A man whose invention caught the attention of millions of television viewers may have infringed a patent he applied for himself ten years ago. John butterworth, millepedes managing director pictured, said. Two dragons bannatyne and caan may well be counting the costs of their recent. Andrew harsley has spent 20 years working on his invention. Rapstrap wikipedias rapstrap as translated by gramtrans. Rapstrap becomes dragons dens biggest success business. He still lives with his parents and has bemused friends by spending 20 years perfecting a tiny plastic strap. Inventor andrew harsley has just signed a deal to produce a billion of his rapstraps for a major plastics company. Viewers of the bbc2 programme watched mr harsley secure. The programme has been produced by bbc manchester since its inception and it was first broadcast on bbc two on 4 january 2005. Rapstrap becomes dragons dens biggest success todate.
He made a deal with 2 dragons, james caan and duncan bannatyne. The show allows several entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their. The programme has been produced by bbc manchester since its inception and was first broadcast on bbc two on 4 january 2005 the show allows several entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their. Andrew harsley was 15 when he put out the rubbish and the idea of the rapstrap came up. The format of the show is owned by sony pictures television and is based on the original japanese programme, which has been sold around the world. Inventor becomes dragons dens biggest success story daily mail. But inventor andrew harsley has had the last laugh after a. The rapstrap is a greener alternative to the traditional nylon cable tie and. He thought of the basic idea as a teenager when putting out the rubbish. The rapstrap impressed the panel, securing the assistance of multimillionaire dragons duncan bannatyne and james caan, and also a new business partner peter moule from their earlier chocbox.
As the dragons point out on a regular basis, the money theyre investing is their own money. The programme has been produced by bbc manchester since its inception and was first broadcast on bbc two on 4 january 2005 the show allows several entrepreneurs an. Andrew harsley appeared on the programme and convinced two of its panellists, duncan. Harsley argued that his cable tie did not have a feature which corresponds tot he. James caan and duncan bannatyne invest in the rapstrap, an alternative to the nylon cable tie. Andrew harsley won 150,000 of backing from mr bannatyne and james caan after impressing the two dragons with his rapstrap on the tv show last august. Episode 4, 11 august 2008, andrew harsley, rapstrap, 150,000, wastefree. When i first came up with the idea, i could not believe someone else hadnt.
The programme has been produced by bbc manchester since its inception and was first broadcast on bbc two on 4 january 2005 contents. I was amazed when harsley, who had previously founded the millepede company, forgot to mention. Inventor andrew harsley, of grantham, lincolnshire, has signed a deal with a plastics firm for 1bn of his rapstraps. Andrew harsley has spent 20 years working on his invention radio 1, uk sep 17, 2008 inventor andrew harsley has just signed a deal to produce a billion of his rapstraps for a major plastics company. Andrew harsley was 15 when he put out the rubbish and the idea of the. The format of the show is owned by sony pictures and is based on the original japanese series, which has been sold around the world.
The invention is a reusable polyurethanes cable tie, for bags, cables, and gardening. Andrew harsley appeared on the programme and convinced two of its panellists, duncan bannatyne and james caan, to invest. I was amazed when harsley, who had previously founded the millepede company forgot to mention millepedes. For the love of physics walter lewin may 16, 2011 duration. Short of sending half the country on a weeklong course at business school, nothing else could have given so many people such a good idea of what it takes to start a business. Its not money thats in their businesses or assets they own, its from their own bank balance. Rookie racing driver robert hall has an unusual business proposition for the dragons. Contestants have what they perceive to be a viable and potentially profitable business idea but lack funding, or are already operating their business but need additional f. John butterworth millepedes managing director said.
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