Young Entrepreneur Reveals A Side Project That Makes Six Figures | Dragons' Den

Vite is a vitamin brand owned by young entrepreneur, Robert Thorpe. He is seeking a £45,000 investment in exchange for 10% of his company. What will Tej Lalvani, an expert in the vitamin market think of his products?
Season 17, Episode 13
An international sensation, Dragon's Den features entrepreneurs pitching for investment in the Den from our Dragons, five venture capitalists willing to invest their own money in exchange for equity.
#DragonsDen #YoungEntrepreneur #Vitamins

[@thejuiceweasel]

I love how when he said "second business" the camera immediately went to Peter Jones, the second business devourer.

[@HankHill1]

lmao savage

[@AScaryOrange123]

Genuinely surprised he didn't try to invest in his other company.

[@Juvie99]

When I saw the title I thought "Peter Jones" 🤣

[@tommydenato8863]

Lolololol

[@kanayobardi7736]

😂 spot on!

[@spr1ngcactu5]

Debra - “I’m too old to read, I’m out”

[@HankHill1]

LOL you guys in the comment section are on fire today boy

[@Dreama40]

hehe great comment made me laugh.

[@felipe367]

Barbara was already out b4 Debra

[@harrydavey9884]

I love how you've spelled her name like "Zebra " 😂

[@arsenbahidi5388]

Business mindset 🤣

[@shanethesaiyan511]

This guy conducts himself incredibly well. One of the most polite people in the den

[@MF_JONES]

I think he's on some calming nootropics, amazingly calm this guy

[@davidmccreadie4902]

Walking over to shake Touka's hand was total class IMO. 👏👏👏

[@Ganttura1]

Cocaine

[@judeirwin2222]

"most politest". Good god. What happened to your education?

[@shanethesaiyan511]

@@judeirwin2222 i noticed it after I wrote it but was too busy to change it. It’s changed now keyboard warrior

[@mashedpotatos3750]

Taaj was trying to kill the competition on National TV

[@wealthcreationunder35]

Rob was my flat mate in London and a good friend, I can verify he's an absolute legend in business and real life. Top guy and I learnt a lot for my own business from him. Congrats brother!

[@ilasilas3261]

Can you expand on his eccommerce agency?

[@wealthcreationunder35]

@@ilasilas3261 his E-commerce agency? He didn’t have one the time. I do SMMA if you need tips?

[@digitalmahal5253]

@Agencygrowth his got good attitude, and also looks polish for his age. Please convey him my best wishes for him.

[@maggiepie8810]

You're not making those figures in your mid-20s unless you're an absolute legend.

[@tobsstone]

@@wealthcreationunder35 - He is cute. Can i have his number? I am a hot male with a six pack

[@Boshek2019]

Love how he still shook his hand So polite

[@TuanJinnNguyen]

What a guy, how he handled himself and how he politely communicated with the dragons are admirable!!!

[@SooDamGood]

These are now selling on Holland & Barrett selling for £25 a peace. And raised £175k to release snack bars. He made the right decision and decided to conquer the market on his own

[@bobstirling6885]

But is the company profitable?

[@SMSCOOBY71]

@@bobstirling6885 Considering these products are routinely out of stock, I'd posit that the answer is yes

[@bobstirling6885]

@@SMSCOOBY71 if they are routinely out of stock it doesn't necessarily mean they are popular, it just might mean they can't get the stock on the shelves due to poor supply chain. The company accounts show they are not profitable.

[@mnoovurvi]

@@bobstirling6885 No they don't. The company is still going and not in debt.

[@bobstirling6885]

@@mnoovurvi last company accounts show losses of £25k for the past 2 years and total assets of £225k....a tiny business that is not making money.

[@dfpww]

Guys why do you think Tej was so critical of this business? Because he is already in the business and doesn’t want anymore competitors. So when the other dragons listen to Tej they basically just helped Tej’s business rather than a young entrepreneur.

[@dbigdog79]

Exactly.....this chap was smart...would of been a no brainer for tej to team up with..the market for this stuff is never ending . Jus felt tej didn't want something else to enter the market without the branding vitabitotics

[@Jameslawz]

That was the first thought I had when I heard Tej's reaction, it's a conflict of interest. For 10% Tej ain't gonna make this brand the best thing on the shelf unless he's the owner. Also I never like hearing when people say "the market is overcrowded" yeah that doesn't mean you still can't push your product otherwise what's the point of business? What's the point of doing anything? That's simply not a good enough excuse for me personally, even if it is super crowded and it's controlled by a handful of players, well then you have a monopoly in an industry which IS VERY ILLEGAL and can be taken to court. We work in a free market not a controlled one. This was simply a conflict of interest and Tej basically dodged his questions by saying "there are competing brands already", "it's been done before" etc.

