Dragons’ Den winner OnHand secures £100,000

OnHand CEO and Founder Sanjay Lobo entered the Den to pitch volunteering app OnHand to the Dragons.

Watch the pitch to find out how we did!

On Thursday 16 March, onHand CEO and Founder Sanjay Lobo entered the Dragons’ Den to go head to head with Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett. Sanjay went in to showcase how his employee volunteering and sustainability platform, OnHand, helps businesses deliver incredible impact to local communities, people, and the planet. 

Sanjay came armed with an ambitious request, asking the Dragons for £100,000 in exchange for 2% of the business.

He explained how OnHand’s on-demand solution helps engage employees in environmental and social action. He showcased how employees can scroll the app to find opportunities to do good, instantly accept, and then go and do them, straightway.

While being questioned by the Dragons, Sanjay explained how OnHand helps responsible businesses give back and also how the platform helps employers attract, retain, and engage talent with some impressive engagement figures.

Sanjay wowed the Dragons with his vast knowledge of numbers and revenue, and they were particularly interested in the environmental side of the app, where doing good for local communities and the climate is as easy and quick as ordering a takeaway.

Each of the Dragons found something to talk about with the OnHand app. Steven Bartlett showed a keen interest in the corporate gamification of doing good within organisations. Deborah Meaden especially loved the all-inclusive nature of the app, telling Sanjay that she appreciated how OnHand “covers so many aspects” and that it “enables an organisation to say, ‘Actually, we care about the way that we are, the way our communities live.’”

Peter Jones was the first to make an offer, with Touker Suleyman, Steven Bartlett, and Deborah Meaden all following to make offers. Even though Sara Davies stepped down from giving Sanjay an offer, she stated that she thought the purpose of the business was fantastic, and that Sanjay was exceptional.

In the end, Sanjay walked away with the 4 Dragons agreeing to split the investment between them, earning him the full £100,000 in exchange for 10% of the business shared between the 4 of them, reducing to 6% when paid back.

We wouldn’t have come this far without the support and enthusiasm of our OnHand heroes – that’s people using the app, going out into their local communities, and recording all the feel good they get up to! 

OnHand started when Sanjay wasn’t able to do his dad’s weekly shop for him. With his dad in London and Sanjay based in Brighton, the idea of OnHand came to life – a way to help older people with shopping and errands through a network of volunteers. And now look at us – we still offer shop drops and help with errands, but we’ve coupled that with a huge selection of local opportunities and eco good.

Managed to catch us on Dragons’ Den? Had your interest piqued? We can help you and your business today! Get started at: beonhand.co.uk/book-a-demo.