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What Happened to youdoodoll After Dragons’ Den?

youdoodoll appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2007, Series 5 Episode 2. The business was a personalisable doll. They secured investment from Deborah Meaden on the show. The company was dissolved in 2014.

The Pitch

Sarah Lu walked into the Den in 2007 with a personalisable doll. They were asking for £35,000 in exchange for 45% 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. Deborah Meaden offered £35,000 for 45%, and Sarah Lu 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

youdoodoll did not survive long-term. The company was dissolved in 2014, some 7 years after the pitch.

This is not an unusual outcome. The majority of businesses that appear on Dragons’ Den, deal or no deal, don’t make it in the long run. The show can provide a platform and capital, but it can’t substitute for a sustainable business model.

Is youdoodoll Still in Business?

No. youdoodoll is no longer in business. Companies House records show the company has been dissolved.

Related Companies

If you’re curious about other businesses from the same episode, you might also want to look at Gaming Alerts, Spot On Golf, Sweet Counter, Cavemen's Bat Guano. Each has its own story of what happened after the Den.

Watch the Pitch

Companies House Data

Status
dissolved
Company Number
05803316
Registered Name
YOUDOODOLL LIMITED
Incorporated
2006-05-03 (ceased 2014-11-11)
Company Type
ltd
SIC Codes
47990
Registered Address
7 Wallingford End, Little Billing, Northampton, NN3 9HQ
Accounts
total-exemption-small (period ending 2012-05-31)
Officers
  • LU, Sarah — director
    7, Wallingford End, Little Billing, Northampton, NN3 9HQ, United Kingdom
  • HOLDGATE, James Edward Peter — secretary (resigned 2009-09-30)
    71 Lawn Drive, Chudleigh, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 0LS
  • KELIHER, James — secretary (resigned 2012-07-23)
    Curzon House, Southernhay West, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1RS, England
  • LU, Rebecca — secretary (resigned 2007-10-18)
    Flat E, 5 Pavilion Parade, Brighton, BN2 1RA
  • ORPIN, James David — secretary (resigned 2011-04-28)
    Curzon House, Southernhay West, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1RS
  • MEADEN, Deborah Sonia — director (resigned 2012-07-23)
    Meadenspeak Unit 6, The Granary, Bowdens Business Centre, Hambridge, Somerset, TA10 0BP
← Series 5 ← Episode 2