces he’s dumbstruck by Vera. Chuckles all round. Sean then declares himself out.

Gavin doesn’t see the scalability of the business and declares himself out. Niall continues to praise Vera and comments that she doesn’t particularly need a dragon and feels she’s just as good as entrepreneur as any Dragon and knows shes going to be a success and declares himself out. No offers on the table. Vera, well done a very polished pitch that was very professional, you’re going to go far!

Zsweet - http://www.zsweet.com/

Key People: Cormac Walsh

Cormac Walsh comes to the dragons with ‘Zsweet’, a sweetener that’s suitable for diabetics, leaves no after taste and is zero calories. Cormac states that he is the exclusive distributor of product in Ireland. Cormac demonstrates his product by having a diabetic take his glucose level after eating something with Zsweet in it and his glucose level stayed normal.

Cormac was looking for €100,000 and offering 20% to a potential Dragon or Dragons. Bobby was very interested in the product in relation to his own business, Insomnia and enquired about about the market. Cormac continued his calm approach and explained that he wasn’t looking at the retail market as he had researched it and found that it would cost to much with marketing and promoting it (€4 – €5 mil!), his proposed route was to link it with ‘zero worry foods’ that already make products.

Gavin enquires further about Cormac’s line of thinking about excluding the retail market, Cormac goes into further explanation about costing millions to promote and advertise the product for it to be successful in the shops. Sarah comes in and states that she feels Cormac is contradicting himself and declares himself out. Bobby comes in next and makes an offer of €50,000 for 22 and a half percent of the business, while Sean enquires about Cormac’s background, Cormac says he was a trained chef and then went into product demonstrating in shops.

Niall comes in and states that he doesn’t know enough about the business and declares himself out. Gavin sharply declares himself out too. Sean comes in again and explains that he’s in two minds as he feels that with Bobby interested and having good knowledge of the food industry it’s making the business more attractive but still feels the risk is too high and declares himself out. The focus goes back to Bobby and Bobby simply puts it he’s not prepared to go it alone and declares himself out. Close but no deal!

Toilet Snake- http://toiletsnake.org/

Key People: Alan Ennis, David Daly

The final entrepreneurs to pitch their idea to the Dragons tonight was Alan Ennis and David Daly with their product, ‘Toilet Snake’ aims to eliminate the need for a toilet brush as the guys feel it is pretty dirty and unhygienic. The product aims to sell between €17.99 to €29.99 to consumers.

Alan and David were looking for €25,000 for 10% of their business. They mentioned that there were two ways to make money with the product. 1.) The sales of the device in shops etc and 2.) Licensing of the product. Sean came in and asked about what route they might go towards (sale or licensing) and the guys honestly stated that they had no experience in manufacturing so licensing seemed to be the best idea.

Niall asks about how the product actually works (A very good question as I still don’t 100% know). Sarah enquires if they have been talking to any bathroom manufactures to which they wing it and try to avoid the question, they eventually tell say that they have not. Sarah then drops a bombshell and says through her extensive travelling, she has actually come across this type of product before that is more smaller than Toilet Snake before stepping out.

Sean goes quickly declares himself afterwords and Gavin states that he wants to bring them home (awww), Bobby then says he’s out and then the last remaining Dragon is Niall to which I though he would do the same, but surprisingly he gives the lads a break and makes them an offer for the full amount for 10% equity.

Talking to Richard Curran at the end of the show, Alan and David say they got the investment because they didn’t give a ridiculous valuation of their company, something I wish we seen more of!