$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Sofia Sayed from Toronto, ON, pitched Also Sophia in Season 20, Episode 2, asking the Dragons for $200K for 8% of the company.
- Asked for$200K for 8%
- Valuation$2.5Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Romanow | Liked the business but not at the valuation; no offer | Out |
| Brian Scudamore | Suggested a more focused local strategy rather than trying to be all things to all people; no offer | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | Felt the business is more of a hobby/personal business than a scalable investment; no offer | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | Said margins do not exist and valuation is too high; no offer | Out |
| Wes Hall | Said the business can be easily commoditized and the valuation is too high; no offer | Out |
Sophia Syed, from Mississauga, Ontario, asked for $200,000 for 8% of Also Sophia, a company making seasonal home decor for celebrations such as Eid, Ramadan, and Diwali, including reusable garlands, banners, lanterns, decorative tea lights, and a magnetic Seasonal Sign Swap product. The company has been in Walmart since 2020 and will be in 190 stores for the upcoming Diwali season, but currently operates only 12 weeks of the year. Sophia Syed had invested $293,000 of her own money, ended 2024 with $405,000 in revenue all within the 12-week cycle, with gross margins around 10-20% at big retail and a 28% return rate on the company's own website, and hoped to expand to a 12-month calendar to reach a break-even point.
All five Dragons declined to invest. Michele Romanow, Brian Scudamore, Manjit Minhas, Arlene Dickinson, and Wes Hall all cited concerns about low margins, high valuation, and the business being easily commoditized or better suited as a hobby business rather than a scalable investment. No deal was made.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Also Sophia today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Also Sophia is still operating and sells through its website.