Warwickshire baby cream duo sooth Dragons’ Den

A HUSBAND and wife duo from Warwickshire are celebrating after taking on TV’s dragons – and winning.

Entrepreneurs and parents Lauren and Mark Taylor launched their baby skincare brand Kokoso Baby in 2014.

The couple established the brand after discovering the benefits raw virgin organic coconut oil had on their baby’s dry and sensitive skin.

The company quickly secured a deal with Boots after entering the pharmacy chain’s Inspired by Baby competition for parents with business ideas inspired by life with their little ones.

Since then, the couple’s award-winning premium organic coconut oil for babies and toddlers has also launched in JoJo Maman Bébé and a host of independent baby boutiques around the UK.

In May this year, Kokoso Baby was also selected as an ambassador for the Start Up Loans Company after helping to fund business growth with a £10,000 Government-backed start up loan.

This lead to a pitch to the famous entrepreneurs on Dragons’ Den, which was aired over the Bank Holiday weekend.

After four of the five business tycoons declared themselves ‘out’ due to conflicting interests, Kokoso Baby secured £50,000 funding from the one remaining investor, Touker Suleyman, in exchange for a 30% stake in the business.

Mr Taylor said: “It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences and we’re still kicking ourselves about things we didn’t mention. But despite that, we were thrilled to leave the Den triumphant and can’t wait to grow the business with some Touker Time to help us.”

Tim Sawyer, CEO of Start Up Loans Company, said: “In just two years, Kokoso Baby has developed from a great idea to a well-known brand, stocked in some of the UK’s most well-known retailers. As the demand for organic baby products increases, there’s no doubt that the business will continue to grow in popularity and become one of the major players in the market.

“Our ambassadors Lauren and Mark are a great example of what hard work and tenacity can achieve, and we’re excited to see how the additional investment will help the business grow from strength to strength.”