$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Ben & David Toeg from Ottawa, ON, pitched freshnails in Season 10, Episode 17, asking the Dragons for $100K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$100K for 10%
- Valuation$1Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Treliving | Out, valuation too high for an early stage business | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | Out, sees it as a gimmick requiring heavy marketing | Out |
| Joe Mimran | Out, wants more sales before investing | Out |
| Michele Romanow | Out, agrees with other Dragons | Out |
| Michael Wekerle | No formal offer stated, expressed doubt about the value proposition | Out |
Ben and David Toeg of Ottawa, Ontario, asked for $100,000 for 10 percent of Freshnails, an under-nail sanitizer product used in two steps with a patented pick to clean under fingernails followed by a swab containing six nutrients and moisturizers that the founders say kills 99 percent of germs and bacteria. In six months the company had made $125,000 in sales, with a unit cost of $6.50 against a selling price of $19.95, and the founders described a letter of intent for 255,000 units over one year to pharmacies in Quebec, contingent on lowering unit cost to 87 cents.
Jim Treliving went out, saying the valuation did not work for such an early stage business. Manjit Minhas went out, calling the product a gimmick that would need heavy marketing. Joe Mimran went out, wanting more sales history. Michele Romanow went out in agreement with the others. Michael Wekerle raised doubts about the price point but did not make a formal offer, and the pitch ended without a deal.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
freshnails today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
freshnails is still operating and sells through its website.