Luxury food and drink hamper startup Imp & Maker has raised £500k after failing to secure investment during an appearance on Dragons’ Den.
The gifting business agreed the funding deal from an angel investor at a £2m valuation.
Founder Sarah Louise Fairburn, who launched Imp & Maker in 2020, entered the Den seeking £100k for 10% equity share in the company, but walked out empty-handed as the Dragons worried about the level of losses at the business.
However, Fairburn said Imp & Maker was now “thriving”, with business “booming” on the back of the appearance on the latest episode of the BBC One hit show.
Alongside the new funding, Imp & Maker has expanded a partnership with Costco and is on track to report its first profit this year.
“Appearing on Dragons’ Den was both the toughest and most rewarding experience of my life,” Fairburn added.
“You can’t put a price on the advice I received from some of the biggest names in UK business and it’s helped transform the company.
“I founded Imp & Maker in 2020 to become the UK’s go-to business for food and drink gifting and now millions more people have heard of the brand.
“While the episode was being screened, more than 10,000 people logged on to our website.”
Fairburn said her pitch on the show, which was filmed in June 2024, was “brutal, relentless and exhilarating”.
“I was very open about the financials. At the time Imp & Maker was losing £800k a year, spending £90 per customer acquisition and margins were as low as 4%.
“This year we’re on track to make a profit, the cost of customer acquisition is down to £24, and margins are up to 35%.
“I took the advice from the Dragons on board, and Imp & Maker is now five years old and in the best shape it’s ever been as we approach the busy Christmas and new year period.
“We’re a much leaner business than when I appeared on Dragons’ Den. We’ve got the right infrastructure and team in place to take Imp & Maker to the next level.”
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