[@experiment54]

Nah. Why lose out on money. If the lads brand was going to make tons of money it’s better to have some of it than none of it. If tej thought he could have/ would have been worth it to make money he would have bought in.

[@jameswilsonmusic7749]

He knew it was a load of bollocks

[@gsscotland]

Tej was super nervous and acted like a proper snake. Even worse was the other dragons being so easily manipulated.

[@darthrevan1812]

He’s the market leader in this department probably what he’s saying is right

[@yesboss8438]

Touker: “I really like you” Entrepreneur: “Yes” 😂

[@ellenkarlsson9490]

I picked up on that, too. Is that a normal response to that statement?

[@petenova]

I think the entrepreneur 's answer should have been "Yes Boss!" 🙂

[@moogleking]

@@petenova or Yes Sir!

[@b-dogs1038]

@@ellenkarlsson9490 it might be normal for this guy😂

[@EverthingsApple]

@@ellenkarlsson9490 A normal response is 'thank you' or 'I appreciate that' Dude came straight out with a super confident YES lol

[@stormchild831]

11:04 "I'mTouker, My ~Own, Dragon ! " Peter's face ,epitome of offense ! 😲

[@AkaThePistachio]

@Travel Crawl seems like the type of guy that came from wealth already

[@jasonm4332]

peter is magnetic ! he doesnt have to speak -i just love watching him watch the entrepreneurs

[@gislo]

he should be the next James Bond!

[@vivdoolan6846]

He is really dull, highlighted by the fact that his only trace of character is his colourful socks.

[@Dadaadad268]

Calm down dear!

[@DisneyPrincess92]

The fact that he has two business and he is only 26 is truly amazing.

[@prizma45]

sign of the day of Judgement

[@JS-td8yp]

This guy has a seriously exciting future. Maybe this brand won't be the one, but he's going to be extremely successful by the way he handles himself and understands the markets and his product. He's so confident for someone so young. Keep an eye on that name!

[@Dan-zs8pk]

He hasn’t invented anything these products have been around for decades…?

[@rsb8653]

R u his boyfriend

[@siaa7078]

bro he just blundered

[@BenjaminGoose]

"understands the markets " He doesn't.

[@jasonantigua6825]

@@rsb8653 Bigot

[@Jason-un9ps]

Peter Jones - “I’ll give you 30k for 40% of your business, 25% of your child’s future earnings, 80% of your life insurance policy, and your wife on the weekends.

[@Matt_Bond]

'And I would also be willing to share your wife with another dragon'

[@samiraakel2334]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jinpatrickmaduneme198]

Hahaha! Very funny

[@re7416]

@@Matt_Bond If wifey delivers within Peter's timescale...(prbly 5 mins 😅)...does hubbie get her back...🤔 I think the 🧱 should be told.

[@malbarlow4991]

very rowan atkinson lol

[@decentcomment9447]

I love how toukars ego wouldn’t allow him to be rejected so after the guy said he wouldn’t accept toukars offer he had to make sure people knew he was also out

[@fredwaller3234]

Big up to the lad he stood his ground and never moved on is offer good luck to him in the future

[@evns7142]

"Finally, Sarah has found something that she doesn't want to eat"

[@mosu9133]

😂

[@eelilohi2954]

”on that basis i’m out” Touker your not out he didnt accept the offer🤣

[@namnack]

They have to say that, it's protocol.

[@DaviesD85]

@@namnack a myth. Plenty of examples of them not saying 'I'm out.' They can declare it in a variety of ways.

[@JonasHamill]

@@DaviesD85 only in the early series, all the new ones they say it

[@IAmTheJayster]

Touker could have made a 3rd offer if he really wanted it

[@moimoia1432]

He looks uncannily like Ben Francis of GymShark

[@MrMarko4]

I thought was him too

[@skunkrat01]

I wouldn't have taken that deal either. I think Toukar was playing off the fact that he didn't have an offer from anyone else. Polite, well presented, obviously good business sense, I think he'll go far

[@PharmacyAve]

I rather have less of something that is worth more remember that my guy

[@mugz90]

That's where many fail. Same thing happened in the US when the investors turned down ring (the security door bell system) and now it's the #1 in world .

