Two PhD students met in a computer science lab in Dublin, pointed a motion capture camera at a pair of drumsticks, and accidentally invented a revolutionary musical instrument. They took it to Dragons Den, turned down the Dragons’ offer, and built a £10 million business on their own terms. Here is what happened to Aerodrums after Dragons Den.
What Is Aerodrums?
Aerodrums is a virtual drum kit that lets you play drums in thin air. The system uses a high-speed camera to track reflective markers on specially designed drumsticks and foot pads. Your movements are converted into digital drum sounds in real time, meaning you can play a full drum kit without owning a single drum.
The entire system fits in a backpack. You plug in headphones, connect the camera to your computer, and play without making a sound that anyone else can hear. For drummers living in apartments, practising late at night, or travelling, it solves the single biggest problem with drumming: drums are loud and massive.
Aerodrums was founded in 2011 by Richard Lee and Yann Morvan, who met as PhD students in a computer science lab in Dublin. The lab had a room-sized motion capture system worth £150,000, the kind used in movies and video games. For fun, they decided to track Richard’s drumsticks to see if air drumming could actually work. It worked far beyond their expectations.
After leaving the lab, they realised they could achieve the same result with a cheap PlayStation 3 camera. That was the breakthrough. Richard is a drummer who had been playing since he was nine. Yann handled the engineering. Together they built the first batch of 500 units at home, listed them on Amazon, and booked a small booth at NAMM, the main international music instrument trade fair.
The Dragons Den Pitch
Richard and Yann appeared on Series 13 of Dragons Den in January 2016 seeking £75,000 for just 5% equity, valuing the company at £1.5 million. By this point they had already sold around 3,500 units and the product had been covered by major publications worldwide.
The first Dragon out was Touker Suleyman, who saw no value in the business. The remaining Dragons were more interested but had concerns about the niche market size. Two Dragons teamed up and offered the requested £75,000, but wanted 40% equity instead of 5%.
Richard and Yann turned it down. They believed the valuation was completely wrong and that the Dragons did not understand their market. Yann later said he was glad they appeared on the show but that the Dragons simply did not grasp the opportunity.
What Happened After Dragons Den?
Turning down the Dragons was the right call. Aerodrums has grown into one of the most successful companies to walk away from a deal on the show.
The company is now based in Liverpool where the product is assembled by a small team. Annual revenue has reached approximately £12 million. The product retails at around $160 and is sold through the company website and online retailers worldwide.
Aerodrums has continued to innovate. A free 3D/VR software update now provides users with a virtual reality drumming experience. The company also developed Aered, a groundbreaking drum part editor that is popular with professional drummers and music teachers.
Richard and Yann have deliberately avoided outside investment. As they explain on their website, they started with the idea rather than the market opportunity, and they do not want to lose their independence. There are no shareholders to please, just users and the two founders. The proceeds from sales fund all development.
Aerodrums Net Worth 2026
As of 2026, Aerodrums has an estimated net worth of approximately £10 million with annual revenue of £12 million. The company continues to grow and innovate without any outside investment.
Two PhD students in Dublin pointed a camera at some drumsticks and changed how people practice music. The Dragons offered them money but wanted eight times more equity than they were willing to give. They walked away and built a £10 million business on their own terms. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do in the Den is say no.