$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Dr. Timothy Sexton & Judith Bosire from Richmond, BC, pitched DNA Romance in Season 12, Episode 1, asking the Dragons for $500K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$500K for 10%
- Valuation$5Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Romanow | Only an idea with no proven business, valuation too high | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | Valuation is ridiculous, calls it more science than business | Out |
| Jim Treliving | Not convinced the concept is differentiated from competitors | Out |
| Joe Mimran | Only 300 subscribers with no proof of concept for a $5 million valuation | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | Concerned founders are book smart but not business savvy | Out |
| Michael Wekerle | Calls the pitch smoke and mirrors, finds founders combative | Out |
Dr. Timothy Sexton and Judith Bosire of Richmond, BC asked for $500,000 for 10% of DNA Romance, an online dating platform implying a $5 million valuation that uses genetic testing of several hundred markers to predict chemical attraction between potential partners. The beta platform launched nine weeks before the pitch and had acquired 150 customers, a number the founders said had since doubled to around 300; the valuation was calculated using a venture capital reverse valuation method benchmarked against e-harmony and Match.com, discounted from an estimated $15 million.
Michele Romanow, Manjit Minhas, Jim Treliving, Joe Mimran, Arlene Dickinson and Michael Wekerle all went out, citing the high valuation relative to limited traction, doubts about the founders' business acumen, and concerns the concept could be replicated by competitors, resulting in no deal.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
DNA Romance today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
DNA Romance is still operating and sells through its website.