[@adad-ec6ht]

@@PharmacyAve Yeah sell 99 percent of your business and use that logic.

[@PharmacyAve]

@@adad-ec6ht yeah you don’t know business

[@adad-ec6ht]

@@PharmacyAve One tip to my barber for one haircut is more than lifetime earnings of your father.

[@nmejias370]

He had the corourage to stand his ground, well done buddy 👍

[@MarcelloAntestaco]

He should have taken the deal. Even if he had done nothing good for that specific business, it would have brought him access to a lot more knowledge and network, which would have been worth millions, a few years later, with or without this business. This was a short-sighted decision with no long-term mindset and with that mindset no business has a long life. The company went bust in 2022 and the guy is paying for it.

[@celine5929]

what an insanely good looking guy

[@shamteddy659]

Omg I love him he’s so well spoke and confident

[@seancharlie8476]

I really like Rob he seems like a nice guy, I hope his business does well

[@Ryan-wg3ej]

It went bust October 2022

[@Ron.S.]

I can see his products selling everywhere

[@hansbercat7608]

He only went for advertising, now his products is on the map. And the dragon which is a competitor, will feel his wrap.

[@9k49]

Touker not being influenced by other Dragons is a huge positive for me. Outside of the ‘Top 4 dragons’ (Peter, Deborah, Duncan and Theo), he’s probably my next favourite dragon

[@catman4471]

So he's your fifth favourite dragon then?

[@9k49]

@@catman4471 It's close between him and James Caan but he's definitely 5th or 6th for me

[@oneoneday]

Who’s number 1 for you, from the big 4 then?

[@9k49]

@@oneoneday Probably Peter but all four are close

[@christopher7804]

@@9k49 who's number 2 for you??

[@VenusVault]

Tej looks like he hasn’t slept in a decade considering he runs a Vitamin empire lols

[@roojistanr5015]

Yeh he doesn’t look the healthiest..I’m sure he is but doesn’t look it

[@DomsDocs]

loooooooool

[@8_x_9.]

@@roojistanr5015 Must sleep 8-9 hrs!!!

[@davemckagan635]

Tej looks like a Bond villain who hasn't slept for a week.

[@user-ic7mv6bj4w]

I bet you Tej contacted Rob quietly after the show to make him an offer. He deliberately bluffed the other dragons. When Touker said he was going to make an offer, Tej literally had his head in his hands 11:35. Why if you don't believe in the product? Tej only looks sick because his stomach is in a knot because he is scared another dragon will nick this one off him.

[@sherry356]

Nah, Tej looks sick because he never sleeps.

[@Jayrage]

You do realise that the show is edited for dramatic effect?

[@Technicallyimright]

“I really, really like you” “Yes”. Lol.

[@elastronaute1198]

I think this guy will do well, don't know if it's this product but he'll definitely do well. He's so well presented and professional.

[@jameswilsonmusic7749]

That doesnt mean anything imo

[@elastronaute1198]

@@jameswilsonmusic7749 it does. Certainly not alone, but it is an important factor, and usually goes hand in hand with conscientiousness and drive.

[@cookiekilbane5989]

My favourite entrepreneur so far

[@jesusbermudez6775]

Deborah will always wink when she says she is out. What a wonderful way of saying I am not falling for that.

[@PATRYK-R1]

Why Touker is always making weird faces when tasting something??

[@vivdoolan6846]

This guy doesn't need a dragon ...at all. Hes going to do amazingly well.

[@BOZ_11]

hey touca, you're not out, you were rejected.

[@Darragh1]

He got it into Holland And Barrett to be fair to him. "Vite Natural Ltd."

[@bobstirling6885]

But his company is losing money while H&B are making money from his product.

[@Darragh1]

@@bobstirling6885 you never know what investors he got in the end though. I saw one woman on a clip a few weeks ago turned down I think it was 40% for £50k and then she ended up getting £800'000, that's close to a million € investment! Big difference.

[@bobstirling6885]

@@Darragh1 companies house shows he lost £25k in 2020 and 2021....so it is losing money. His share distribution shows no other major investors.

[@Hoopspur]

Tej - "You had your chance to compete against me Touker but you didn't do it" Touker - Everyone knows thats a wig"

[@pampalazz]

Shoes with no socks - I’m out.

