Furr Boost is a unique startup that produces healthy and delicious dog smoothies. It aims to provide quick, affordable and nutritious smoothies for dogs at every stage of their lives. The company from Chesire recently secured funding from the well-known television show Dragon’s Den. The founder, Louise Toal, and her husband received a £50,000 investment from the famous investor Touker Suleyman in exchange for a 30% stake. Let’s examine this business deal between the two parties.
The Story Behind Furr Boost
Furr Boost is a rehydration drink for dogs made with real meat, fruits, vegetables, vitamins and oils. It supports the well-being of dogs’ skin, metabolism, and coat and improves digestion, immunity, and anxiety. It can be given as a drink, frozen as a snack, mixed with dry food, and poured on a Lickimat. It is suitable for all types of dogs, regardless of age or breed.
The story behind Furr Boost is that of a sick dog and an owner desperate for answers. When Louise Toal’s beagle became unwell, she was diagnosed with bladder problems at 18 months old. Her vet said that her problems might be related to the dog food. Louise Toal was a food technologist who started experimenting with protein shakes to make her beagle, Phoebe, more hydrated, and this shake was used to flush out her system.
This led to the founding of Furr Boost and its smoothie drinks. Louise Toal and her husband, Ian, were looking for investment to expand their business. Their goal was to start selling in major retail outlets like supermarkets, launch a range for cats, and export to more countries. That’s what led them to Dragon’s Den.
Dragon’s Den Success
Dragon’s Den, a British reality TV show, involves entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to wealthy investors called the Dragons. In exchange for the investment, the investors get a stake in the company.
One of the well-known judges is Touker Suleyman. Suleyman is a British-Turkish Cypriot entrepreneur, investor, and reality TV personality. He is known for making a wide range of investments, some of which you can track on leading platforms like TradingView. He was the judge who was interested in investing in Furr Boost.
According to Louise, she and her husband were nervous and anxious about presenting their business to the Dragons. The judges are known for being tough on contestants, but the couple was delighted when they got a positive outcome.
After their pitch, the couple secured a £50,000 investment in her pet smoothie drinks business when appearing on Dragon’s Den on the 28th of March, 2024. They struck a deal with Touker Suleyman, whose net worth is £200 million. The deal was that Suleyman would get a 35% share of their company in exchange for his investment. This would give the couple they needed to move their business forward.
Furr Boost Products and Achievements
Louise initially set up the business with her husband, Ian, in Shropshire. However, the company’s warehouse facilities were based over the border in Cheshire. Now, the company has received financial backing to achieve its goals of exports, retail stores and providing a similar service to cats.
Furr Boost has won multiple awards for its impressive career in the industry. In 2022, it won the Best New Product award at the PetQuip and Pet Industry Federation Awards. In 2023, it also reached the regional finals of the Startup Awards.
Furr Boost has seven different products based on taste. It can also be served as an Ultimutt Furr Boost Puppuchino, straight from the carton, or frozen as an icy treat. Different flavours include a plant-based vegan drink, a salmon, sweet potato, and blueberry drink, and a venison, butternut squash, and cranberry drink. Others include beef, broccoli and blueberry; pork, sweet potato and apple; and chicken, butternut squash and cranberry.
The drink is now widely popular online and in pet shops across the UK. It is completely natural and has no allergenic ingredients, artificial preservatives, antioxidants, salt, colourants, or grains, which are known to be harmful to dogs. It’s the perfect drink for your dog.
Future Plans for Expansion
Dragon’s Den provides opportunities to a wide range of startups, and Furr Boost has become one of them to receive a much-needed boost. With a dedication to crafting nutritious and beneficial products for dogs, Furr Boost is positioned for further success in the pet and food industry. The company continued to expand into major retail outlets and diversify their product range, and fans were eager to see how far it would go after the investment from the show. Today, Furr Boost stands out thanks to the team’s entrepreneurial ingenuity. Getting this investment was a significant milestone for Louise Toal and her husband in their pet smoothie business.
