Brighton inventor tempts the Dragons

Developed by Brighton inventor Nigel Bamford, his Waterblade for taps works by taking a trickle of water and shaping it into a paper-thin sheet through which you can wash your hands or toothbrush.

It was developed in association with the University of Brighton’s Green Growth Platform – a network providing green businesses with growth and innovation support – with help from Innovate UK.

Nigel Bamford presented his device to the dragons but only Deborah Meaden came closest to making an offer. She wanted 50% of the company in exchange for the £85,000 he was asking for but, in the end, she recommended Nigel keep a higher share.

Nigel has received support from the Green Growth Platform over the past four years in terms of  product design and development, business support, market research, marketing strategy, pitching workshops and strategic sales training.

Nigel Bamford

Zoë Osmond, Platform Director, said: “This is a good example of exactly how the Platform and the University’s expertise can support local businesses to develop clean-tech products through to prototype, commercial launch and business development support.

“The Platform aims to uncover future leading inventions across clean tech/low carbon sectors and to support their R&D and business growth journey.”