[@anubusx]

I agree i don't like that style.

[@khandadonb111]

Agreed. And loafers are the ugliest things ever made

[@mahbubmo]

Yall just butt hurt. Why do you care how someone is dressed?

[@g8230]

May be invisible socks?

[@thiswasposted120]

agree

[@michaelkougras8864]

Sara always has a good logical explanation. Very intelligent woman

[@herogebrial]

That's why she's a millionaire and we're not 😔

[@xwr3ksh0px]

I find it weird they get so worked up over a flaw in the packaging, it’s a good thing to point out because it can be easily changed, but like it can be easily changed, so how does this affect them investing?

[@piercedarby2378]

Always thought this too

[@ProbuildFlatpack]

Read between the lines - the dragons don't want to step on each others toes.

[@ProbuildFlatpack]

Except for Toukar of course..

[@LiftYourGame]

Packaging can't just "easily be changed". The amount of money & work involved in changing branding of a product that is already on the market whether it's online and getting people to still be invested is huge. How much was spent on marketing/branding he said by the other investors? $150k yeah so that's another $150k + just to redo the same thing with new branding. Wake up.

[@nancieiftihar7019]

I love how Rob conducted himself and I hope he go very far, he has a mind of business!

[@timb350]

This guy will go places. Very calm. Very intelligent. Very composed. Very respectful. Very confident.

[@ruthsmith2367]

Rob didn’t get an offer, but what a polite guy and true to himself to ❤️ Great advertising getting on there. I hope he does well ❤️

[@JourneyDude]

same feeling from him i wish more entrepreneurs are like him

[@DennisHeikki]

11:33 omg Tej's reaction🤣

[@jz5748]

this guy goin to succeed no matter what

[@annedonnellan6876]

I think he has potential to succeed in a number of areas. He could be a model but he likes using his brain

[@itsecman]

Is it just me or does Tej Lalvani look like a Bond villain

[@sugs1191]

Looks like Andy Garcia

[@neilpa]

Look's like Jenny's OUT before she's even in to be out......

[@WittyMick03]

should have proposed a buyback deal.

[@laragrace11]

never watched this program once without snacks or a mcdonald's 😁😁😁

[@cornelisvanderbent8569]

Sorry to hear that.

[@foxernator]

@@cornelisvanderbent8569 💀💀

[@Matt_Bond]

@@cornelisvanderbent8569 I would feel sorry for her if she didn't have snacks

[@JazzyMarineVet]

What snacks? salty sweet or savory

[@88trapordie]

@@cornelisvanderbent8569 don’t be mean, maccys for dinner is a staple meal in some dark corners of the earth

[@DreTheChronic]

Peter clocking on Tej trying to use Peter's own tactics

[@Misty_Mountains1]

Rob made the right decision 👏

[@Dieterbe]

Funny how touker tried to pull of the ego boosting 5second timeout , only for it to backfire in his face.

[@emmanuelchukwudubemduru5737]

I personally think Deborah just did not like the business from the onset and was picking up on factors that could easily be mitigated later on. He seems very enterprising and will definitely succeed in the long run but these investors need a bit of lessons on investing....

[@jameswilsonmusic7749]

yeah, sample product packaging is not a big deal lol

[@lisawest9693]

no-one asked for the research on its active ingredients to prove that it actually works!

[@deborahdennehy9937]

I've checked up on Amazon & couldn't find his brand. Sadly I don't think he did well, but I may be wrong!!

[@harrydavey9884]

I haven't watched this show in like 10 years, I saw the guy on the end and thought Theo had melted.

[@algalgod159]

So he basically preferred to save 15% (Toucker 35- his 20) instead of having Toucker and his experience and contacts. Now he has to grow his business to the point were 15% makes up for Toucker's "loss". I think it would be difficult for him, given what Tej pointed out, and the fact that he is still young and inexperienced. I would have at least tried to negotiate Toucker down to 30 or 33 percent, and eventually settled for 35%.

[@angryboxingfan]

At 35% he wasn’t have had control of his company and he wanted Tej.

[@SRPC21]

11:36 Tej realised he made a big mistake 😂

[@JohnOlad]

believe in your own hustle .. money is a byproduct of the value you bring to the market place. its great he's not driven by the money but by his vision

[@shadaba.qureshi4367]

debra is quite an actress the way she makes gestures, no wonder people like good actors in reel or reality shows...

