10 Dragons’ Den Products That Are Actually Worth Buying
Not every pitch on CBC’s Dragons' Den lands an investment deal, but the exposure alone can send sales skyrocketing. Here are 10 memorable Dragons' Den products that struck gold with Canadian consumers.
SAXX (Dragons’ Den, Season 2)
The entrepreneurs behind this Vancouver-based company may have left CBC’s Dragons’ Den without a deal, but their colourful men’s underwear certainly left an impression with the audience. A patented hammock-shaped pouch designed to keep, ahem… everything in place and alleviate chafing earned Saxx that season’s viewer’s choice award, and paved the way for further expansion into the swimwear and shorts markets.
Endy (Dragons’ Den, Season 12)
You can buy almost everything online, so why not a mattress? That was Endy’s pitch when it secured the largest offer in Dragons’ Den history: a cool million dollars. Now the Canadian bed-in-a-box brand has sold more than 250,000 of their super-comfy foam mattresses.
Don’t miss these brilliant business tips from Endy co-founder, Rajen Ruparell.
OMG’s (Dragons’ Den, Season 6)
It was love at first bite for Dragon Arlene Dickinson when Winnipeg’s OMG’s pitched their crunchy-salty-sweet snacks in season six. Founders Chris Emery and Larry Finnson’s graham wafer clusters mixed with toffee bits, almonds or peanuts are now sold in mainstream grocery stores across Canada and the U.S.
Holy Crap (Dragons’ Den, Season 5)
Holy Crap cereal has come a long way since it was first sold at the Sechelt Farmers’ Market in British Columbia. You might even say this Dragon’s Den product is out of this world: the high fibre, gluten-free, protein-rich cereal was one of Commander Chris Hadfield’s breakfast options on the International Space Station!
FixMeStick (Dragons’ Den, Season 8)
The prototype FixMeStick was developed by the Montreal-based company’s co-founder to help his mom (aww!) remove a virus from her computer. Now in mass production, this plug-in USB stick scans your PC or Mac before it starts up, removing the viruses and malware that conventional anti-virus software often can’t detect. Brilliant!
Make sure you never do this when accessing public Wi-Fi.
PUR Gum (Dragons’ Den, Season 9)
PUR aspartame-free gum became the chew of choice for health-conscious Canadian consumers after its appearance on the Den. Naturally sweetened with xylitol, the Toronto-based brand now offers eight flavours of gum and five flavours of mints.
Did you know these 20 things were invented in Canada too?
The 7 Virtues (Dragons’ Den, Season 5)
A perfume that smells good and promotes social change? Talk about a winning combination. Made with natural, organic, fair-trade essential oils, The 7 Virtues fragrance line—first produced in the founder’s Halifax garage—supports farmers in Afghanistan, Haiti and other countries struggling to build a sustainable economy.
Don’t miss these safe online shopping tips.
Awake Chocolate (Dragons’ Den, Season 7)
Need a mid-day pick-me-up? Awake is a caffeine-infused chocolate bar that packs the same caffeine punch (about 110 milligrams) as a small cup of coffee. The bonus? It’s infinitely more portable than a joe on-the-go—and far less likely to stain your shirt.
Here’s why you should think twice before choosing same-day delivery for your online shopping.
Essentia Mattress (Dragons’ Den, Season 3)
This Laval, Quebec-based company manufactures the world’s only natural memory foam mattress. Made in Canada, Essentia‘s latex foam mattress is made with Hevea milk from the rubber tree with natural elements such as grapefruit seed and jasmine essence, along with corn extract and organic cotton.
Don’t miss these expert tips on how to outsmart porch pirates.
Knix (Dragons’ Den, Season 9)
Toronto-based startup Knix transformed the intimates’ industry with its breathable, comfortable, leakproof underwear. The business made a deal but ultimately moved on without Dragon investment and has since introduced athletic wear, bras, and postpartum and teen lines.
Adding these Dragons’ Den products to your holiday shopping list? We’ve rounded up the 50 best buys under $50 in our great Canadian gift guide.
