# Taming the Dragons whilst Saving the Planet

- Show: [It's Only a Prototype](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype)
- Published: 2025-05-01
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/phil-staunton/episodes/Taming-the-Dragons-whilst-Saving-the-Planet-e3h2eop

## Summary

Lisa Hicks, founder of SNOAP, explains how she turned a lockdown frustration with slippery, unhygienic solid soap bars into the world’s first solid soap and shampoo dispenser. She details the development of seven prototypes to achieve a durable, 25-year lifespan and the rigorous due diligence required before appearing on Dragons' Den. After the episode aired, Hicks managed a massive surge in direct-to-consumer orders and secured investment from Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones to drive global expansion.

## Chapters

- [0:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=10) Introduction: Lisa Hicks and SNOAP
- [2:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=165) The Problem with Liquid Wash and Solid Soap
- [8:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=493) Prototyping Challenges and Iterations
- [13:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=797) Sustainability Principles and Environmental Impact
- [17:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=1064) Invitation to Dragons' Den and Personal Tragedy
- [20:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=1221) Preparing for the Pitch and Filming Day
- [24:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=1465) The Pitch and Choosing Deborah and Peter
- [30:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=1817) Post-Show Surge in Orders and Scaling
- [43:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=2610) IP Protection and Dealing with Copycats
- [50:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet#t=3049) Working with Husband and Business Partner

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- SNOAP (product)
- Dragons' Den (other)
- Deborah Meaden (other)
- Peter Jones (other)
- Sarah Beeny (other)
- Touker Suleyman (other)
- Docken Bay (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Scrub Daddy: Aaron Krause. How a Failed Experiment Became a Billion-Dollar Sponge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-03-16-scrub-daddy-aaron-krause-how-a-failed-experiment-became-a-billion-dollar-sponge) (How I Built This)
- [Serial Entrepreneur: Marcia Kilgore (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-08-12-serial-entrepreneur-marcia-kilgore-2018) (How I Built This)
- [173 - The amazing foldable origami bottle! With Co Founder of Difold, Radina Popova](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2022-12-15-173-the-amazing-foldable-origami-bottle-with-co-founder-of-difold-radina-popova) (People of Packaging)
- [S'well: Sarah Kauss](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-06-swell-sarah-kauss) (How I Built This)
- [18: No Cool Cheap Screwdrivers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2016-09-17-18-no-cool-cheap-screwdrivers) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-01-taming-the-dragons-whilst-saving-the-planet. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to It's Only a Prototype.