[@THEPOLITICALBUSINESSMANYT]

11:36 Tej probably thinking "Touker you donut"

[@CoolCoyote]

still a gamble for him

[@aero1000]

He should have taken the deal, if he is serious about being a serial entrepreneur getting a track record and invaluable experience is much better than losing a large share of your first real company with the presented product. The next company will be in a much better position with more experience, existing network and finances to get going.

[@ScratchyBaws]

I think Toukee just wanted to raise Teshee's blood pressure a little and it worked looking at the reaction.

[@DavidSmith-do6ji]

Where can we buy the product?

[@yarrichar]

This guy is great, but tough to turn down the opportunity to learn from one of the dragons

[@TokyoDrool]

I wanted to see somebody compete with tage

[@billyhodgetts1675]

Anyone else have to have dragons den on when there eating or am i a weirdo

[@AJ-rc5lr]

man, seriously, her concern is packaging? i mean that is something that can be changed so quick.

[@jarednil69]

Touker always says "There's a lot of work to do!"

[@rainman2725]

Touker "It's gonna come at a price" Suleyman

[@7th.trumpet]

Jenny-"I don't have one of these brains or whatever you call them, so I'm out !".

[@ruhs97]

A 60k revenue business with a 100k revenue second business at 26 is that impressive to people? This is a genuine question. Im 25 and have a business turning over 250k and another one 400k, I'm thinking should I be giving myself more credit

[@macdonfitness38]

Please has anyone seen Sarah secured a deal before, because I haven't.

[@SoSo-li6dn]

how can I dislike someone with in such short time frame?

[@justme-dk5xe]

Had pasta this time watching DD

[@timesupport1138]

Tej telling everyone this entrepreneur is my competitor..

[@petesmart1983]

When your selling the same products over 3x more than the market prices of these vitamins that why tej was against it.

[@mi......]

touker's offer was absolutely ridiculous, he's there to invest not rob people

[@catpuccino6186]

Good for him

[@jamesbell8381]

....Spelt his name wrong in the description... Should be Robert Thorp.

[@karnhall]

I feel like Touker was going to graduate this young man into so much more than just a one off business deal if the guy had of committed. Either way, wishing him well, hope he enjoys great success.

[@anakinvader9120]

He doesn't really need it, considering this is his second business

[@1ma4ighter]

@@anakinvader9120 No the other one turned over 100, this one did 105, they're at practically the same soze

[@Planaxe]

@@1ma4ighter not the same size in profit tho

[@jameswilsonmusic7749]

he really missed the trick on this one.

[@jameswilsonmusic7749]

@@Planaxe yeah one make 45k profit (105k minus tax) the other makes 5k lol

[@Erickhetfield]

Tej was right. Nootropics are already very much available is many formats. And it's super easy to come-up with a formulation and get it produced and packaged with your brand. The guy is great, but the product is not special.

[@robertblack3867]

Entrepreneur is a gentleman.

[@jitendrac1107]

It seems that most entrepreneurs are too shy to thank dragons who appreciate them...

[@Kleigh8484]

Tej was dying inside when he almost got the investment. Someone seems a little nervous!

[@darryljones8369]

Wow that was wild

[@coachhack]

He made a huge mistake by not negotiating that last offer going down to 29 percent. He seems too attached with his brand rather being pragmatic like a good businessman

[@Air51]

A - theres no cognative function improvement that's measurable by eating your product and .. B - There's no cognative function improvement that's measurable by eating you product...

[@mickyhouse8753]

This bloke went on to build gym shark, one of the largest fitness brands . Kudos

[@billyscorner2232]

different guy

[@thealien_ali3382]

Touker asking for 40% is like shrek going ham raw

[@khaderabdi5574]

I Am coming soon this show 😉😎

[@dollydiddums7889]

Touker is such a tease ! 100% of something small or 65% of something big , that's the maths . Good luck to the guy though .

[@leeriddick7]

His product can't compete with the nootropics that busy professionals actually use on a regular basis. Vitamins you can buy from a health store are no comparison for things like modafinil.

[@jackpeacock3817]

Ben White really is multi faceted!!!

[@infowazz]

I think he should have taken the deal. Its a tough market and he needs help. Maybe he should go all in on selling it online, getting influencers, etc. Get bigger numbers, then try retail.

[@davidbest8912]

Another one bites the dust in liquidation ..