Two budding entrepreneurs enter Dragons’ Den tonight with a product that could revolutionise the women’s toilet.
If you’ve ever been to a festival – or any public space – you’ll be all too familiar with the disparity between the men’s and women’s loos.
While men comfortably whizz in and out of urinals, women are forced to spend what feels like forever queueing for a cubicle.
But Amber and Hazel may have found the solution: Peequal, a flat-pack, squatting women’s urinal that is 2.7 times faster to use from point of entry and than a standard cubicle.
The pair met at university and united with a passion to find a resolution to such a widespread and unjust problem. ‘Our mission is to pioneer pee equality for all women everywhere,’ they said.
Speaking to dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Medean, Steven Bartlett, Jenna Meek and Touker Sulyman, they highlighted the financial benefit for festivals which could be losing out on millions of potential spend from women who are stuck in a queue when they could be buying food or drink.
What’s more Peequal also cuts cost by being able to pack three urinals in one truck, saves 1.2 litres of water per use and is built entirely out of ocean waste.
Surely it’s a no-brainer?
Well… Amber and Hazel are asking for a £100,000 investment for a 2% stake which by any standard is a big ask.
‘We’re getting so much demand – we’re limited in capacity, not demand. This is what the investment will go towards,’ they explained to five curious dragons.
Since launching at Glastonbury in 2022, they’re now installing Peequal at more than 40 festivals, from Shambala and We Out Here to the London Marathon.
The dragons were unanimous about one thing – they all agreed Amber and Hazel were ‘so impressive’.
But Peter Jones couldn’t give them what they wanted.
‘I’m really upset with you,’ he said. ‘I’m upset because you’ve asked for too much money and I really want to find a way to invest in two great entrepreneurs of the future but I think you’ve overvalued your business to a level that doesn’t make it investable.
‘It would mean taking a large stake in your business at this stage which makes me uncomfortable too.’
Steven couldn’t muster up the passion Peequal deserved, but told them: ‘This is so difficult because I believe that you’re going to be successful and I believe that your success is going to result inmate seeing here everywhere I go – at every festival, at every marathon.
‘But, still, having that foresight and knowing how successful this is going to be it wasn’t clear cut for me and it reminded me how important passion is in my investment strategy because that’s what energises me and I couldn’t quite get there.’
Thankfully though, they had the backing of Deborah who was prepared to give an offer of £100,000 but for 5%.
‘I think your valuation is way off,’ she said, but wasn’t deterred.
Amber and Hazel played hard ball though, and asked if she would go down to 4%. The dragon held form though, insisting she made a ‘fair offer’ and it paid off – Amber and Hazel shook hands and left the den with £100,000.
Dragons’ Den’s 23rd series has seen a vast collection weird and wonderful ew businesses, from table golf to an AI-powered smart cat flap.
Dragons’ Den airs at 8pm tonight on BBC Two.
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