Entrepreneur with autism presents TASTY granola snack 🥣🍰🤤 | Dragons’ Den – BBC

This entrepreneur’s journey is truly inspiring. Despite facing challenges, she’s created a delicious snack that’s free from major allergens and completely vegan. Her passion and dedication shine through, but the business is still in its early stages. With cute branding and delicious flavors, there’s potential for growth, but it’s not quite ready for investment. Keep pushing forward! 🥣🍰🤤

About Cheeky Nibble and Its Founder

At the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Marietta, an autistic entrepreneur, presented her company, Cheeky Nibble, seeking a £60,000 investment in exchange for a 10% stake. Marietta, who also has Tourette syndrome, developed her business to provide delicious, allergen-free granola that suits her high-exercise lifestyle and is safe for friends and family with allergies. She established the company by investing £10,000 of her own savings and has achieved sales of £50,000 and a gross profit of £37,000 in just two years.

Key Takeaways 🌟

The Business Journey

Marietta shared her personal journey as an autistic individual, highlighting how exercise helps her manage her anxiety and tics. Embracing her differences, she built Cheeky Nibble with a passion for efficiency and process, allowing her to bake 15,000 boxes within two years. As an early-stage business, she has a clear vision of growth and has established a direct-to-consumer sales channel, which accounts for 60% of her sales.

Unique Selling Point 🏷️

The Growth Strategy

The business operates with a 40% wholesale sales split, and Marietta is working to expand into major retailers like Whole Foods. While facing challenges in cost and scalability, she has moved production to a factory to improve cost efficiency and volume. However, some investors expressed concerns about the current business stage and market viability for a high-sugar breakfast product.

Sales and Market Expansion 📈

The Investor Response

Despite the Dragons’ constructive feedback and her industry’s potential, Marietta did not secure the investment she sought. While they commended her for the product and her journey, some investors expressed concerns about market trends and scalability, ultimately deciding not to invest.

Conclusion 🔗

Despite the challenges, Marietta found the courage to pitch her product and received valuable feedback. Dragons’ Den offered her a platform to showcase her determination and product excellence, and while she did not secure funding on this occasion, she will continue her entrepreneurial journey with the same passion and resilience.