Viewers were blown away by a petrified entrepreneur at Dragon’s Den last night — some said her pitch was “one of the best” they’d seen on the show.
Caroline Sims, from Watford, appeared on the BBC1 program last night, where she told business people she was extremely nervous.
She asked for £60,000 for 10 per cent shares in her plant-based supplement brand, Botanycl – and managed to impress the entrepreneurs despite her nerves.
Despite having to take time to calm herself during her pitch, Peter Jones and Stephen Bartlett were impressed with her – and said they would each put in £30,000 for a 10 per cent claim from the company.
Meanwhile, many viewers were ecstatic for the entrepreneur, with one writing, “Well done Caroline. It would have been so easy to pop out before she left, and she confronted her fear head and shoulders and smashed it!”
Viewers were left in tears last night after entrepreneur Caroline Sims confessed she was ‘terrified’ when she pitched on Dragon’s Den – some said it was one of the best presentations ever seen on the show
Another wrote: ‘Truly feel sorry for Caroline tonight. She clearly cares so much about her business and I’ve been in her nervous position before (but not on the same level of course). Well done.’
A third added, “Nervous pitches that beat the odds are probably my favourite, and Caroline could be one of the best ever on the show after that.”
Caroline appeared on the program and explained: ‘My heart is pounding. I just imagine walking in there for the first time and I can’t really get past it.
‘So I think… it’s the fear of the unknown, I think.
“All I’m worried about is if my nerves get the better of me when I’m in there. But fingers crossed I still get all the messages I want to get across.”
When she walked into the study, she asked, “Should I just start now?”
She took several deep breaths before starting her pitch and said: ‘My name is Caroline and I’m here today asking for £60,000 for 10 per cent shares in my plant-based supplement brand, Botanycl.
‘I started Botanycl after a long battle with bad skin in my twenties. And there was nothing on the market to fix it.
Frustrated with the lack of results and my lack of self-esteem, I tirelessly began researching the problem, which led me to the conclusion that a hormonal imbalance was bothering my skin.
‘Through my research I discovered the best herbal ingredients to solve the problem. And within a week of taking these, my skin started to clear. I decided to develop a product, Skinclear Elixir, so that women all over the world can share in my discovery.’
She said she was granted a UK patent and registered with Holland and Barrett and online with Superdrug.
Many viewers were ecstatic for the entrepreneur, with one saying her pitch “might be one of the best ever on the show”
She said: ‘Since launching in 2018, we’ve generated over £800,000 in sales.
“Botanycl plans to further expand the vegan beauty line with a male skin supplement, plant-based hair growth formula and more.”
After the pitch she said, “I’m sorry I was so nervous!”
Peter Jones told her to “relax” and said it was “a really good pitch.”
He said, “Surely you’re proud of what you’ve done from the start, or don’t you just sit back and compliment yourself?”
She told the Dragons she had about £5,000 in cash and said she was ‘very hand in mouth’.
Deborah Meaden told her, “This makes me feel uncomfortable. You have a big problem making this product stand out among all the others. I get examples of things I should make to make my life better. Nothing on this bottle tells me that you have a completely different approach.’
Caroline told the business people she was extremely nervous for the pitch seen on the show last night
The entrepreneur eventually accepted a joint bid from Peter Jones and Steven Bartlett (pictured)
She said she’d seen a plethora of products similar to Caroline’s product — before saying she was “out.”
After Peter asked her why she had a seat next to her, she confessed, “I was extremely nervous today. I have a lot of anxiety.’
Peter said, “I’m going to ask you to sit in that chair. The reason I want you to sit in that chair is because I want to make you an offer. I love the business, I love your brand. I can open any door for you in any retailer in the world and I can help you with e-commerce.”
He offered her all the money for 25 percent of the company.
She thanked him and said, “I think I had to sit down for that.”
Meanwhile, Steven Bartlett said he’d like to make her an offer too, saying he’d give her £60,000 for 20 per cent.
Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies have also made her offers for the company.
The entrepreneur managed to put her nerves aside and asked Peter and Steven to work together.
They agreed and Caroline confessed, ‘I’m shaking! I literally can’t believe what just happened. When Peter asked me to sit down, I don’t think it was an offer.
“I didn’t expect four out of five dragons.”