$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Frank Racanelli and Hannah Deckert from Delta, BC, pitched Hugzly in Season 20, Episode 1, asking the Dragons for $3M for 30% of the company.
- Asked for$3M for 30%
- Valuation$10Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Arlene Dickinson | No offer given; concerns about asking $3 million right away | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | No offer given; valuation too high | Out |
| Michele Romanow | No offer given; concerned about customer acquisition costs | Out |
| Wes Hall | No offer given; marketing costs need to be funded before profits exist | Out |
| Brian Scudamore | No offer given | Out |
Frank Racanelli and Hannah Decker of Vancouver pitched hugzly, a patented plush device that lets users send audio and light hugs remotely via an app, priced at $99 and sold online in bear, penguin, and dog varieties. They asked for $3 million for 30% equity, said they had invested $1.2 million of their own money, and reported $20,000 in sales from a three-day Amazon trial of 224 units, with a target of $40 million in sales within three years and plans to spend $14 million on marketing over five years.
All five Dragons declined to invest. Arlene Dickinson and Manjit Minhas felt the $3 million ask and valuation were too high, Michele Romanow was concerned about future customer acquisition costs, Wes Hall noted the marketing spend needed to be funded before profits existed, and Brian Scudamore was skeptical of the technology's complexity after a dispute over how easily it could be replicated. No deal was made.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Hugzly today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Hugzly is still operating and sells through its website.