NEWS

Mood Bears secures Dragons Den investment

Published on: 11th April 2023

Joanna Proud of Mood Bears was the first applicant to secure investment from all five dragons on the show.

In her pitch, Joanna asked for a £20,000 investment for a 25% share of her company. She told the dragons that she came up with the idea for the Mood Bears range in 2019 while struggling with her own mental health.

“I drew Happy Bear and decided to have it made,’ she explained. “When it came, my husband said ‘That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile in such a long time’. I thought, Wow, that could help so many other people.” Joanna now runs Mood Bears alongside her husband Nathan.

The need to promote emotional well-being starts at birth, says Mood Bears, when the connection and attachment people have to others and their environment is key. The company recognises that children, and some adults, feel certain emotions but don’t know how to express themselves with words.

The bears come in different colours and each one has been designed to represent one of the key emotions or moods, with the international symbol for that mood embroidered on its feet. Suitable for all ages and made from 100% recycled materials, the collection includes Happy Bear, Sad Bear, Silly Bear, Calm Bear, Nervous Bear, Angry Bear, Love Bear and Hope Bear. Each bear comes with its own personal poem to help people understand and talk about their emotions, feelings and thoughts. The range has proved to appeal to both children and adults.

Although both Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies were keen to hug the Mood Bears mascot, Peter Jones was the first of the dragons to express interest in the deal, and then suggested all the dragons join forces to invest £4k each.

He said: “This could be something very special and I love the messaging here. The power of the people and the dragons could send this message and have real consequential and powerful impact.” The other dragons agreed, and Joanna accepted the offer.

Viewers found the pitch emotional and were quick to express their interest in the Mood Bears range on social media. “Wow. I’m in tears. All five dragons! What a way to end the season,” said one.

Joanna Proud commented: “To know that all five of the Dragons – all such amazing entrepreneurs – like and believe in my business just means the world to me and gives me so much confidence for the future. The impact that their collective knowledge, expertise and contacts will have on my business will be immense. I look forward to working with all of them to help the bears bring joy and hope to as many people as possible around the world.”

She added: “I love these bears with all of my heart. I drew the first Mood Bear at a time when I felt a real hopelessness about life, and I was struggling to see a way forward. When I had that one first bear made, it was the first time in months that I felt like smiling. And since launching the business, I’ve seen the bears have a similar impact on so many people, it’s just amazing.”

The company’s website was inundated with orders after the show was aired, and Joanna added: “A huge thank you to everyone’s kind words and messages – and thousands of orders.”

For more information call 07772 939821, email info@moodbears.co.uk or visit the website  www.moodbears.co.uk

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