Louise Truman, founder of the ethical travel company Plotpackers, secured a £120,000 investment from Dragons' Den investors Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden after delivering an emotional pitch rooted in a traumatic personal experience. Appearing on the BBC reality series, Truman sought £60,000 for 3% of her company but ultimately agreed to give up 5% each to Bartlett and Meaden in exchange for the combined investment.
A pitch driven by personal trauma
Truman told the panel—which included Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden, Susie Ma, Jenna Meek, and Peter Jones—that Plotpackers focuses on creating 'ethical, sustainable, affordable and action-packed' destination holidays. A key priority for her is women's safety, a concern she said is common among solo female backpackers.
During the pitch, Truman grew emotional as she explained that an 'extremely traumatic' event while solo backpacking at age 21 inspired her to found the company in 2023. When Peter Jones asked if she would share more, she revealed: 'I was sexually assaulted very violently and consider myself very lucky to be alive. But as much as I don't like talking about the topic, it is a big reason why I did this.' She added that 70% of Plotpackers' travellers are women.
Dragons respond with empathy and offers
The revelation drew a sympathetic response from the Dragons. Peter Jones told Truman he was 'so dreadfully, dreadfully sorry and yet you're inspiring…. turning that into this now, it's incredible.' Susie Ma added, 'Thank you for sharing, that was really brave.'
Social media users also praised her appearance. One commenter wrote, 'Omg Louise Truman, this brought a tear to my eye. You're amazing,' while another said, 'Louise, survivor to survivor: I'm so so proud of you speaking up [about] what happened to you and also very very thankful you launched plotpackers and made me and so many others feel safe while travelling.'
Negotiation leads to a joint deal
Truman received offers from Bartlett, Ma, and Meaden. Meaden emphasised that the 'why' behind the company was the most important element. Truman consulted Jenna Meek for guidance before entering negotiations, ultimately accepting a joint offer from Meaden and Bartlett for 5% each, totalling £120,000.
The new season of Dragons' Den airs on BBC One at 8pm every Thursday, with episodes available on BBC iPlayer. Rape Crisis England & Wales, a charity supporting survivors of sexual violence, offers a 24/7 free support line at 0808 500 2222.
