Investor Chanelle McCoy

A LOCAL entrepreneur on a mission to tune the attention of the world’s workplaces to wellness secured €60,000 investment from businesswoman and investor Chantelle McCoy in the latest episode of RTÉ’s Dragon’s Den series.

Clongeen native Richard Murphy, of online workplace wellness solutions firm MyMoodandMe, was first grilled on television by the show’s five dragons who tackled him on, among other topics, his preference not to wear suits while giving presentations to prospective business clients.

Investor and communications expert Gavin Duffy advised the former quantity surveyor that: “when you’re selling into the corporate health market… you’ll find that everybody you’re competing with, they hire the very best representatives… they have to look a million dollars and they have to be suited and booted.

“I feel very strongly about this,” he said.

The clothing conversation proved controversial during and after the show on social media site Twitter, where a consensus appeared to build among users that the ‘suited and booted’ approach was old-fashioned.

As Mr. Murphy later explained, he left a job where such attire was required as he felt uncomfortable in such a setting.

“It’s a lifestyle product… we’re trying to create comfort in people’s lives as well,” he said of his business which has experienced success to date.

Before finally deciding to invest, Ms. McCoy also probed the passionate health advocate on where he was from and whether he was high maintenance.

Read more in the Wexford Echo.