A fire in the kitchen is one of the biggest risks faced by households – but one proven entrepreneur believes he鈥檚 cracked it.听
Dr Samuel Bailey was the first contestant to step into Dragons鈥� Den after its long lay-off, and if viewers weren鈥檛 already sure the show was back, a classic bidding war soon confirmed it.
His product, Pippa, is a wall-mounted device that warns when pans are about to burn or when stoves are left on – and he eventually walked out with three Dragons on board.
Bailey explained: 鈥淧ippa knows whether the pan is going to burn or whether you鈥檝e stopped cooking and left the stove on.听
鈥淧ippa sticks to the wall above the stove and monitors the temperature reach of the pan. If the pan starts to burn, Pippa simply speaks a warning and sounds an alarm to alert you.听
鈥淚f you鈥檝e left home or are out of hearing, Pippa can phone and text you or a carer to warn of the danger.
鈥淭here is a smart cooking assistant app that provides guided cooking and a monitoring system that can identify whether people are starting to become a danger to themselves and perhaps need extra help.鈥�
Bailey, who asked for 拢100,000 for 5% equity, has a history of invention.听
He founded engineering consultancy Skyrad and went on to invent LeakBot, the world鈥檚 first clip-on pipe flow detector for micro-leaks in residential properties.听
LeakBot was developed with HomeServe Labs and is now part of Ondo InsurTech Plc following a SPAC reverse takeover in 2021.听
The InsurTech, protected by patents in Europe and the US, has been rolled out with insurers to cut claims costs, deliver early intervention and supply risk data for pricing.
Bailey also has a sideline running a low-carbon electric transport system, consults for Octopus Energy and advises investment companies on AI and renewable energy.听
His credentials did not go unnoticed by the eagle-eyed investors.听
Peter Jones said: 鈥淵ou want investment in Pippa? I want to invest in Skyrad – is that possible?
鈥淚 genuinely think you are clearly a very skilled creator and inventor; it would be so much more interesting to be part of all your projects. Not just this.听
鈥淓lement of spreading the risk there, the risk factor.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e asked for 拢100,000 for 5%… I would like to make you an offer for all of the 100,000 but I would like 12.5% of Skyrad.鈥�
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Deborah Meaden then undercut Jones at 拢100,000 for 10%.听
Touker Suleyman matched her terms and argued that his experience could help bring the device鈥檚 price down from its current 拢179.99, plus 拢39.99 annual subscription for remote alerts.
Sara Davies and Steven Bartlett both declared themselves out, with Bartlett warning that Pippa 鈥渃ould become massive, but also could become nothing鈥�.听
Yet after Bailey floated the idea of multiple Dragons investing, a deal was struck.
Jones, Meaden and Suleyman would each put in 拢50,000, giving him 拢150,000 for a combined 15% stake, valuing his business at 拢1 million.听
Afterwards, Bailey said: 鈥淗aving three Dragons involved is going to be really, really helpful.
鈥淭he fact they were so enthusiastic about it is just brilliant.鈥�
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