In a compelling episode of the popular investment show Dragons' Den, a diverse array of entrepreneurs stepped into the iconic lift to seek funding from the formidable panel of dragons. Guest dragon Susie Ma, founder of Tropic Skincare and an Apprentice alumnus, joined regular investors Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, and Touker Suleyman to evaluate the pitches. The businesses presented ranged from eco-friendly home solutions to niche consumer products, highlighting innovation across multiple sectors.
Innovative Medical Bags for Female Professionals
First to face the dragons was GP Catherine Fernando, who introduced Iyasu, a company specializing in redesigned medical bags tailored for women in healthcare. Launched in 2023, Iyasu offers luxury medical bags made from eco-friendly PU vegan leather, with linings crafted from recycled plastic bottles. The bags are designed to be less bulky than traditional Gladstone bags, combining sustainability with practicality. The collection features styles inspired by influential women in medicine, with prices starting from £275 for the Elizabeth tote, which includes multiple pockets for medical equipment, a removable padded laptop sleeve, and metal feet. The most popular option, the Catherine bag, costs £310 and offers multiple internal compartments and a quilted laptop pocket fitting a 13-inch laptop.
Countertop Food Composting Solution
Next up was Ben McGirr, founder of Kompo, a countertop food composting gadget aimed at simplifying food waste disposal. Launched in 2025, Kompo dries and grinds kitchen scraps into an odour-free material suitable for use as plant fuel, reducing food waste volume by up to 80% in four to eight hours. Priced at £249, the device is designed to replace traditional food bins, with a process that prevents smells, leaks, and fruit flies by stabilizing waste and avoiding methane emissions from landfills. It operates quietly, using 20p of electricity per cycle, and includes a dual charcoal filter lasting six months to a year, replaceable for £14.99 when odours return.
Pre-Loved Kitchen Marketplace
Husband-and-wife duo Phil and Helen Lord presented Rehome, an online marketplace for pre-loved kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms at discounted prices. Founded in 2015, this BCorp-certified brand allows homeowners, interior designers, and retailers to sell high-end interiors, keeping items in circulation rather than sending them to landfills. Rehome assists sellers with photography, measurements, and marketing, and if an item sells, it helps arrange dismantling and delivery, promoting sustainability in the home interiors market.
DIY Cocktail and Dog Treat Kits
The final pitch came from Gordon Leatherdale, who presented two businesses: Natural & Noble and Dog by the Hob. Natural & Noble, launched in 2019, offers drink-making kits for creating flavoured spirits and cocktails at home, including gin, rum, vodka, and whisky infusion sets, as well as cocktail kits like espresso martini and pina colada. Most kits are designed as gifts, featuring botanicals and spices to customize shop-bought alcohol. Dog by the Hob, launched in 2023, sells kits for baking pet treats, with flavours such as blueberry and oat or banana and pumpkin seed, including pre-measured ingredients and a bone-shaped cutter for homemade dog treats.
This episode underscores the breadth of entrepreneurial ventures seeking investment, from sustainable solutions to niche consumer products, all vying for the dragons' approval and funding to scale their innovative ideas.
