$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
David Lim from Vancouver, BC, pitched Saku in Season 19, Episode 4, asking the Dragons for $800K for 8% of the company.
- Asked for$800K for 8%
- Valuation$10Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Manjit Minhas
- Final deal$800K for 10%valued at $8M
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Scudamore | Tough restaurant sector, not investing | Out |
| Simu Liu | Lacks franchise expertise needed | Out |
| Michele Romanow | Not every business is franchisable, passed | Out |
| Manjit Minhas | $800,000 for 10% | Accepted |
| Arlene Dickinson | Cannot beat Manjit's offer | Out |
David, co-founder of Saku in Vancouver, British Columbia, sought $800,000 for 6% of his restaurant chain that specializes in Japanese katsu, serving breaded and deep-fried pork, chicken, seafood or vegetables in a bright, family-style setting, and franchising the concept with a supplier-based commissary model. The company has five locations, one corporate-owned and four franchised, sells franchises for $60,000 with a 7% royalty including marketing, averages about $2 million in sales per restaurant, expects $11 million in sales this year across five locations, reports about 18% net profit for franchisees, and carries zero debt.
Brian Scudamore, Simu Liu, and Michele Romanow went out, citing the difficulty of the restaurant sector and franchise fit. Manjit Minhas offered $800,000 for 10%, which David accepted; Arlene Dickinson also went out, saying she could not beat that offer.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Saku today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Saku is still operating and sells through its website.