$1Mfor 10%
Protein Candy
Valued at $10M
The pitch
Todd Weimer, Jarris Neufeld from Abbotsford, BC, pitched Vssl in Season 13, Episode 4, asking the Dragons for $400K for 20% of the company.
- Asked for$400K for 20%
- Valuation$2Mimplied by the ask
- OutcomeDealwith Lane Merrifield
- Final deal$400K for 25%valued at $1.6M
Offers in the Den
| Dragon | Offer | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Michele Romanow | $400,000 for 30% | Declined |
| Manjit Minhas | $400,000 for 25% | Declined |
| Lane Merrifield | $400,000 for 30%, negotiated down to 25% | Accepted |
| Arlene Dickinson | $400,000 for 25% | Declined |
| Jim Treliving | $400,000 for 20% | Declined |
| Vincenzo Guzzo | Went out, said he knew who he would and wouldn't choose but left it to the founders | Out |
Todd Weimer and Jarris Neufeld of Abbotsford, BC pitched VSSL, asking for $400,000 for 20% of their company, which makes compact outdoor survival kits containing items such as fishing tackle, a wire saw, first aid kit, compass, fire starter and rope, made of military-grade aluminum. The top model is priced at $130, the kits are sold online and in more than 150 stores in North America, and the company has sold about $1.7 million worth of product over roughly 2.5 years; break-even is about $1.4 million, and final assembly is done in Abbotsford by an assembly line of youth on the autism spectrum. The founders sought funds partly because inventory shortages caused them to turn down $200,000 to $300,000 in purchase orders this year.
Vincenzo Guzzo went out without an offer. Michele Romanow offered $400,000 for 30%, Manjit Minhas offered $400,000 for 25%, Arlene Dickinson offered $400,000 for 25%, and Jim Treliving offered the full ask of $400,000 for 20%. Lane Merrifield initially offered $400,000 for 30% but negotiated down to 25%, and the founders accepted that deal.
Pitch details from CBC’s Dragons’ Den pitch page.
Vssl today
- StatusIn businessLast checked September 2026
Vssl is still operating and sells through its website.