"You Have Just Alienated Four Dragons" | Dragons' Den

[Music] last into the den a university Pal's turned business partners Marissa poster and Teddy levish the worst thing can do be like nervous let's go in high energy there's a massive opportunity in the Natural Energy Drink sector and we want to ride the wave and be at the Forefront a fruit melts selts a drink match of though isn't it fruit match energy drink everything we do we're kind of figuring out on the Fly we have no food and beverage experience we got this got this okay so it's been a challenging Journey but we're super excited for us to come hello dragons how are we doing today tremendous amazing I'm Marissa I'm Teddy and we're the fers of perfect Ted the brand on a mission to spread positive energy so we're here today to ask for £50,000 in return for a 5% stake in our business for years I've struggled with ADHD and anxiety which was particularly challenging while studying at University in the US I would consume copious amounts of coffee and energy drinks to help me get through the long study days but the caffeine gave me Jitters crashes and exacerbated my anxiety symptoms that's when I discovered matcha a powdered Japanese green tea that offers slow release energy I was hooked so naturally I recommended it to everyone including Teddy who at the time was studying to go to law school we found a massive barrier to people switching to matcha was it Umami flavor and the time it took to prepare so when Marissa moved to London last year we quit our jobs in finance and created an on the-go solution the UK's first matcho powered energy drinks flavored with real fruit so that everyone else could feel as amazing as we did our drinks will keep you energized for twice as long improve your focus and give you the antioxidants you need to look as young as Steven ah thank you really andc me that was that was wrong you should have said as young as TKA cuz he's the oldest I want T I wanted to say you Marissa wanted to say you haven't even finished your pitch yet you've just alienated four Dragons It's not a good start is it should we go back out you need to shift quick sorry let me continue we launched the Brandon last year in just 7 months we've landed on shelves across 450 Holland and Barrett stores nationwide Planet Organic and excitingly have a grocery listing in the US we hope that you'll join us on this journey of fueling Happy Feelings now let's try some drinks woo a high energy pitch from Marissa Posta and Teddy levven fish if you could look into your boxes we have our three flavors pineapple Yuzu Apple raspberry and pear and Ginger the pair are seeking £50,000 in return for a 5% stake in their business you'll also see AR Macha powder which is organic and ceremonial grade from uji Japan it's Steven Bartlett to tea off with questions for the young drinks entrepreneurs Teddy Mercer how old are both you I'm 25 just done 25 25 as well I'm two weeks older than him are you both currently full-time on the business yes I'm the CEO Chief energy officer and I also oversee our marketing and our branding and I'm in charge of our operation supply chain manufacturing have you raised Capital previously no so today we put £245,000 into the business £120,000 in director's loans and £125,000 from family loans when I was 25 I don't think I had a quarter of a million where did you get that from so we wor both worked in the US before while I was there I was investing because I always knew I wanted to do something entrepreneurial and so I knew I needed to save up to be able to go and do something and so when when did you start this business we launched the business around last June right and then give me give me an idea of what's happened since then in terms of your sales we've done £90,000 in sales 53 of which which has come in the last 3 months and we're on track to do £40,000 uh this month what's your long-term vision for this brand world domination um no we really we hope to be a household brand across several different countries um especially the UK what they lack in years Marissa and Teddy more than make up for in ambition but has an eagle-eyed Peter Jones identified an issue with the Duo's packaging just straight away what hits me um I actually don't see the brand what is the brand so where you have the big match of words uh just above that you have the logo perfect Ted the reason we consciously made that decision is because when we first the launched the drinks we had zero brand equity and we didn't have a huge marketing budget so we wanted to make it abundantly clear what the product was on shelf but as we do gain more brand Equity we plan to change that so you've launched a new product but what are you up against at the same time there's um huge growth in Kombucha but Natural Energy other Natural Energy drinks that have also come into the category so we're up against a fast growing category but other competitors that aren't really innovating that much in terms of matcha I'm a kombucha Drinker okay and there's and and it's there's been an explosion it was really hard and the stuff I used to buy had that always had little scummy bits floating around in the bottom um but it's really developed and you know where I buy mine from the milk man what a posh Milkman no all they all do it there's a load of them across the country our is milk our Milkman just sells milk like in fact you thought I was drinking champagne last night I was drinking a lovely clear sparkling kombucha it's because of how you're acting well it gives you energy that's why you do it um so in terms of uh that market which has had an explosion and I'm a kombucha drinker tell me why I would switch to matcha you would probably try it