Record-breaking Dragons Den offer in 20-year history | UK News

Dragons’ Den stars had been left misplaced for phrases when they had been supplied the most important deal in the show’s 20-year history, with a staggering quantity for just one per cent of the company. On Thursday night time’s episode (October 16) of the BBC entrepreneurial show, Francisco Gimenez stepped into the Den with an bold plan to revolutionise the hairdressing industry.

He launched his company, Yuv, back in 2023 after he developed a good hair color meting out system that mechanically whips up the right shade for each shopper. This not only cuts down on waste and saves useful time in the salon, but it also retains observe of each person’s color history through an app – related to a printer’s ink subscription service.

Explaining how the business model works, Francisco told the Dragons: “You, as a salon, will pay £49 a month to lease all of the equipment. On top of that, you pay for the hair colour that you actually use, as you use it.

“To put it in perspective, a salon of four to five hairdressers can use between £8000 and £1,000 in colour per month. We have an operating margin of 55 per cent.

“So a salon that uses Yuv should contribute £500 in profit per month. We have a couple of patents, and we have been working on this for three years. We just launched, literally just landed. We already have a waiting list of about 500 salons. So, I am here requesting an investment of £250k for one per cent of the company.”

The Dragons immediately erupted into laughter as they tried to perceive the daring offer. It was then time for the traders to share their ideas on Francisco’s product before placing their money where their mouths had been.

Touker Suleyman said: “Look, I think you’re great. However, if I have to stick to my true rules, I don’t get out of bed for one per cent. So for that reason, I’m out.”

Next, Sara Davies added: “Francisco, you’re very, very good. But you don’t need any of us to tell you that. You know that, you’ve got a proven track record, you’ve put your own money in, and you’ve just got everything going for you.

“And I’m guessing the offer that’s on the table is like, ‘This is what I’m offering you – are you in or out?’” Surprisingly enough, Sara took the budding businessman up on his daring offer.

She continued: “I’m in. I’d be in on this. And I understand it’s a small, little seat on a big bus. But I tell you what – it’s a good bus to be on, isn’t it? So yeah, I would give you all that money – the quarter of a million – for one per cent.” Meanwhile, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, and Emma Grede supplied the hair stylist three p.c of the business for the asking price of £250k.

Finally, Steven Bartlett was up next, who said: “I’m going to do something I don’t typically do. I’d like to park myself above the other Dragons when I make an offer, typically, but I actually believe if you took an offer today that was outside of this ask, it probably wouldn’t happen.

“It would annoy too many of the people that have supported you on the journey you’ve been on. So, I’ve sat here, the reason I’ve paused is because I’ve come to a point that the offer is the offer.

“You are so fantastic that I’m going to give you that. I’m going to give you the £250k for one per cent of your business.” Ultimately, after evaluating what the Dragons had to offer, Francisco determined to settle for both Sara and Steven’s offers.

Dragon’s Den airs on Thursdays from 8pm on BBC One or catch up on BBC iPlayer.