$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Vian Nguyen from Toronto, ON, pitched Rude Mama in Season 20, Episode 9, asking the Dragons for $130K for 10% of the company.
- Asked for$130K for 10%
- Valuation$1.3Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Manjit Minhas
- Final deal$150K for 15%valued at $1M
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Romanow | No offer, category too competitive for her to add value | Out |
| Drew | No offer, not in his area of experience | Out |
| Arlene Dickinson | No offer, too early stage and crowded space | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | $150,000 for 15% | Accepted |
| Brian Scudamore | No offer, could not compete with Manjit Minhas's offer | Out |
| Wes Hall | No offer, encouraged founder to keep going | Out |
Vian Nguyen, from Toronto, asked for $130,000 for 10% of Rude Mama, a Vietnamese-style hot sauce brand handcrafted in Canada with Canadian ingredients, sold in four flavours in two sizes at $10 for a small jar and $15 for a large jar, available online and in over 70 stores across Ontario. The company had $120,000 in sales last year but lost $100,000 due to investing in both retail and e-commerce channels simultaneously, and forecasts $300,000 in sales this year; the founder started the business with $30,000 in personal savings.
Michele Romanow, Drew, Arlene Dickinson and Wes Hall all declined to invest, citing early stage, a crowded market, or lack of relevant experience, while Brian Scudamore said he could not compete with Manjit Minhas's offer. Manjit Minhas offered $150,000 for 15%, which Vian Nguyen accepted.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Rude Mama today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Rude Mama is still operating and sells through its website.