Dragons’ Den fans were left open-mouthed after last night’s episode when a businessman snubbed two investors in a ‘strange’ showdown.
Will Little featured on the popular BBC show and pitched his family-run enterprise, Little’s Coffee, to Dragons Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett.
He asked for £80,000 in return for a 2% equity stake, and wanted help with branding too.
Will described how his parents had started the business 35 years ago and were inspired by ‘coffee roasters they’d encountered on their travels around California’.
Little’s Coffee quickly caught the attention of the Dragons and he received offers from Deborah, Sara, Peter and Steven.
A founder of several businesses, Steven offered £80,000 for a 7.5% stake saying ‘I think I’m the perfect Dragon for this business, I can’t say it in any other away’.
Will Little featured on the popular BBC show and pitched his family-run enterprise, Little’s Coffee
He asked for £80,000 in return for a 2% equity stake, and wanted help with branding too
A founder of several businesses, Steven offered £80,000 for a 7.5% stake
Deborah requested 4%, Sara 5% and Peter 4%, for all of the money.
However, Steven’s offer shocked Touker who gasped and said, ‘greedy’ to which Steven responded, ‘You’ve got to know what you’re worth at the end of the day, this is part of the den, isn’t it?’
Deborah chimed in: ‘You’ve got to know what the business is worth.’
Steven replied with, ‘You’ve got to know what you’re worth,’ to which Deborah said, ‘I know what I’m worth’.
Will admitted: ‘It’s a lot, it’s more than I would be comfortable giving away so I’ve got some tough decisions to make.’
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Peter then pitched the possibility of a deal with Deborah, splitting 4% for all of the money.
However, Steven chimed in: ‘There’s a reason they teamed up, I let you guys speak, please let me finish what I’m saying.’
He then went on to explain the ‘unique skills’ he could bring to Little’s Coffee and said, ‘There’s never been, in the Den’s history, a product that’s more well suited to me than this and that’s why they teamed up.’
Steven then smiled and said, ‘sneaky people’.
Will eventually bargained a 5% deal with Steven for £80,000.
The decision left viewers shocked and some took to social media to share their surprise.
One posted on X: ‘Why did he choose Steven over Peter and Deborah? #dragonsden.’
Another said: ‘Christ, that was a strange decision #dragonsden.’
While someone else chimed in about Touker’s reaction and penned: ‘Did Touker just say “greeeedy” at 7.5% offer by Steve? Lol. #dragonsden.’
The decision left viewers shocked and some took to social media to share their surprise
A fourth added: ‘Steven?? Ok #DragonsDen.’
Someone else commented: ‘Wow, you beat 2 dragons and still got more % wow #dragonsden FairPlay Steven #littlecoffee.’
Will described the experience as ‘intense, surreal and nerve-wracking’ and said: ‘I hadn’t considered what I’d do if I got offers. Let alone four. So it’s kind of blown my mind that I had four dragons interested in investing in my business.
‘I really believe we got the best partner in Steven Bartlett. He made it pretty compelling for me and it felt like a no brainer to accept his offer.’
Dragons’ Den airs on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.