Dragons’ Den stars secure £1million investment after rejecting joint deal with Dragons | Personal Finance | Finance
Dragons’ Den stars Sean Ali and Charlotte Bailey walked away from their deal with the Dragons but have still managed to secure £1million investment crowdfunding. Mr Ali and Ms Bailey entered the Den in 2021 seeking £50,000 in return for five percent equity in their business Super U (now known as Rheal Superfoods)
Their product sold out soon after the show aired, but thousands of customers placed pre-orders.
Rheal Superfoods are designed to help support immunity, digestion, skin health, energy and focus, and can be added to smoothies, shakes, salads, yoghurts and drinks.
Since their appearance in the Den, they have been “flying out” of their Gateshead warehouse.
They made history in the Den as all five Dragons wanted to be involved at the exact asking amount.
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The pair secured offers matching their investment and they negotiated a joint deal with Tej Lalvani and Peter Jones but both parties later mutually walked away from the deal.
Instead, they decided to launch a Seedrs crowdfunding campaign to raise £550,000 for 10 percent equity.
The young entrepreneurs smashed their target and secured £1million investment.
Rheal is now set to launch in the US following the growth of the company. Mr Ali has now moved to Los Angeles ahead of this month’s US launch for Rheal, which has seen sales rocket in the UK in the last year, leading to job creation and expansion of its main base in Gateshead.
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This is impressive growth from the £500,000 it recorded for 2019.
Mr Ali added: “Charlotte and I will be splitting our time between the US and the UK now, as we’re basing ourselves in LA. We’re currently working towards an October launch. Manufacturing is ready to go, so we’re almost there now.
“We couldn’t be happier with what we’re building and the amazing team we have driving Rheal forward. It’s quite surreal but exciting! We’re grateful that we get to experience this journey together too.”
Mr Ali and Ms Bailey created Rheal during university after facing their own personal health struggles.
Their superfood blends – such as Shroom Coffee, Berry Beauty and Clean Greens – can be blended into smoothies and shakes, mixed into salads and yoghurts, and turned into drinks with hot water or nut milks.
All are certified organic, gluten-free and plant-based with zero sweeteners flavourings or fillers.
Dragons’ Den is available on BBC iPlayer.
