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'I fled Ukraine as a refugee - now I've won investment on Dragons' Den' Ukrainian refugee wins investment from Dragons' Den
(17 days later)
Yana set up a distribution company to bring Ukrainian products to the UKYana set up a distribution company to bring Ukrainian products to the UK
A Ukrainian refugee who fled her war-torn home country with just a bag of belongings has secured investment on Dragons' Dan after pitching her fashion business.A Ukrainian refugee who fled her war-torn home country with just a bag of belongings has secured investment on Dragons' Dan after pitching her fashion business.
Yana Smaglo set up home with friends in Huddersfield and started Nenya, which imports luxury clothing made in Ukraine "with love and bravery".Yana Smaglo set up home with friends in Huddersfield and started Nenya, which imports luxury clothing made in Ukraine "with love and bravery".
The 30-year-old appeared on the BBC show on Thursday and struck a deal for £80,000 of funding from dragons Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.The 30-year-old appeared on the BBC show on Thursday and struck a deal for £80,000 of funding from dragons Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett.
She told the panel that she "really wanted to do something" for the country of her birth.She told the panel that she "really wanted to do something" for the country of her birth.
Yana took some of her employees along to support her and model the clothesYana took some of her employees along to support her and model the clothes
Ms Smaglo told the judges: "Nenya is a distribution company which represents high quality Ukrainian products for an international market.Ms Smaglo told the judges: "Nenya is a distribution company which represents high quality Ukrainian products for an international market.
"Our mission is to help Ukrainian companies to increase sales and support the economy by taxes, and create new workplaces for Ukrainian refugees in the UK.""Our mission is to help Ukrainian companies to increase sales and support the economy by taxes, and create new workplaces for Ukrainian refugees in the UK."
When asked by investor Bartlett where her drive came from, she replied: "Let's say, when you lose everything that you worked for, your home and everything and you need to build your life again, this is driving you a lot."When asked by investor Bartlett where her drive came from, she replied: "Let's say, when you lose everything that you worked for, your home and everything and you need to build your life again, this is driving you a lot."
"Dragon" Peter Jones told her she had made "a heart-wrenching pitch" which was "inspiring", with Meaden adding her products were "luxury and lovely"."Dragon" Peter Jones told her she had made "a heart-wrenching pitch" which was "inspiring", with Meaden adding her products were "luxury and lovely".
The 30-year-old said the most nerve-wracking part of it had been facing the camerasThe 30-year-old said the most nerve-wracking part of it had been facing the cameras
Nenya now has 98 wholesale partners across three continents, products in two department stores and a yearly turnover of £100,000.Nenya now has 98 wholesale partners across three continents, products in two department stores and a yearly turnover of £100,000.
Some of the five brands she distributes were originally based in Kharkiv but had to relocate their manufacturing to the safer western part of the country.Some of the five brands she distributes were originally based in Kharkiv but had to relocate their manufacturing to the safer western part of the country.
In Ukraine, Ms Smaglo owned her own brand of womenswear and she said Nenya translated as "motherland".In Ukraine, Ms Smaglo owned her own brand of womenswear and she said Nenya translated as "motherland".
She said: "It was my first experience of pitching investment and it was quite challenging, especially in English."She said: "It was my first experience of pitching investment and it was quite challenging, especially in English."
The BBC contacted her and asked her to take part in the show.The BBC contacted her and asked her to take part in the show.
She said: "They told me, 'we found your business and we think it's really good, would you consider taking part?'She said: "They told me, 'we found your business and we think it's really good, would you consider taking part?'
"I have to be honest, I had never seen it."I have to be honest, I had never seen it.
"I messaged my chat group and I said,' I had this call and they invited me - should I accept it?'. And they all said yes!""I messaged my chat group and I said,' I had this call and they invited me - should I accept it?'. And they all said yes!"
She added: "I had my own business before, I have a strategy, so pitching in front of other businesspeople, it is OK.She added: "I had my own business before, I have a strategy, so pitching in front of other businesspeople, it is OK.
"What made me nervous was the cameras, not the people!""What made me nervous was the cameras, not the people!"
She accepted a joint offer from Meaden and Bartlett, with each investing £40,000 for a 5% share.She accepted a joint offer from Meaden and Bartlett, with each investing £40,000 for a 5% share.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.