Lisbeth left Dragon's Den with an investment of DKK 300,000
Recently graduated Lisbeth Grove Mikkelsen impressed the judges in the television programme 'Dragon’s Den' with her lamp company Wallpipe.
Lisbeth went in front of the Dragons (known as Løvens Hule in Denmark) wanting to borrow DKK 75,000 for 10-20 percent of her company. She ended up leaving with DKK 300,000 and a handover of 45 percent of her company to one of Denmark’s most successful businessmen Christian Arnstedt (middle).
‘It was a dream scenario to get Christian on board,’ says Lisbeth (right), who took her economic-savvy partner, Stine (left), with her to the dragons.
The business idea arose whilst studying
The idea for her company Wallpipe came to Lisbeth while she was studying for her bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Business Academy Aarhus.
‘The programme really supports entrepreneurship. My lecturers have been so dedicated on my behalf that one could almost think that they were part of the company,’ says Lisbeth, who lives in Randers with her two children (nine and two years old).
Developed the company during her studies
Throughout her 1,5-year programme, Lisbeth worked diligently with Wallpipe as a case.
‘It was so valuable that I could do a three-month internship in my own company. I really tried to work with the whole concept and my lecturers were available as sparring partners throughout the process’ says Lisbeth who started her educational career with an AP Degree in Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management.
The annual turnover after just five hours
After her participation in Dragon's Den, things have happened fast.
For five hours on Thursday, after the programme had been aired in primetime, Lisbeth sold as many lamps as she had done the previous year.
Since then Lisbeth, with Christian Arnstedt's help, has even more control of her strategy, e-commerce and established a webshop. And in February, she’ll pay herself a salary for the first time.
‘It's great to get this far. And from now on, it can only get better. People phone all the time wanting to collaborate,’ she says.
Sustainable lamps from recycled pipes
Wallpipe produces sustainable, hand-crafted lamps made of old, scrapped water pipes. Besides Lisbeth, the company also consists of three interns from the Marketing Management programme and a worker with reduced ability to work.
Watch Lisbeth's success in the Dragon's Den
Watch Lisbeth roll out her business concept in the fifth season, episode 3 of The Dragon's Den (scroll 14 minutes into the programme):
(only in Danish)
https://www.dr.dk/drtv/se/loevens-hule_-klar-med-millioninvestering_148552