$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Shawn Lerner from Toronto, ON, pitched Balloonery.com in Season 19, Episode 4, asking the Dragons for $250K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$250K for 10%
- Valuation$2.5Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Brian Scudamore
- Final deal$200K for 15%valued at $1.33M
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Wes Hall | Not personally interested in the balloon business itself | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | No barriers to entry, easily copied | Out |
| Michele Romanow | Considered but deferred to Brian | Out |
| Simu Liu | No offer stated | Out |
| Brian Scudamore | $200,000 for 20%, negotiated to $200,000 for 15% | Accepted |
Shawn Lerner, of Toronto, Ontario, sought $200,000 for a 10% stake in Balloonery.com, an e-commerce business selling balloon products for gift delivery and event decor, with a catalogue of over 500 products. The company delivers exclusively to the Greater Toronto Area and did $1.25 million in sales in 2023, projecting $1.6 to $1.75 million this year, with a gross margin of about 70% and net profit last year of $200,000. Shawn Lerner is expanding by signing up existing balloon artists and decorators as partners under contract, taking a 25% fee on their orders, and projects 50 partners and $20 million in top-line revenue in five years, with an expected net of about $2.5 million.
Wes Hall and Manjit Minhas went out, with Manjit Minhas citing a lack of barriers to entry in the business. Simu Liu also declined to offer. Michele Romanow considered the model favourably but did not make an offer. Brian Scudamore offered $200,000 for 20%, which Shawn Lerner negotiated down to 15%, and the deal was accepted.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Balloonery.com today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Balloonery.com is still operating and sells through its website.