$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Mike McLaren from Winnipeg, MB, pitched McLaren Custom Grills in Season 19, Episode 6, asking the Dragons for $500K for 5% of the company.
- Asked for$500K for 5%
- Valuation$10Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Manjit Minhas | No offer, questioned the valuation and credibility | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | No offer, concerned about founder's discipline | Out |
| Brian Scudamore | No offer, lacked confidence in founder | Out |
| Wes Hall | No offer, felt founder not ready to be an entrepreneur | Out |
| Michele Romanow | No offer, did not believe the story | Out |
Mike McLaren pitched McLaren Custom Grills, a company making sports-themed barbecues that sell for $200 to $900 each, customizable with logos from major sports teams including the NBA, CFL, and NHL. He asked for $500,000 USD for 5% equity, valuing the company at $13.5 million; in the first two and a half years the company spent over $300,000 and brought in under $100,000 in sales, though a NASCAR sponsorship with Kyle Busch exposed distribution and website problems, and the company later secured a purchase order for $690,000 USD from a large US appliance drop shipper.
All five Dragons went out, citing concerns about the founder's credibility, lack of real sales, an unrealistic valuation based on future projections, and a general lack of preparedness and discipline. No deal was made.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
McLaren Custom Grills today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
McLaren Custom Grills is still operating and sells through its website.