Tonight’s episode of Dragons’ Den showcased a tense battle between Sara Davies and Touker Suleyman as they vied to invest in a travel equipment company.
Entrepreneur Hayley Hanigan, from London, went on the BBC show hoping to get an investment in her business, Tiny Explorers.
As a mother of four, Sara empathized with the plight of purchasing pricey travel gear like car seats and cots that often see short-term use.
This led her to conceive a business where parents could rent equipment at a more affordable cost, eliminating the need to lug it around on their travels.
She asked the Dragons for an investment of £50,000 in return for 10 per cent of the corporation.
Tiny Explorers turned over £203,000 in its first year and then £288,000 in its second year, with the businesswoman adding that she works with London hotels who book out equipment for tourists staying with them.
Hayley said they have more than 100 items on their website that can be rented out, adding that the RRP of a collapsible pushchair is £450, but it would only cost £50 a week to rent it.
While Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett all bowed out, Sara Davies and Touker Suleyman were left battling over who would strike a deal with Hayley.
Sara said: ‘I would love to mentor you. You are a breath of fresh air. I totally get the market, I would have totally had been a customer of this if this had been around when my kids were little. I can see so many areas you can take the business.’
Sara, who is a mother to two sons, Charlie and Oliver, offered Hayley exactly what she asked for, which Steven said was a ‘brilliant offer’.
However, Touker then revealed that he was also interested in Hayley’s business but would like to take it down the route of offering the services in short-term lets.
The businessman said: ‘You’ve got a very good offer, but is it the right offer? Is it a mentor you want or is it someone that can strategically help you? That’s where I come in.
‘I’ve got all those estate agents in London, I’ve got a relationship with. But it comes at a price. I’m not going to do it for 10 per cent.’
Steven then commented on his savage approach, joking: ‘Here comes the vampire’
Viewers also noted the tense atmosphere on the show, expressing their opinions on X, formerly known as Twitter.
One wrote: ‘Sara and Touker couldn’t make a business partnership work… anymore than I can make beer.’ Another penned: ‘Sara doesn’t wanna share with Touker…don’t blame her.’
A third said: ‘Sara and Touker should have their own show trying to get on with one another.’ A fourth commented: ‘Sara slapping down Touker.’ A fifth chimed in and said: ‘Basically Sara does not want to work with Touker.’
Hayley said that she would like to team up with both of them and asked whether they’d team up, halving the money and investment.
Sara said: ‘Honestly Hayley, if you wanted to take the business down the avenue that Touker talked about and moving more away from the core of the business to work with estate -‘
Touker then interrupted and said: ‘Not the core,’ but he was quickly shushed.
‘I’m not sure that’s the business I’d look to invest in. I personally think you have a fantastic business model and the next stage is to execute that,’ she said.
‘Personally I don’t think you need to give more away of the business. I don’t think Touker is bringing anything to the table that the business needs that I can’t bring you in abundance.
Touker then hit back and said: ‘That’s rubbish… I didn’t say I was going to change your business. Depends how ambitious you are, if you want to stay where you are, you don’t need me.’
Hayley said she sees two sides to her business and was adamant that she wanted both Dragons.
Sara replied: ‘If you want to do that route and do both, I’d be crazy to say no.’ She turned to Touker and said: ‘Yeah?’ He responded: ‘Why not.’
Sara and Touker agreed to each invest £25,000 for a 10 per cent share in the business, meaning that Hayley got a cash injection of £50,000 and gave away 20 per cent of Tiny Explorers.
Deborah commented on their quarrel and said: ‘That didn’t look like a happy start for two investors. There was a lot of conflict going on there.’
Sara joked: ‘Well I’m going to have fun managing both him and her.’
Upon leaving the Den, Hayley said: ‘I know we’ve got the most exciting journey ahead of us and to have Sara and Touker on board just means the absolute world. I won’t let them down, I’ll work hard and I can’t wait to get started.’
When asked by Steven where she wants her company to be in five years, she said that she wants Tiny Explorers to be incorporated into every travel booking website, and to have customers not only asked if they would like a car, but her equipment.
