A taxi driver from Sussex invented a bottle stacking system after a beer bottle rolled off a shelf and ruined his wife’s dessert. He took it to Dragons Den, two Dragons offered him £100,000, and he turned them down. It was one of the first times anyone had walked away from a deal on the show. Here is what happened to Rakastaka after Dragons Den.
What Is Rakastaka?
Rakastaka is the world’s first specially designed rack and stacker for securely stacking bottles and cans in any refrigerator. The simple moulded strips create a support network that allows you to stack bottles on top of each other without them rolling around. It works with wine bottles, beer bottles, cans, and water bottles.
The product was invented by Stef Matheou, a licensed private hire driver from Sussex. The idea came to him during a party when a stack of beer bottles collapsed in his fridge and ruined a dessert. Rather than just complaining about it, Stef set about designing a solution. He founded the company in 2004 and developed the product over the following year.
The Dragons Den Pitch
Stef appeared on Series 2 of Dragons Den in November 2005 seeking £100,000 for 20% equity. He demonstrated the Rakastaka and shared that he had interest from companies wanting to include it in gift packs. There were also parties interested in paying royalties to manufacture it themselves.
Two Dragons were impressed. Rachel Elnaugh and Theo Paphitis teamed up and offered Stef his requested £100,000, but they wanted 40% of the business between them. Rachel’s offer was dependent on patents being in place.
Stef countered by suggesting 15% each for their £50,000 investments. The Dragons would not budge. Neither would Stef. In a moment that shocked the Den, he turned down the offer and walked out. He was one of the first entrepreneurs in Dragons Den history to reject a deal on the show. The Dragons called him “mad.”
What Happened After Dragons Den?
Despite walking away from the Dragons, Stef’s patent came through after the show, giving the business a much stronger foundation. The Dragons Den exposure also generated significant interest.
In the early years after the show, Rakastaka secured some impressive orders. The Argus reported that the company sold 60,000 units to a company in Ireland. Products were available through the Rakastaka online store and various other online retailers.
However, the positive momentum did not last. Company financial records from 2019 showed a rising list of liabilities exceeding £70,000, very little cash, and a net worth of negative £53,000. Social media activity effectively stopped in 2019.
Stef continued driving his taxi while running Rakastaka on the side. The business ticked along but never achieved the scale that a Dragon’s investment and expertise might have delivered.
The Rakastaka website is still live and products remain available for purchase. However, the lack of any significant activity since 2019 suggests the business has stalled.
Rakastaka Net Worth 2026
As of 2026, Rakastaka has an estimated net worth of under £100,000. The company is still technically trading but with minimal activity.
The Rakastaka story raises an interesting question. Was Stef right to turn down the Dragons? He kept control of his company and his patent, but the business never grew beyond a modest sideline. Would 60% of a multi-million pound business have been better than 100% of a struggling one? It is one of the great “what if” stories from the early days of Dragons Den. Sometimes the bravest decision and the smartest decision are not the same thing.