Do you about a material that is inherently soft but becomes harder when a great force is applied to it? Your guess is right, it’s D3O. Any resemblance to any other material is purely coincidental and completely unintended.
Tech21 had orders of these magically protective material-based products from a ‘big computer manufacturing company in the USA. Yes, we all know that it can only be Apple.
Will Dragons be interested in this soft but hardening material or will they be attracted to the huge order from Apple, Let’s find out.
Tech21 at a Glance:
| Idea | Protection solutions for mobiles and laptops |
| Founders | Jason Roberts |
| Asked For | £150,000 For 5% |
| Accepted Deal | £150,000 For 40% |
| Dragons | Peter Jones and Theo Paphitus |
| Business status | Active |
| Episode No. | Season 7, Episode 6 |
Index:
What is Tech21?
Tech21 is an electronic accessories manufacturing company established in 2005.
With an impressive portfolio of impact protective solutions for electronic devices, a chance encounter provided a brand new scientific approach to impact protection, allowing thinner and more ergonomic designs.
With Headquarters based on Eel Pie Island, London, Tech21 is one of the global leaders in mobile device impact protection specializing in case and screen shields.
The key to Tech21’s success is a constant innovation of impact protection materials and a promise to always provide the most intelligent impact protective solutions, by using scientifically proven impact absorbing materials such as FlexShockTM, ingenious design, and unbeatable user-friendliness, Tech21 products enhance the device in which they protect.
It was voted No 5 in The Times Tech Track 100 fastest Growing companies in England in 2014 and voted No 58 in the Sunday Times Top 100 Export Companies 2015.
Who is the Founder of Tech21?
Jason Roberts founded Tech21 in 2005. He is also the founder and CEO of Nurvv, a fitness start-up that is somewhat similar in application and technology to Tech21. Nurvv raised $9 million in its series A round!
Jason was involved in the airbag industry for thirteen years before setting up Tech21. Since the beginning, he wanted to start a business of his own and went on to set up two multi-million pound businesses successfully.
Did Tech21 get a deal on Dragon’s Den?
Jason’s play in the Den turned out to be more than interesting with all his innovations on display altogether especially the D3O which was an eye-catcher among everything else. The Dragons were quite impressed but their quick counter-examination followed.
Theo enquired about the sales figures and the reason behind the crazy seeming valuation while Peter preferred to analyze the technical side in detail.
A few of the numbers slipped out of Jason’s head which was about to turn into a deal-breaker and just then, he revealed the fact that he had a sales contract of about a million Pounds with Apple.
Following this revelation, offers started to pour in. Jason chose the high on equity low on valuation deal of Theo and Peter over a much better deal offered by Deborah Meaden. This move seemed and continues to seem quite foolhardy on Jason’s part.
What happened to Tech21 after Dragon’s Den?
Success followed wherever Tech21 wandered after its featuring in the Dragons’ Den.
Like Revive A Phone, Tech21’s product was cheap, consumer-oriented, and extremely useful. Its sales flash banged for all practical purposes due to The Dragons’ Den Effect. Tech21 was sold across the globe.
The company’s revenue grew by more than a staggering 1000% and it forged numerous partnerships with multiple hardware manufacturers and wholesale distributors of its products across the world.
Multiple new products were launched and revenue continued to show a positive trend on a year-to-year basis. The success of Tech21 became the basis of the successful starting up of NURVV, a similar product with human applications in place of tech.
Product Details:
- It provides fool-proof protection products for mobile phones and laptops.
- It offers all-around multi-shock protection.
- It has an exclusive license for the usage of D3O in the mobile protection segment.
- It is a major supplier to multinational electronics manufacturing companies.
- Its products are available online all across the civilized world.
Competitors of Tech21:
Tech21 wasn’t the first to offer innovative protection solutions for laptops and mobile phones.
Although its products were innovative in themselves. Especially the use of D3O, which wasn’t even thought of being used in this industry before.
Some segment-oriented companies are listed below:
What is the Net Worth of Tech21?
Jason initially put forward a proposition before the Dragons which valued Tech21 at £3 million only to be thrashed away by the Dragons. Peter and Theo put forth a combined counter-offer which valued the company at £375,000.
This offer was surprisingly accepted by Jason maybe because he needed some instant cash to keep his business afloat but saying no to Deborah’s offer (higher valuation) seemed plain and simple madness.
As per raw data-based estimates, Tech21 is currently worth slightly north of £21 million but no official data exists to verify this valuation.
Is Tech21 still in Business?
Tech21 is up and running as of 2023 and has evolved into a medium-sized corporate in the electronic accessories segment.
It has firm orders from well-established hardware manufacturers in the Silicon Valley and its outlook seems to be evergreen.
Protecting precious things is the basic tendency of a human as it is a creature that has the gift of knowledge. But have we not forgotten something in our everlasting race to secure more valuable objects throughout? Put your thoughts down in the comments!!!
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FAQs:
What is Tech21?
Tech21 is an electronic accessories manufacturing company established in 2005. With an impressive portfolio of impact protective solutions for electronic devices, a chance encounter provided a brand new scientific approach to impact protection, allowing thinner and more ergonomic designs.
What's the net worth of Tech21?
As per raw data-based estimates, Tech21 is currently worth slightly north of £21 million but no official data exists to verify this valuation.