Monmouthshire business whizz goes into Dragons' Den (From South Wales Argus)

Monmouthshire business whizz goes into Dragons' Den

12:00pm Sunday 2nd August 2009

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THERE are not many 20-year-olds who would take on five venture capitalists, but one Monmouthshire entrepreneur braved the Dragons' Den to help kick-start her business.

Fearless Emily Webb impressed the panel of Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and James Caan on this week's episode of the hit BBC programme with her business Oarsome Potential Ltd.

The rower has invented a hand grip for use in the sport, designed to reduce the friction between a hand and an oar and prevent blisters from forming.

It also enables rowers to efficiently turn the blade minimising the strain on their wrists, which can cause tendonitis or repetitive strain injury.

What started out as an A* GCSE project four years ago has turned into a fledgling business for the Exeter university student from Trellech, thanks to her keen business acumen and the support of her mother and company director Gill Hurley.

On Wednesday night viewers of the programme saw her take on the dragons as she bid for an investment of £75,000 to help get her company off the ground for a 20 per cent stake in the firm.

Unfortunately, none of them decided to invest in the product, but sports club guru and multi-millionaire Duncan Bannatyne did take her product away to discuss whether to stock them in his 60 fitness centres throughout the UK.

Theo Paphitis told her: "I have never been in the Den with someone I have enjoyed listening to so much."

But although it was a great experience, Emily told the Argus: "It was the most nerve-racking time of my life."

"Even though I only appeared on TV for a few minutes, I was in front of the dragons being questioned for a hour and a half. "I was nervous all the way through.

"The way it is edited for TV made it look worse, because Deborah Meaden was really lovely and smiling all the way through."

The former Haberdashers pupil, who is the youngest person ever to face the den grilling alone, also said that James Caan asked her to contact him when she finishes her degree at Exeter University as he would like to give her a job.

She was scouted out by a programme researcher at the British Inventions Show, where she has won gold and platinum awards for her product.

She was encouraged to apply and was eventually chosen to take part in the episode, which was filmed in June.

Undeterred by the lack of funding, she is now continuing to expand her business and development is underway with expanding into the mobility market for use on crutches and with adaptive sports.

Emily will continue to sell her product online and finish the third year of her business management degree before turning her attention full-time to her business.

For further information on Oarsome Potential Ltd, log-on to www.oarsome-potential.co.uk

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The Oarsome Revolver is an "add on" for convention rowing oar handles incorporating a rotating mechanism separating the handle in to two separate parts enabling the rower to use exactly the same movement, but allowing for auto correction of common poor technique traits; such as bent wrists, leaning out at the finish and also eliminates the common problem of blisters The two separate parts of the handle allows for greater ease of movement and allows for incorporation of the Oarsome Grip to maximise its beneficial effects.

The Oarsome grip moulds to the shape of your fingers and returns to its original shape at the end of your training session, and its easy to maintain and clean.

Not only is the Oarsome Grip suitable for use on oar handles but it is an asset to have in the gym - ergonomically formed to sit comfortably on to a rowing machine.

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