Dragons' Den rejects who survived and thrived

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Over the past two years, BBC2Â’s DragonsÂ’ Den has seen budding entrepreneurs trying to convince five 'dragons', all of them formidable business experts capable of tearing the newcomer's precious, money-spinning idea to shreds, that their business plan is worth investing in.

Most contestants have emerged from the 'den' with nothing, but that does not mean that the dragons have always got it right, as the success of these dragons' rejects shows:

Destination success

Rachel Lowe is proof that the dragons donÂ’t always get it right. The ex-taxi driver got a roasting in the den when the series launched in 2004, but the public humiliation only made Rachel more determined than ever to prove the dragons wrong.

Her board game Destination London has been a best-seller in Hamley's, the capital’s top toy store, for the past two years – outstripping sales of old favourites such as Monopoly.

Variations of her game, with destinations including Portsmouth and Brighton, Delhi and New York, have also been released. With turnover now soaring, Rachel is relieved that she didn’t relinquish the 30 per cent of her business demanded by the dragons for a measly £75,000.

Scooping up the cash

When Gary and Lindsay Shuttleworth entered the den last year, their hi-tech pooper scooper failed to impress the dragons. Duncan Bannatyne proclaimed the K92 “the single most over-engineered device I’ve ever seen”, while Doug Richard damned it as “a dog of an idea”.

The duo’s presentation faltered when it came to the figures and they left the den empty-handed. Undeterred, the husband and wife team has carried on building the business, exhibiting at Crufts earlier this year as well as introducing another more popular device designed for use in the garden – one that will scoop up dead birds and garden waste as well as dog poo.

Olives go Dutch

The dragons were united in their view of Alex Hall – arrogant and evasive. She came into the den last year looking for a £150,000 investment in her company The Big O, in return for a 15 per cent stake. The Dragons liked the product (a range of pre-packed marinated olives displayed on a patented pole stand that Alex designed herself) but thought the wannabe entrepreneur’s attitude stank.

Twelve months on, Alex has salvaged her business and found a Dutch partner that has invested £1million in exchange for 20 per cent of the business.

She blames nerves for her poor performance in the den, but admits she still looks back at her pitch and “cringes”.

Business on a plate

A range of flatpack crockery designed for backpackers impressed the judges, as did its creator Jay Cousin. Flatworld was already selling well in the United States and Jay had big plans for the future. But his optimistic valuation – based on boosting turnover to £7million in just 36 months – shocked the dragons.

Their faces fell even further when Jay proceeded to coolly turn down offers from two dragons.

A year later and Jay’s business is on the up. A high street bank stumped up the £100,000 investment he was looking for, he has a production centre in China as well as staff and premises. Turnover is up nearly 50 per cent and, while he’s not a millionaire yet, Jay’s confidence remains sky high.

Child's play

Julie White entered the den last year determined to convince the dragons that she had what it takes to make her party plan baby goods firm, Truly Madly Baby, a success.

She scared off most of the dragons when she shared her plans to boost turnover from a modest £2,600 so far to a whopping £6million by the end of year two.

But Peter Jones, who had become a father again just days before, liked what she had to say and offered £75,000 in return for half of the business. When Theo Paphitis tried to undercut him, Peter did a deal with Julie that gave her the money and him 45 per cent of the business.

Just months after closing the deal, Julie’s relationship with Peter hit the buffers and they parted company. Sales haven’t suffered, though, and turnover is now more than £120,000 a year.

- Read more on how the dragons made their millions