The iGlove pitch on Dragons Den sparked one of the biggest debates the show has ever seen about intellectual property. Peter Jones claimed Apple would sue. Duncan Bannatyne disagreed and made a deal. The deal later fell through, but the iGlove went on to build a £2 million business without any Dragon’s help. Here is what happened to iGlove after Dragons Den.
What Is iGlove?
iGlove is a touchscreen-compatible glove that allows users to operate smartphones and tablets without exposing their fingers to the cold. The gloves feature a 7% silver compound in the fingertips that enables heat transfer and conductivity, making touchscreen interaction smooth and accurate even in freezing conditions.
Rajan Kumar Jerath, an entrepreneur based in Newcastle, UK, invented the iGlove to solve a problem that millions of smartphone users face during winter. The product range has since expanded beyond the basic glove to include leather versions and even a Bluetooth-compatible model with a speaker in the pinky fingertip and a microphone in the thumb, allowing users to answer phone calls by holding their hand to their ear.
The Dragons Den Pitch
Rajan appeared on Series 12 of Dragons Den in 2015 seeking £75,000 for an equity stake in the business. He demonstrated the technology and explained how the silver compound in the fingertips enabled touchscreen use.
The pitch quickly became about one thing: the name. Peter Jones was animated in his opinion that using the “i” prefix in front of “Glove” would attract a lawsuit from Apple. He argued that Apple owned the rights to the “i” branding across consumer electronics and that once iGlove gained enough attention, Apple would take legal action. Deborah Meaden agreed, suggesting Apple could claim all profits from iGlove sales.
Duncan Bannatyne saw things differently. He disagreed with Jones’ assessment of the legal risk and made an offer of £75,000 for 40% equity. Rajan accepted the deal.
What Happened After Dragons Den?
The deal with Duncan Bannatyne did not close after due diligence. The primary concern was Apple’s existing patent on a similar glove technology. Rajan subsequently withdrew his own patent application.
However, despite losing the deal and the patent, iGlove has continued to trade successfully. The brand kept its name and has never faced legal action from Apple, suggesting that Peter Jones’ dramatic prediction was overstated. IP lawyers who reviewed the pitch at the time publicly disagreed with Jones’ assessment, noting that the “i” prefix is not universally owned by Apple across all product categories.
The iGlove is still available for purchase through the company website. The basic touchscreen glove retails at £5.99, while the premium leather version sells for £39.99. The Bluetooth-compatible model remains the most innovative product in the range. Rajan Jerath has since stepped back from the director role and was replaced by Rajnee Jerath, though the business continues to operate.
iGlove Net Worth 2026
As of 2026, iGlove has an estimated net worth of approximately £2 million. The company has built this entirely without Dragon investment, proving that Peter Jones’ dire warnings about Apple lawsuits were not the death sentence he predicted.
The iGlove pitch remains one of the most discussed moments in Dragons Den history, not because of the product itself, but because of the intellectual property debate it triggered. It is a reminder that even the most experienced Dragons can get it wrong, and that a dramatic prediction on television is not the same as a legal reality.