February 20th 2025.
During a recent episode of Dragons' Den, entrepreneur and mother of four Hayley Hanigan made a big impression on the investors with her company, Tiny Explorer. Her innovative business, which offers short-term rentals of expensive items such as strollers for travelling families, caught the attention of Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett.
Hayley's journey as an entrepreneur started in 2022 when she saw a gap in the market based on her own experiences travelling with young children. She shared in an interview with Metro, "I wished I could just rent one for a week or two, and there was no one that did it, and I was like, this is crazy." With determination and the last of her maternity money, she bought five strollers and started her business. Within the first week, she sold out and knew she was onto something. In the first two years, she turned over an impressive £200,000.
During her pitch in the Den, Hayley asked for £50,000 for a 10% share in her company. She explained, "As parents, you amass a huge amount of expensive items and some of the most expensive items are the ones you take for travel only once or twice a year." Her relatable story of enduring a long flight with her kids and then having to carry them through a passport queue struck a chord with the Dragons.
The investors were impressed with Hayley's passion and business acumen. Steven Bartlett praised her and said, "You're a force, and the world is going to move out of your way, I can just feel it." He also shared that he believes people like Hayley should be pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors and that they should be supported. However, he opted out of investing as he had no experience with children.
Despite not having children herself, Sara Davies also saw the potential of Hayley's business and offered the full amount of £50,000 for a 10% share. She said, "I would love to mentor you. You are a breath of fresh air." Deborah Meaden also followed suit and urged Hayley to accept Sara's offer. Sara's enthusiasm and belief in Hayley's business convinced her to accept the offer.
Peter Jones, who initially praised Hayley's concept, also decided not to invest at this stage in the business. However, he predicted that Tiny Explorer would be a huge success.
In the end, Hayley left the Den with not one, but two investments from Sara and Steven. Her company's valuation nearly doubled to almost £1,000,000. Hayley's hard work and determination paid off, and she found not only investors but valuable mentors in Sara and Steven. It's safe to say that Tiny Explorer has a bright future ahead.
During a recent episode of Dragons' Den, a determined and ambitious entrepreneur named Hayley Hanigan made her way into the Den with high hopes of securing an investment from some of the most successful business moguls in the UK. Hayley, a mother of four, had created a company called Tiny Explorer in January of 2022, after recognizing a gap in the market while traveling with her young children. She sought to provide a solution for parents like herself who often struggled with the hassle of traveling with their kids and the need for extra strollers.
Hayley's business had already seen great success, with a turnover of over £200,000 in its first and second years. As she entered the Den, she revealed that her company's valuation had nearly doubled and was now reaching a staggering £1,000,000. She was seeking a £50,000 investment for a 10% share in her business and was hopeful that one of the Dragons - Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, or Steven Bartlett - would see the potential in her company.
What Hayley didn't expect was to receive not one, but two offers from two Dragons who were not exactly on the same page about her pitch and business plans. One of those Dragons was someone she had never even considered as a potential investor for her company. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Hayley remained composed and professional, showcasing her determination and drive to succeed.
In an interview with Metro, Hayley shared the inspiration behind her business and how it all started with a simple idea. "I wished I could just rent a stroller for a week or two, and there was no one that did it, and I was like, this is crazy," she explained. "I was on maternity leave at the time and thought, 'I'll buy five strollers, see how it goes,' used the last of my maternity money that I had left over because it was Covid and I didn't get to do much during my year off, and that's how it all began really."
As Hayley continued to share her story and her vision for her company, the Dragons were impressed by her tenacity and the success she had achieved in such a short amount of time. Steven Bartlett, the first Dragon to opt out, praised Hayley's talent and told her that she was a "force" and that the world would move out of her way. Peter Jones also commended her on her "great concept" and predicted that her business would thrive, but decided to pull out of investing at that stage.
Deborah Meaden also followed suit, but urged Hayley to consider the offer from Sara Davies, who was willing to invest the full £50,000 for a 10% share and also wanted to mentor Hayley. Sara, who was clearly impressed by Hayley's business and her as a person, shared that she would love to mentor her and be a part of her journey. "You are a breath of fresh air," Sara said. "I'm a firm believer that you are a product of the people that you surround yourself with, and I think my life will be better for having you in it."
In the end, Hayley did secure two offers from the Dragons - a testament to her determination and the potential of her business. While she may not have expected such a rare turn of events, Hayley's hard work and dedication paid off, and she left the Den with not only an investment but also a mentor who believed in her and her business. The future looks bright for Tiny Explorer, and with the guidance of Sara Davies, Hayley is well on her way to achieving even greater success.
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