The founder of Active Hands has shared his excitement for showcasing his range of gripping aids at Naidex after appearing on Dragon’s Den last month.

Rob Smith established the company in 2007 after suffering a spinal cord injury nine years earlier.

Frustrated by how his affected hands prevented him from holding gym equipment, he created a range of gripping aids to enable him, and other disabled people, to stay active and remain independent.

Rob has since expanded his product portfolio to make other aspects of life, such as gardening and cooking, more accessible.

Active Hands has grown from strength to strength and on February 19, Rob and his Business Development Manager, Jo Gumbly, were featured in an episode of Dragon’s Den, seeking a £75,000 investment in return for a 5% stake in the company.

The Dragons were impressed with Rob’s innovations and how he’s scaled the business. However, recognising the small profit margins from a niche product range, they declared themselves “out” and Rob and Jo walked away without investment.

Despite the outcome, the team at Active Hands say they’ve been “overwhelmed” by the positive feedback they’ve received from the public since the show aired, and that the exposure has helped more disabled people discover their products.

Reflecting on his time in the Den, Rob told Naidex: “It was a great experience, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to talk about our business, both to the Dragons and to a wider audience watching.”

The entrepreneur expressed his frustration that parts of his pitch, including detailed product demos, were edited out, but said this experience made him “even more excited for opportunities at Naidex”.

“We can’t wait to meet people who saw us on Dragons’ Den and show off our wonderful products,” he said.

Active Hands will showcase its product range at stand MP-Q50 in the Naidex Exhibitor Village.