$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Leila Keshavjee from Toronto, ON, pitched Happy Pops in Season 13, Episode 1, asking the Dragons for $50K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$50K for 10%
- Valuation$500Kimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Arlene Dickinson
- Final deal$150K for 30%valued at $500K
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vincenzo Guzzo | $150,000 for 50% | Declined |
| Manjit Minhas | $50,000 for 15% | Declined |
| Arlene Dickinson | $150,000 for 30%, with an accelerator program for marketing, distribution, talent resourcing and retail expertise | Accepted |
| Lane Merrifield | No investment offered, but offered future introductions to Disney theme park team | Out |
| Michele Romanow | $50,000 for 15% | Declined |
| Jim Treliving | Deal too small for him | Out |
Leila Keshavjee, from Toronto, Ontario, asked for $50,000 for 10% of Happy Pops, a maker of all-natural ice pops and ice cream sandwiches. The products are handcrafted using local and premium ingredients, including mango sourced from India through her father's private label juice manufacturing connections. Ice cream sandwiches retail for $6 and popsicles for $3. Sales to date were $250,000, with $175,000 done the previous year and $400,000 projected for the current year. The business has sold through venues including Ontario Place and the CNE via private label deals.
Vincenzo Guzzo offered $150,000 for 50% as a full partner, which Leila declined. Manjit Minhas and Michele Romanow each offered $50,000 for 15%, both declined. Lane Merrifield did not invest but offered a future introduction to Disney's theme park team. Jim Treliving went out, saying the deal was too small for him. Leila accepted Arlene Dickinson's offer of $150,000 for 30%, which included support through Arlene's venture capital accelerator program for marketing, distribution, talent resourcing and retail expertise.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Happy Pops today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Happy Pops is still operating and sells through its website.