Dragon’s Den bat poo boffin keeps going

26 October 2007

AN ENTREPRENEUR, reeling from his rejection on BBC's Dragon's Den, has vowed to carry on with his dream of exporting bat poo from Asia.

Michael Witham, of Wickham Way, Beckenham, spoke exclusively to the Bromley Times the day after his fall from grace was shown on Monday's show.

And despite failing to impress dragons Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, James Caan, Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis, the 27-year-old entrepreneur has vowed to continue to market bat poo, or guano, as organic fertiliser in Britain.

Speaking to the Bromley Times after landing in Thailand this week, he said: "The Dragons were very fierce. They gave me quite a grilling. I went up there as best prepared as I could, but nothing can prepare you for that feeling when you are waiting on the steps.

"I tried to sell them bat manure. They all seemed very intrigued.

"But none of them have got any links with the gardening industry. They say that people don't grow their own food anymore.

"My mum and dad have been using it for years - we were looking for an organic alternative. If you go into a garden centre all the fertiliser is chicken manure, which often comes from battery farms.

"I've just arrived in Asia to go and visit bat caves in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. I'm actively looking for the source." The burgeoning businessman, who previously ran two record labels, set up his latest company, Caveman's Bat Guano, six months ago.

Guano is probably best associated with the detritus produced by the sacred white bat in the film Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, but it is still largely unknown as a fertiliser.

Mr Witham added: "Ace Ventura is probably about the best bit of publicity it has had. It's not very well known.

"But since the show I've had 90 emails come through from people who are interested in it. Garden centres are also very interested in stocking it. The business is going ahead full steam.

"Bat manure is quite quirky and people will want to give it a go."

He said that he has to export the product from Asia since bats are a protected species in Britain and it is against the law to enter their caves to collect the droppings.

But business aside, is he scared of bats? "I don't know any bats personally but they seem friendly," he said. "I hope to be getting familiar with them for the rest of my trip.