$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Marianne and Shane James from Bowmanville, ON, pitched Little Buck in Season 15, Episode 9, asking the Dragons for $110K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$110K for 10%
- Valuation$1.1Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Michele Romanow
- Final deal$110K for 20%valued at $550K
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vincenzo Guzzo | Would not invest without 50% equity at their valuation; no offer | Out |
| Jim Treliving | Liked the product but not investable for him; no offer | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | Liked the business but chose not to invest; no offer | Out |
| Lane Merrifield | Said buying equity would be too expensive for the founders at this stage; no offer | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | $110,000 for 20% equity, or $110,000 for a 5% royalty until double her money back | Declined |
| Michele Romanow | $110,000 for 20% | Accepted |
Marianne and Shane James, from Bowmanville, ON, asked for $110,000 for 10% of Little Buck, a company making baby and toddler hats, including adult-matching styles, in five sizes, priced from $22.99 to $39.99, costing about $10 to $12 to make. Over 2.5 years the company generated $500,000 in revenue, with $205,000 in the last 12 months and a gross profit of $108,000 and net profit of $33,000 so far that year, without paying themselves; the previous year they made $70,000 in revenue with $12,000 profit. The hats are sold mainly through their own website and also through Indigo.
Vincenzo Guzzo went out, saying he would need 50% equity at their valuation. Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson both said they liked the product but declined to invest. Lane Merrifield went out, saying taking equity now would be too costly for the founders. Manjit Minhas offered $110,000 for 20% equity or a royalty deal of $110,000 for a 5% royalty until double her money was returned. Michele Romanow offered $110,000 for 20%, which the founders accepted.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Little Buck today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Little Buck is still operating and sells through its website.