Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Lifestyle
Stephanie Colderick

BBC Dragons' Den: Deborah Meaden reveals how she decides to invest in a pitch

Dragons' Den investor Deborah Meaden has revealed how she decides if she is going to invest in someone or a business on the show.

With a net worth of £40 million, the entrepreneur has invested in some great businesses and knows what she is doing in the world of business.

You can read more Showbiz news here.

While talking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Deborah - who lives in an incredible farmhouse with her husband of 28 years - revealed she uses her head and heart to make an investment decision.

She explained that while she mostly uses logic and business knowledge, she does let a small emotional side and part of her have a say.

She said: "My head is in the lead when it comes to investments, my heart is allowed to make lots of decisions but when it comes to not just my financial investment but also the people who are pitching, it is important I help the businesses that I think have got the best chance of survival.

"My head gets 99% of its own way but when I get to the end of that, I think now how do I feel about this? And if it doesn't feel right I won't invest."

During her time on the show she has invested in successful businesses including Yee Kwan Ice Cream and Dock and Bay, quick-drying beach and travel towels.

Deborah also explained a lot of her business knowledge on the radio show saying she believes she got her confidence from watching her young mother bring up two children alone.

She said: "I don't know if you are born with confidence or simply because I had seen a mother in very, very tough times who had built a good life out of it. Once you've seen that it doesn't feel so scary."

Facing difficulties in her career, when her first business failed after 18 months, she had to fight off other competitors to buy the family business that she was working for at the time.

She said: "I bought the business from them, we had two different sets of advisors, it got heated! They wanted the highest price and I wanted to pay the lowest price and they were also talking to other buyers, so I was pitching against other people who were looking to buy the business."

Dragons' Den continues on BBC One on Thursday, February, 3 from 8pm.

To get the latest What's On newsletters from WalesOnline, click here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.