In this episode, we sit down with Omid Moallemi, co-founder of Prsnt, to break down the real story behind one of the most talked-about startups to appear on Dragons’ Den.

From pitching in front of Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman, Deborah Meaden, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett… to walking away from a deal that shocked many — this is the full, unfiltered startup journey you didn’t see on TV.

At the heart of this episode is Prsnt — a fast-growing UK startup transforming how we give gifts. Instead of traditional gifting, Prsnt allows users to send gifts instantly via smartphone, complete with video messages and digital unwrapping experiences. Explore Prsnt here

Built to make gifting “as easy as sending a text,” Prsnt connects users with over 100+ major high street brands, enabling real-time gifting without the hassle of delivery, wrapping, or logistics.

But this episode goes far deeper than just the product.

We unpack:

• The real behind-the-scenes experience of Dragons’ Den

• What actually happens during the 3-hour pitch (vs what you see on TV)

• How they secured investment from multiple Dragons… and why the deal didn’t complete

• The brutal realities of startup life — from running out of money to near burnout

• The moment everything nearly collapsed… and how they bounced back

Omid shares the highs and lows of building Prsnt — from early MVP struggles and outsourcing development, to landing major partnerships and scaling a platform that now reaches hundreds of thousands of users.

We also dive into the business model behind Prsnt — including how they generate revenue through brand partnerships, commissions, and transaction fees, while helping businesses drive customer engagement through digital gifting and rewards.

This episode is packed with lessons for founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in startups, SaaS, marketplaces, or scaling a tech business.

Key topics include:

• Startup resilience and dealing with rejection

• Why most people underestimate how hard tech businesses are

• The power of co-founders and building the right team

• Why “other people’s limitations aren’t your own”

• How to validate an idea and turn it into a real business

• The truth about raising investment in today’s market

Whether you’re building a startup, thinking about going on Dragons’ Den, or just want a raw, honest insight into entrepreneurship — this episode delivers.

If you’ve ever wondered:

Is Dragons’ Den real?

What happens after the cameras stop rolling?

And what it actually takes to build a scalable tech company…

This is for you.

About Prsnt

Prsnt is a UK-based gifting platform designed to modernise how people send and receive gifts. With instant delivery, personalised messages, and a marketplace of leading brands, it removes the friction from traditional gifting and creates meaningful moments in seconds.

Follow / Subscribe for more founder stories, business lessons, and real conversations from the front line of entrepreneurship.

Dragons Den UK, Dragons Den podcast, Peter Jones investment, Steven Bartlett startup, Sara Davies Dragons Den, Deborah Meaden business, Touker Suleyman investor, Prsnt app, Prsnt gifting, startup journey UK, tech startup story, SaaS marketplace, entrepreneurship podcast UK, business podcast UK, founder story, raising investment UK, startup lessons, gifting app, digital gifting platform, Omid Moallemi interview