Circular technology start-up Kibu has secured an investment offer from entrepreneurs Peter Jones and Jenna Meek following a televised pitch on Dragons’ Den, bringing repairable children’s electronics into the national spotlight.
The award-winning brand, which makes modular, repairable headphones for children, was represented on the long-running BBC show by co-founder and managing director Sam Beaney. Kibu focused its pitch on its mission to redesign children’s consumer electronics using circular principles, prioritizing disassembly, repair and customization over disposal.
Founded through a collaboration between London-based design studio Morrama, advanced manufacturing partner Batch.Works and Beaney, Kibu was initially launched through a successful Kickstarter campaign. Since then, the company has evolved from prototype to scalable commercial product, positioning itself as a challenger brand in a sector dominated by low-cost, single-use devices.
Kibu headphones are made of modular components that can be taken apart and reassembled by children. Individual parts can be replaced within minutes, extending product life and reducing e-waste. The theme also allows for aesthetic customization, allowing users to change colors and update components as their preferences change.
The brand has already received international recognition for innovation and sustainability, meeting parents’ growing demand for durable, repairable products at a time of heightened environmental awareness.
During the broadcast, Jones praised the concept and offered his support, citing his own early experiences building and selling computers as a teenager. Meek also expressed interest in supporting the company.
Beaney told the Dragons that empowering children to build and repair their own technology changes their relationship with ownership and value. “When a child builds something himself, it changes the way he thinks about it. When he learns that he can repair what he has made, it changes the way he looks at everything he owns,” he said.
Jo Barnard, founder and creative director of Morrama, described the brand as a blueprint for future-proof electronics. She argued that by combining onshore manufacturing with agile supply chains, Kibu could open up greater opportunities in consumer technology for children.
Julien Vaissieres, managing director of Batch.Works, said the project showed how manufacturing can be structured to reduce waste while maintaining economic viability. As a founder and parent, he said, the appeal lies in giving children agency over the products they use every day.
Dragons’ Den, now in its 23rd season, remains one of the UK’s most visible entrepreneurial platforms, attracting around three million viewers per episode on BBC One. For Kibu, the presence provides both capital and brand awareness at a crucial growth phase.
With the support of investors, Kibu now plans to expand distribution while further developing its circular design ethos. The company believes its repair-first approach could expand beyond headphones to a broader range of children’s electronics, an industry segment increasingly scrutinized for its environmental footprint.
As sustainability pressures increase and right-to-repair legislation gains traction in global markets, Kibu’s model may offer the first glimpse into the future development, manufacturing and ownership of children’s consumer electronics.
