Interview with Tom Schoffelen - Dragon’s Den Winner

Discover what inspired Tom Schoffelen, General Manager of ChemSmog, to pitch at Dragon's Den, how he overcame challenges to secure a win, and the impact of this success on his company's growth and vision for the future.

Read the full interview: LogiChem Blog: Interview with Tom Schoffelen - Dragon’s Den Winner.

Find a preview below:

Tom Schoffelen, General Manager of ChemSmog, recently made waves by winning the prestigious LogiChem 2024 Dragon’s Den competition. His innovative approach to managing slow-moving chemical inventory impressed the Dragons and industry leaders alike. In a candid interview, he shared insights into his journey, from preparing for the pitch to planning the future of ChemSmog.

Tom was inspired to pitch at Dragon’s Den as a way to showcase ChemSmog’s sustainable solution for the chemical industry while gaining invaluable feedback from experts. “As a young startup, we’re incredibly passionate about revolutionizing the industry, but we knew validation and refinement were key,” he explained. Despite it being one of their first public pitches, his team embraced the opportunity to align their innovation with the industry’s broader sustainability goals.

Preparing for the pitch involved a meticulous process, including rebranding, refining their message, and creating a professional presentation. “We redesigned our logo and pitch deck to ensure a lasting impression,” Schoffelen said. This preparation paid off when the Dragons probed deeply into ChemSmog’s business model, particularly how they successfully sell inventory others struggle to move. By highlighting their proprietary data-driven approach, Schoffelen demonstrated how ChemSmog unlocks value by connecting chemical suppliers with new markets.

Winning Dragon’s Den has been a game-changer for ChemSmog, offering invaluable exposure, investor interest, and networking opportunities. Schoffelen advises fellow entrepreneurs to listen to customer feedback and refine their ideas continuously. “Iterating based on real-world insights is crucial to creating a solution that resonates with the market,” he shared.

Looking ahead, ChemSmog plans to expand its team, deepen its market presence, and explore partnerships to address a larger share of the chemical supply chain. Reflecting on his participation in LogiChem, Schoffelen praised the conference for its strong emphasis on sustainability and collaboration, which he sees as vital to building a more innovative and sustainable future.