Bristol graduates Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane have walked away from a Dragons' Den deal for their Peequal women's urinal business. The pair appeared on the BBC show to pitch their flat-pack portable urinal, which has already been used at festivals including Glastonbury, Shambala and the London Marathon.
Pitch and valuation questions
The duo asked the dragons for £100,000 for two per cent of the business, valuing the company at £5m. Amber told the panel the valuation was based on "historical revenue growth" and that Peequal was on track to make a net profit of £2.2m in 2027.
Peter Jones told them he was "really upset" because they had asked for "too much money". "I really want to find a way to invest in two great entrepreneurs of the future, but I think you have way, way over-valued your business, so I am going to have to say that I am out. But it's not a reflection of you," he said.
Offer from Deborah Meaden
Touker Suleyman raised questions about competition and the risk of Peequal being "undercut" by bigger competitors, saying "for that reason I am out". Steven Bartlett said he believed they would "be successful" but declined to invest, while Jenna Meek said she "didn't hold as much passion" for the business.
Deborah Meaden offered Amber and Hazel "the full amount of money" for five per cent of the business. "Guys I think you are excellent, but I think there are some big issues that you could definitely do with some guidance on," she said. "I clearly understand the hospitality side of things. I do think while you have done a lot of things to protect yourself, there are not that many barriers to entry. You are right to go at this at speed."
Walking away and future plans
The duo accepted Meaden's offer after trying to negotiate her down to four per cent, but ultimately decided to walk away after filming finished. "In the end, our deal with Deborah didn't progress, but we are hugely grateful for the vote of confidence from such a renowned businesswomen," said Amber.
Since appearing on the show, the pair have raised nearly £1m for Peequal. "This summer we featured at our first international event and we've got big plans for 2027 - watch this space," added Amber. "We've been overwhelmed by the positive response we've had from our moment on the small screen. A huge thank you to everyone who's been in touch."
