On February 26, 2026, the hit television show Dragons’ Den delivered a night of unexpected deals, bold pitches, and a few eyebrow-raising moments, as two very different startups vied for investment in front of the UK’s toughest business minds. The episode was marked by the return of British entrepreneur Jenna Meek as a guest Dragon, and it proved that a compelling vision—no matter how early the stage—can still win over even the most seasoned investors.
One of the evening’s most talked-about pitches came from Zaahirah Adam, founder of the dating app hati. Launched in 2025, hati set out to change the way people connect in the digital age. Adam, who goes by “Zee,” told the Dragons that her inspiration for the app came after a frustrating experience with being ghosted. Determined to break the cycle of endless, impersonal messaging that plagues many dating platforms, she envisioned an app that would put authentic human connection front and center.
What makes hati stand out? For starters, it ditches the standard text chat in favor of a five-minute phone call between matched users. Instead of swiping through carefully curated photos, users create voice and video profiles, offering a more genuine glimpse into their personalities. And in an era rife with catfishing and fake accounts, hati requires that each user be verified by three friends—an extra layer of security designed to foster trust.
Despite these innovations, Adam faced a tough crowd. At the time of filming in 2025, hati had only 5,000 downloads and, as Adam candidly admitted under questioning from Dragon Deborah Meaden, had generated just £48 in revenue. “We’ve done £48 of revenue so far!” she declared, drawing a mix of surprise and skepticism from the panel.
Adam’s pitch asked for £150,000 in exchange for 5% equity, putting hati’s valuation at a bold £3 million. Dragons Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman, along with guest judge Jenna Meek, quickly bowed out, citing concerns over the app’s lack of traction, Adam’s limited entrepreneurial track record, and the ease with which competitors could replicate hati’s features. Meaden summed up the mood with a pointed observation: “Your competitors could just see what you are doing and copy it.”
Yet, one Dragon saw something more. Steven Bartlett, well-known for his deep connections in the tech and dating app industries, was intrigued. According to BusinessCloud, Bartlett described hati as a “perfect business for him,” but balked at the steep £150,000 price tag for such a small slice of the company. Adam, however, was determined—she had already singled out Bartlett as her ideal Dragon before even stepping into the Den. During a lively back-and-forth, she cited American investor Tim Ferriss, who has publicly discussed the very problem hati aims to solve. Bartlett, who apparently knows Ferriss, seemed to warm to both the idea and the founder’s tenacity.
After some negotiation, the pair struck a deal: Bartlett would invest £150,000, but for a much larger stake—30% of the business. It wasn’t the deal Adam had originally hoped for, but it was a lifeline for hati, and a clear sign that even pre-revenue startups can capture the imagination of the right investor.
So, what’s next for hati? The app’s business model is two-pronged. First, it plans to take a commission from dates that are scheduled through the platform—a move designed to incentivize real-life meetings rather than endless chatting. Second, hati will offer integrated dating coaching, aiming to help users “be better dates” and improve their chances of finding meaningful connections. Whether this approach will be enough to carve out a space in the crowded online dating market remains to be seen, but with Bartlett’s backing, hati now has both the capital and the mentorship to give it a fighting chance.
Zaahirah Adam’s journey wasn’t the only highlight of the night. The episode also featured Kibu, a company with a radically different product but an equally strong commitment to innovation. Founded by Sam Beaney, Kibu produces sustainable, modular headphones designed specifically for children aged 5 to 11. The headphones are built to last: they’re easy to take apart, repair, and recycle, with every component 3D-printed in just 30 minutes from recycled plastic derived from corn and other eco-friendly sources. No glue, no screws—just clever design that puts kids (and parents) in control.
Beaney came to the Den seeking £65,000 for 10% equity, but there was a catch: his partners, which include design consultancy Morrama, 3D printing company Batch.Works, a brand agency, and a web developer, already owned two-thirds of the business. This structure gave some of the Dragons pause, especially Peter Jones, who questioned whether the price tag was justified given the company’s ownership arrangement.
But guest Dragon Jenna Meek, whose return to the Den was covered in The Independent, saw potential. She convinced Jones to join her, and together they offered the full amount Beaney had requested. Each Dragon would invest £32,500 for a 10% stake, giving Kibu not just the funds but also the credibility and support that comes with having two Dragons on board.
For Meek, it was a triumphant return to the Den. As The Independent highlighted, the British entrepreneur and investor has a knack for spotting promising businesses, and her involvement brought added energy and expertise to the episode. Her decision to back Kibu alongside Jones underscored her commitment to supporting sustainable innovation and products that empower young people.
What ties these two stories together is a willingness to back bold ideas—even when the numbers aren’t yet dazzling. Whether it’s reimagining how people date or changing the way children experience technology, the Dragons demonstrated that vision, passion, and a clear purpose can still open doors in the world of entrepreneurship.
As the dust settles after another memorable episode of Dragons’ Den, viewers are left with a sense that, in business, fortune often favors those who dare to do things differently—and those who can convince others to believe in their dreams, even when the odds seem long.