A cricket apparel business established by two adolescent sisters from West Sussex secured investment propositions from all five panellists during a recent broadcast of the BBC entrepreneurial programme.
Honor Black, aged 18, and her younger sibling Cat, aged 17, presented their venture Maiden Cricket during the August 28 episode.
Their presentation focused on improving access to cricket for women and girls, prompting offers from the entire investment panel.
The enterprise originated in 2024 after the pair grew dissatisfied with the limited availability of cricket attire and gear specifically engineered for female participants.
Their personal encounters within a sport traditionally dominated by male involvement motivated them to develop products addressing this gap in the market.
During the broadcast, the entrepreneurs fielded a consolidated proposal of £50,000 from established investors Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Steven Bartlett, and Touker Suleyman, alongside guest panellist Gary Neville.
The proposed transaction would have transferred a 25 percent equity share in the company.
The broadcast appearance represented another significant achievement for the expanding business, which now maintains partnerships with sporting clubs, educational institutions, higher education establishments, and regional cricket boards throughout Britain.
The company has additionally cultivated a network comprising hundreds of female representatives and is initiating expansion into the North American market in anticipation of cricket’s inclusion at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Honor described the experience as profoundly nerve-wracking, noting their commitment to articulating the necessity for superior equipment designed specifically for women’s cricket before a nationwide viewership.
Cat explained that the enterprise emerged from frustration among young female players who previously had no alternative but to utilise kit originally conceived for male athletes.
Nevertheless, viewers did not witness the complete conclusion of events.
Despite accepting the investment proposal during the recording, the pair subsequently opted not to proceed with the arrangement.
Maiden Cricket instead concluded an alternative funding campaign that exceeded its target, with reports indicating the round attracted in excess of £400,000 and established a company valuation of £2.1 million.
Regarding their choice, Cat informed BusinessCloud that discussions following the programme led the family to conclude that surrendering a quarter of the enterprise for £50,000 represented an excessive concession.
She noted that while the panellists had achieved considerable business accomplishments, they were not deemed suitable partners for a venture centred on women’s athletics.
The founders maintain their dedication to guaranteeing female cricketers obtain equipment purpose-built for their requirements, rather than relying upon modified iterations of products initially created for men.