Dragons’ Den TrackerWhat Happened to Water Buoy After Dragons’ Den?
Water Buoy appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2007, Series 5 Episode 5. The business was a device to rescue items that have been lost overboard.. They secured investment from Peter Jones & Theo Paphitis on the show. The business is still active today.
The Pitch
James Halliburton walked into the Den in 2007 with a device to rescue items that have been lost overboard.. They were asking for £200,000 in exchange for 25% of the business.
The pitch landed well enough in the Den that at least one Dragon decided to back it.
The Deal
A deal was struck on the show. Peter Jones & Theo Paphitis offered £200,000 for 25%, and James Halliburton accepted.
It’s worth noting that Dragons’ Den deals agreed on camera often go through further negotiation off-screen. Some complete as shown; others are renegotiated or never finalise at all. The company’s subsequent trading history is the clearest indicator of what actually happened.
What Happened After the Show
Water Buoy is one of those Den stories that actually lasted. Having appeared on the show back in 2007, the company has now been trading for well over a decade — an outcome that puts it ahead of the vast majority of startup ventures, let alone television pitches.
Is Water Buoy Still in Business?
Yes. Water Buoy appears to still be trading.
Related Companies
If you’re curious about other businesses from the same episode, you might also want to look at HungryHouse, Virtual Puppet, Twin Peaked Hats, Goalband. Each has its own story of what happened after the Den.
