Dragons’ Den history-makers reveal why they WALKED AWAY from five Dragons’ investment after BBC show

The pair managed to win over Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, Touker Suleyman and guest Dragon Gary Neville, securing a joint investment from all five.

However, speaking exclusively to GB News following the episode’s broadcast, Honor and Cat revealed the deal ultimately did not go ahead.

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The sisters explained during the lengthy due diligence process following filming, they attracted interest from other investors and were eventually able to raise the money they needed elsewhere.

Honor told the People’s Channel: “In the time that we were doing our due diligence with the Dragons post-filming, it was about a year, and within that year, we just managed to find so many external investors that were just as interested.”

She explained those investors came with fewer demands, adding: “We managed to fundraise the amount that we needed within the year.

“So then we didn’t need to take the Dragons’ money or have their stake in our business anymore, which I think is a blessing and a curse because it would have been amazing to work with all five of the Dragons, but at the same time it kind of proves that we could do it on our own.”

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Cat stressed there had not been a dramatic decision to reject the Dragons, explaining that circumstances simply changed as Maiden developed after filming.

“I think it was just how it worked out,” she said.

“I don’t think there was any formal right decision. I think it was just more time-wise than that; as shown in Dragons’ Den, we were effectively a really small business, basically almost pre-startup.

“We needed the money kind of quickly to keep our business going, and so I think it just came quicker.”

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The sisters confirmed they remained in contact with the Dragons’ teams throughout the process, including holding meetings with Steven Bartlett’s team and receiving advice on potential manufacturing options overseas.

Honor said contact continued “all the way up until May this year”, adding: “We went the whole way with them. Like we said, it just came down to time.”

Their appearance proved particularly remarkable given their ages when they stepped into the famous Den.

Maiden was launched in 2024 after the cricket-playing sisters became frustrated with girls and women having to use clothing and equipment primarily designed for male players.

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Cat admitted facing the Dragons was “the scariest experience we’ve ever had”, despite the pair appearing remarkably composed on screen.

The night before filming, the sisters arrived in Manchester at around 2am and were so nervous they struggled to sleep.

They resorted to recording themselves delivering their pitch and playing it back as they attempted to drift off ahead of an early start.

Adding to the pressure, Cat was also revising for a Spanish-speaking exam she had the following day.

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Honor recalled: “We were so scared, we couldn’t sleep. I was stressing so much.”

Their nerves ultimately proved unfounded, with all five Dragons backing the young entrepreneurs.

Since the episode aired, the sisters said the reaction has been overwhelming, with their Instagram following doubling in roughly a day and a half. The account currently boasts nearly 12,000 followers.

Cat said the support had been “so lovely”, particularly from viewers who knew little about cricket but were impressed by what the sisters had achieved.

Despite ultimately forging ahead without the Dragons’ investment, Honor said the outcome demonstrated something significant about how far the pair had come: “It kind of proves that we could do it on our own.”