'Have you got a sick bucket?' Dragons' Den hopeful turns the panels' stomachs with his surgery simulation business using REAL pig organs - but ends up with three investment offers
- WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
- Sam Piri from Warwickshire appeared on first episode of latest season
- Anatomy Lab Live offers 'Dinner and Dissection' events and training for students
- Deborah Meaden too squeamish to practice open heart surgery on pig organs
- But was impressed by business and was one of three to offer £90K investment
The new series of Dragons' Den got off to a gruesome start on BBC2 last night as an entrepreneur tempted the investors with his live anatomy and surgical class, featuring real animal organs.
Former secondary school teacher Sam Piri from Warwickshire, the founder of Anatomy Lab Live, wanted a £90,000 investment for five per cent of his events business, which is mainly aimed at medical trainees.
But in order to showcase his work, the Dragons had to overcome their squeamishness to approach the operating table where he'd arranged a mock body filled with real pig organs.
'Have you got a sick bucket somewhere just in case?' Jenny Campbell asked, as the Dragons approached the operating table to practice open heart surgery, while Deborah Meaden had to bow out entirely.
'That turns my stomach. I can't do that. It's the smell,' she said.
Despite their initial reticence, however, the Dragons were impressed by Sam's business, which also offers 'dinner and dissection' events, and Peter Jones, Deobrah Meaden and Tej Lalvani went head-to-head with their offers.
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![On last night's episode of Dragons' Den, Jenny Campbell, Tej Lalvani and Peter Jones practice open heart surgery with real pig organs with Sam Piri from Warwickshire, the founder of Anatomy Lab Live](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F0FEC6400000578-0-image-m-15_1534155168013.jpg)
On last night's episode of Dragons' Den, Jenny Campbell, Tej Lalvani and Peter Jones practice open heart surgery with real pig organs with Sam Piri from Warwickshire, the founder of Anatomy Lab Live
![Deborah Meaden was too squeamish to get involved and said the smell was turning her stomach, but she was still impressed by Sam's business model and offered to invest in the first episode of the latest series of Dragon's Den](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F0FEC4800000578-0-image-m-18_1534155909666.jpg)
Deborah Meaden was too squeamish to get involved and said the smell was turning her stomach, but she was still impressed by Sam's business model and offered to invest in the first episode of the latest series of Dragon's Den
When entrepreneur Sam arrived in the den, he admitted he was nervous about how the Dragons would respond to his proposal.
'We've had a couple of people vomiting,' he explained. 'We've had a couple of people passing out every now and again. Hopefully they're not too put off by the smell.'
He set up his business in 2015 and it now offers anatomy and phsyiology training in schools, hospitals, colleges across the UK, as well as 'dinner and dissection' events where anyone can pay £89 to have a two-course dinner and play at being a surgeon.
But he explained to the Dragons he's eager to expand his business across Europe and the US while there are no direct competitors.
![Entrepreneur Sam Piri from Warwickshire appeared on last night's Dragons' Den to explain he was looking for a £90,000 investment for a five per cent stake, in order to grow his business internationally](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F0FEC3C00000578-0-image-a-17_1534155906532.jpg)
Entrepreneur Sam Piri from Warwickshire appeared on last night's Dragons' Den to explain he was looking for a £90,000 investment for a five per cent stake, in order to grow his business internationally
![Dragon Jenny Campbell asked entrepreneur Sam Piri if he had a sick bucket handy after he explained they would be working with real animal organs during a surgery simulation on Sunday night's episode](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F0FEC4D00000578-0-image-a-19_1534156002671.jpg)
Dragon Jenny Campbell asked entrepreneur Sam Piri if he had a sick bucket handy after he explained they would be working with real animal organs during a surgery simulation on Sunday night's episode
Thoracic cavity allows healthcare practitioners to really contextualise and see the organs in situ, which they don't normally get in routine training.
Tej Lalvani, who is CEO of the UK's largest vitamin company Vitabiotics, was immediately interested and told Sam he could immediately give him the contacts he needs to expand.
'We've got direct connections with hundreds of thousands of doctors worldwide,' he said. 'You need to be plugged into that network as soon as possible.'
He even offered Sam £30,000 more than he'd asked for with a £120K investment, but explained that he wanted 25 per cent of his company in return.
![Vitabiotics CEO Tej Lalvani offered £120,000, £30K more than Sam was asking for on Sunday night's Dragons' Den, and promised he could put him in contact with the best doctors internationally](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F10421600000578-0-image-a-22_1534156209305.jpg)
Vitabiotics CEO Tej Lalvani offered £120,000, £30K more than Sam was asking for on Sunday night's Dragons' Den, and promised he could put him in contact with the best doctors internationally
![The Dragons had a go at simulating open heart surgery, using a real pig's heart, on Sunday night's episode. Sam explained that his surgery events and training business uses by-products of the meat industry and stops them going into landfill](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F0FEC5400000578-0-image-m-25_1534156239169.jpg)
The Dragons had a go at simulating open heart surgery, using a real pig's heart, on Sunday night's episode. Sam explained that his surgery events and training business uses by-products of the meat industry and stops them going into landfill
![Sam admitted that people had been physically sick and passed out at his events, where surgery is simulated on real animal organs. As well as training medical students, his company offers 'Dinner and Dissection' experiences where people can buy tickets to have meal and try their hand at surgery](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/08/13/11/4F103EDD00000578-0-image-a-27_1534156560065.jpg)
Sam admitted that people had been physically sick and passed out at his events, where surgery is simulated on real animal organs. As well as training medical students, his company offers 'Dinner and Dissection' experiences where people can buy tickets to have meal and try their hand at surgery
Despite her initial squeamishness, Deborah Meaden was also interested and said that although she didn't have the same contacts, growing businesses and upscaling internationally is a 'well-trodden path' for her.
She offered £90K for 15 per cent of the business, before Peter Jones jumped in to pitch his experience in managing events and understanding the market, offering the same investment for 20 per cent.
However, Sam was nervous about giving away too big a stake and asked if any of the Dragons would be interested in teamed up.
In the end, he decided to accept an offer from Peter and Deborah for half the money in return for a ten per cent stake.
Dragons' Den airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC2
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