British 3D Printed Headphones Win £65,000 Investment on Dragons' Den!

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March 21, 2026 News 9677

Last night, BBC's hit entrepreneurial show Dragons' Den welcomed a special founder—Sam Beaney, co-founder of Kibu.

He didn't bring ordinary headphones, but a set of 3D printed headphones that children can assemble themselves and repair when broken. He successfully impressed two "dragon" investors, securing a £65,000 investment!

Kibu is the result of a collaboration between 3D printing manufacturer Batch.Works, design studio Morrama, and Sam. When it launched on Kickstarter in 2024, it made an immediate splash, exceeding its crowdfunding goal by raising £22,293. To date, it has sold over 450 pairs of headphones, with sales of approximately £25,000.

Priced at £39 per pair, some investors thought it wasn't cheap. But Sam emphasized: Kibu sells not just a product, but a sustainable consumption philosophy—all parts can be 3D printed and replaced, allowing a single pair of headphones to last for many years. "We want to shape a generation of builders, not just consumers," he said.

These words resonated with investor Peter Jones—who recalled how valuable his own experiences tinkering with and building computers as a young person were. In the end, two investors jointly offered £65,000, each taking a 10% stake.

This is the first fully 3D printed consumer product to appear on Dragons' Den. The CEO of Batch.Works stated: "Manufacturing should enable better choices, not create more waste. Kibu embodies that philosophy."

With funding and the endorsement of the "dragons," can Kibu inspire more children to fall in love with "hands-on creation"? It's certainly worth watching!