$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Susan Blanchet and Andrew Crawford from Victoria, BC, pitched Origen Air in Season 17, Episode 8.
- Asked for70K 1%
- Valuation–implied by the ask
- OutcomeNo deal
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vincenzo Guzzo | Out - skeptical of claims, would not spend money on the product after investing in HVAC systems | Out |
| Michele Romanow | Out - does not believe people will return to offices to justify the investment | Out |
| Robert Herjavec | Out - product is overpriced for what it does | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | Out - does not make financial sense to invest in something unproven | Out |
| Wes Hall | Out - offering only 1% undermines the purpose of the show | Out |
Sue Blanchet and Andrew Crawford, from Vancouver, BC, asked for $70,000 for 1% of Origen Air to close their seed round. The company, Origen Air, makes The Pinnacle, an air purification unit combining premium HEPA filtration, genetically modified plants enhanced with a liver enzyme to metabolize airborne toxins, a hydroponic self-sustained biofilter, and IoT air quality sensors, designed to clean 1,000 square feet of air continuously and priced at $8,800 per unit. The company has raised $866,000 to date, retains 76% equity, has about $250,000 in contracted pre-sales, and had just completed manufacturing and its first installation at the time of the pitch.
All five Dragons declined to invest. Vincenzo Guzzo said the claims were surprising and that he would not spend money on the product despite investing heavily in his own HVAC systems. Michele Romanow and Robert Herjavec doubted people would return to offices to justify the cost, and Manjit Minhas said investing in something unproven did not make financial sense. Wes Hall said offering only 1% equity undermined the purpose of the show. There was no deal.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Origen Air today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Origen Air is still operating and sells through its website.