Dragons’ Den: A Recap

Well, TDi’s biggest event of the year has come and gone in the blink of a dragon’s eyelid. Dragons’ Den was a fantastic success, and we were thrilled to have so many people turn out to support our graduating Two Feet enterprises!\r\n\r\nIf you couldn’t make it to Dragons’ Den, never fear, here are the highlights of the afternoon.\r\n\r\nThe Sydney enterprise began only one year ago as an idea; they are now a fully fledged social enterprise and were pitching to our three Dragons for capital to expand their business. Refugee Talent focus on connecting refugees with employers, hoping to combat the statistic that states 80% of refugees in Australia are without secure, full time work. Their customers are both the refugees and employers, and they have a complex yet precise revenue model.\r\n\r\nRefugee Talent were awarded half of the cash prize pool, amounting to $7,500, and are being flown to the Social Enterprise World Forum in Christchurch, New Zealand next year, courtesy of TDi. Congratulations to Nirary and Anna!

 

Refugee Talent kick off the pitching & win big

Circular Food’s Steve Morris took to the stage and delivered a stellar pitch. The enterprise take food waste from local businesses and turn it into fertiliser with their over 2 million worms! Circular Food now provide their fertiliser BIG BIO en masse to local farmers, and it’s available to the public. They’re not proposing, they’re doing!\r\n\r\nCircular Food was awarded sponsorship through TDi’s Investment Readiness Program, worth up to $150,000. We’re looking forward to seeing Steve and the Circular Food team around TDi HQ in 2017!

 

Circular Food show us what our food scraps can do & will return to TDi

The second enterprise to represent Sydney was pitching to the Dragons for capital to kick start the not-for-profit (NFP), founded by Alice Brennan. The NFP are using technology to make it easier for refugees and asylum seekers to ‘settle in’ to Australia. Their software is designed to put clients in control of the services they receive (legal, health, professional etc), and to help them set achievable goals.\r\n\r\nSettleIn’s sharp business model and intent garnered them the other half of the cash prize pool, totalling $7,500. Congratulations Alice and the team at Settle In!

Kym Hunter from Champion Life took the stage and gave a fabulous pitch. The enterprise are revolutionising the way kids in primary school view their physical education class- by incorporating technology. Much like Pokemon Go, Champion Life has ‘gamified’ exercise for kids. The enterprise works directly with principals and sport teachers to ensure kids are engaged with physical activity. Ultimately Champion Life is working to combat obesity and insecurity amongst kids, by showing them that sport doesn’t have to feel like a chore.

 

 

We look forward to seeing a lot more of Champion Life in the future!

It’s safe to say that the four pitching enterprises were of an extremely high standard this year. The three judging Dragons had to ask for extra time to deliberate- they didn’t have an easy job!\r\n\r\nBut of course Dragons’ Den was just as much about all 34 of TDi’s Two Feet graduating enterprises. Each enterprise received a ‘money tree’, TDi’s way of showing that you can do good and make money!\r\n\r\nThank you to all who attended and we hope to see you at our next event.

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