Dragons' Den star Imran launches winning Teddy (From The Bolton News)

Dragons' Den star Imran launches winning Teddy

1:13am Thursday 21st June 2007 in

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A Bolton entrepeneur's children's toy which won a cash grant from TV's Dragons' Den will be officially launched today.

Imran Hakim, from Astley Bridge, won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year title at last year's Bolton and Bury Business Awards.

He also succeeded in winning over the judges of TV's Dragons' Den in February, when they agreed to give him £140,000 to develop an innovative new toy - the iTeddy.

Now the interactive teddy bear, which incorporates a personal media player - a mini computer screen - on its tummy, will be unveiled in a high-profile launch at London Zoo.

The iteddy, which has a retail price of about £55, was the subject of fierce competition from major UK toy retailers to stock the first units, which have been manufactured in China with an initial production run of about 100,000.

Now the deal today will see it sold by high street retailer Argos.

Mr Hakim, aged 29, said: "We have got television crews turning up, and I am already scheduled to appear on GMTV.

"It will be fantastic to finally see my invention on the shelves. I think this could be a great retailing success story.

"iTeddy aims to develop a new brand that provides products and services designed to make a child's first steps in today's hi-tech world educational, less daunting and most importantly, fun.

"I knew that this was a great idea judging from all the market research and the overwhelming response from our trade launch at the Toy Fair 2007."

Mr Hakim also paid tribute to his partners from Dragons Den, who backed the venture.

"Working with Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones has helped catalyse the evolution of iTeddy. Through their backing and bank of contacts both in the UK and across the globe, we're looking forward to achieving major success with iTeddy.

Peter Jones said: "We were very impressed with Imran's pitch and excited by the whole concept of iTeddy. We see great potential for iTeddy and hope to have a long and prosperous working relationship."