as a compliment um because kombucha targets different things for matcha we're specifically looking to the the effects of caffeine and alanine and how it's able to enhance mental cognition and give you energy for longer period of time than coffee or other energy drinks um as well as for that antioxidant boost that's great answer um so it fills some of the gaps in absolutely absolutely it's a crowded Market but Deborah Meen is satisfied that Marissa and Teddy are offering something distinct but while the pair's Natural Energy Drinks may get brain cells buzzing can they also tickle taste buds I have sampled in detail all of these drinks and can confirm I categorically like all three of them than you and I'll be really honest I struggle a little bit with matcha so I wasn't expecting at all I thought oh I'm going to have a little bit but I've actually gone back three times to drink more so that's a really good sign you've come in here with an absolutely brilliant product you two are fantastic and I think if there was ever a case study on how to come in the den and knock it out the park you would absolutely epitomize that I think the only thing that I think is slightly too problematic for me is you know to only have 5% in the business it's not quite enough incentive you're not enough on my priority list for me to want to be right in there but I can change that so I'm going to make you an offer so I will give you all the money for 10% of the business thank you so much really appreciate it an offer for Marissa and Teddy from Sara Davies is Steven Bartlett also poised to try and bag himself a share of their tea based business once in a while you have entrepreneurs come in the den that you just you just have a huge degree of admiration for and um The Journey you're on is a as young entrepreneurs is a similar Journey that that I that I've been on as well so um I'm going to make you an offer as well I'm going to offer you all of the money for 10% of the business as well thank you really appreciate it you're great both of you and you won't be surprised I'm going to make you an offer I don't want to give you the whole speed about what I can do whether it's distribution marketing sourcing you name it I can do it that's all so I'm going to offer you all of the money that's 50,000 and I also want 10% of the business thank you very much much my fellow dragons clearly have been drinking your high energy drinks cuz they're being really nice to you at the moment well this is like this is this is is there anything wrong with this business I mean I'm terrible to work with he's a delay no look at it's really really interesting you're perfect Ted I think you need Perfect Peter I'd really do so I'm going to offer you all of the money for 10% a flurry of further offers for the traders in tea who now have four competing bids to consider only Deborah Meen is yet to show her hand is she prepared to match or even undercut her fellow dragons in an attempt to secure the [Music] deal well um guys none of anything you've talked about you know do I sit here and think oh not sure about that and that's what I've got to do I've got to see a map I've got to think actually what can I do here so you won't be at all surprised to hear um I'm going to make you an offer and I think I must want you more than them I think I must value more than the other guys cuz I'm going to offer you all of the money and I want 7 and a half% of the business wow thank you so so much really appreciate it thank you everyone so much you mind if we go you would go to the wall probably thank you a rare Clean Sweep for Marissa and Teddy freak out four dragons are seeking double the 5% Equity the pair were originally looking to give away whilst Deborah Meen wants 7 and a half% because already it's decision time for the young entrepreneurs thank you so so so much me sorry just you say like you love the drinks that's I do um it is great I I grew up watching the show and I said to my dad that one day i' would be on the show and so fantastic same in a different way maybe one day um and we're super super grateful for all the offers this is really not an easy decision Steven and Peter would you be willing to do 5% each and share the £50,000 so 5% each for £25,000 each I would i' be honest I would I would I love it I really do I think it tastes great thank you so much appreciate it thank you have we got a deal yes you have a deal yeah we have a deal oh amazing thank you everyone for the kind feedback thank you very much thank you so much really appreciate success for Marissa and Teddy who leave The Den with £50,000 and the backing of a dynamic Dragon Duo who could give their buding business a massive boost God this crazy I'm going to cry no I have to keep it together unbelievable they are well I will be perfectly Hest I am well I think we're going to make much a lot of money I think I'm in a State of Shock but feeling amazing and so beyond proud of ourselves you know if I could have played in my mind what a best case scenario might have been out of what just happened I never would have expected that yeah I don't I don't have any words I'm so grateful

Channel: Dragons' Den

Views: 200,124

Keywords: Dragons' Den, angel investors, business development, business financing, business growth, business innovation, business pitching competition, business proposal, business reality show, business venture, dragon's den episode 9, energy drink market, entrepreneur showcase, entrepreneurial opportunity, equity share, investment capital, investment opportunity, investor meeting, start-up funding, venture capital pitch, venture capitalist pitch

Id: rl_3wguVLsk

Length: 13min 31sec (811 seconds)

Published: Mon Mar 25 2024