A “fitness enthusiast” who sold his house to fund his business broke down in tears as he revealed his emotional journey on Dragon’s Den.
In an episode broadcast tonight, BodyXcore CEO and founder Joseph Keegan, from Liverpool, launched his training kit to the dragons, including celebrity guest Joe Wicks.
The speech proved to be an emotional experience for Joseph, who revealed his mental health problems and told how he had previously considered taking his own life, as well as the breakdown of his family life and the loss of his mother.
Although he asked the judges for £70,000 from BodyXcore, which sells portable gym equipment to improve strength, flexibility and endurance, in return for 10 per cent of the business, they were visibly moved.
Her story particularly impacted Wicks, who said: ‘I can’t imagine putting my house up for sale to fulfill my dream; “That’s very brave of you.”
He continued, ‘But maybe there’s a world where you don’t have to do that and you can take a couple of dragons aboard,’ causing Joseph to burst into tears.
“I have to give you a little hug because I’m getting emotional right now,” Joe said as he stood up to hug the contestant. And he added: ‘You are doing brilliantly, it is emotional, but you are doing great; Take a breath.
Fortunately for Joseph, who admitted that his girlfriend also left him amid the business problems he faced, there were no more tears to be shed as he received multiple offers from judges who wanted “a piece of the pie.”
Liverpool’s Joseph Keegan (pictured) became emotional as he spoke to the judges on Dragon’s Den tonight.
Explaining his business on the company website, Joseph writes: ‘Frustrated and motivated by the relentless grind of chasing peak performance, I craved a training solution that fit my lifestyle.
‘One restless night, born of frustration and determination, the vision became clear: a sports training solution that could redefine the game.
“It wasn’t just about equipment: it was about unleashing potential, no matter where life takes you.”
At the time of filming, Joseph had sold 50 of his training kits, which cost £40 to make, for £175 through word of mouth, meaning there was no paid advertising.
Given his experience in the fitness industry, Joe, also known as “the country’s PE teacher”, gave his verdict first and asked if Joseph would consider cutting costs and offering the kits at a lower price.
When Joseph agreed, he offered the requested amount for a 25 percent stake in BodyXcore.
After presenting his fitness business, guest judge Joe Wicks became emotional and gave Joseph (pictured) a hug.
Joe, known as the “nation’s PE teacher,” tried the BodyXcore equipment and was impressed.
BodyXcore sells portable gym equipment (pictured) aimed at improving strength and flexibility
However, he was not the only judge interested, and Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman offered to go into business with Wicks as a trio.
“I want to go on the journey with Joe,” Peter said, adding, “I’d like to match Joe’s offer… on a sharing basis.”
Touker added: “Each of us brings something different…I know what I can bring to the party.”
Meanwhile, Sara Davies also offered to go into business with Joe, offering a second option for Joseph.
After being confused by the offers on the table, Joseph and Joe took a minute to discuss their options.
Joseph then revealed his decision to go into business with Joe, Peter and Touker for a staggering £105k and the backing of a trio with combined areas of expertise.
“Joe loved my product and he, Touker Suleyman and Peter Jones invested in the business, so now I’m ready to play my part in helping people feel better through the power of fitness,” Joseph explains on his site. web.
It comes after two brothers who created a used fashion brand found themselves in an unusual position on Dragon’s Den: being too successful to invest in it.
Joseph explained his emotional story, including the fact that he sold his house to finance his dream business.
Luxe Collective, founded by Joe and Ben Gallagher from Merseyside, sells second-hand couture items and has amassed an estimated value of £5 million since the brand began in a bedroom in the brothers’ home in Formby.
The pair, along with co-owner Oliver Millar, the brand’s chief operating officer, took on Dragon’s Den in the first episode of the BBC One show’s latest series, but were so impressive they almost came away empty-handed.
Entrepreneurs Sara Davies and Peter Jones, in the Den alongside fellow judges Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett and Touker Suleyman, admitted there was not much they could bring to the business, despite wanting a share of its success.
Davies said: “You can scale this business without anyone coming in.”
“I’m sitting here thinking, ‘Would I like such a big part of this business?’ Of course! But then I feel like you would bother me because I would like such an important part of your business to tell you to keep doing what you’re doing.
The trio, who have 523,000 followers on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok, impressed judges Peter Jones with the story of how they were inspired to sell used designer items.
Ben told the judges his sister had wanted a £400 pair of trainers for Christmas, and was impressed when his mum found a second-hand pair online for £100.
He explained that he became “obsessed” with the website where his mother had bought them. Using savings and part of a car loan, the 23-year-old and his brother began purchasing items on eBay and DePop.
As the business grew, they also spent time using social media to share fashion stories and help shoppers distinguish between fake and real items, sparking a boom in business.
However, the Liverpool businessmen finally achieved a victory, after persuading Steven Bartlett to invest £100,000 for just 3 per cent of their business.