EXCLUSIVE: Dragon's Den contestants make history with biggest valuation ever seen on show
Dragons Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones invested £50,000 in Matcha drink PerfectTed which is now worth an incredible £140million
A pair of Dragons Den contestants are set to make their mark in show history with a staggering valuation.
Marisa Poster and Teddie Levenfiche appeared on the BBC One show in 2023 seeking investment for their matcha drink PerfectTed.
Dragons Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones agreed to each take five per in equity in return for £50k. It is believed to be one of the biggest returns ever seen on the show.
Bartlett said the brand was forecasting £30m in annual revenues and “growing rapidly toward £100m” in May. But having secured an estimated millions of pounds worth of investment firm Felix Capital, the firm is now valued at £140million. According to PerfectTed, they want to become the world’s first billion-dollar matcha brand.
They already claim to be the fastest-growing natural energy drink in the UK. Founded in 2021, PerfectTed say they want to make matcha accessible for everyone.
Marisa said in the Den that she turned to matcha after finding that coffee and conventional energy drinks worsened her ADHD and anxiety. Appearing on the programme, Marisa said: “there's a massive opportunity in the natural energy drink sector. We want to ride the wave and be at the front." Teddie added: “Everything we do, we're figuring out on the fly, because we have no food or drink experience.It's been a super challenging journey but we're excited for what's to come.” In just four years, PerfectTed is now sold in more than 50 countries and in 30,000 stores across the world. This includes Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s, as well as chains including Caffé Nero and Joe & The Juice.
Speaking of the new investment, Poster said: “This is more than just an investment—it’s fuel for our mission to make matcha accessible to everyone. We have seen unparalleled consumer demand for matcha as people look for natural, functional alternatives to coffee and synthetic energy drinks.”
Several businesses on Dragons Den have gone on to achieve significant commercial success. In 2007, Levi Roots pitched his homemade spicy Jamaican sauce, Reggae Reggae Sauce. He secured a £50,000 investment from Jones and Richard Farleigh. Following the show, the sauce was listed by national supermarket chain Sainsbury's and the brand has since expanded into a multi-million-pound range of food products and publications.Husband-and-wife team Neil and Laura Westwood appeared in 2008 with their product, Magic Whiteboard, which were rolls of A1 whiteboard sheets that use static to stick to any surface. Originally pitched as "Lost My Name," Wonderbly is a publisher of personalised children's books. In 2014, the company received a £100,000 investment from Piers Linney. The business has since sold millions of books globally.