Benedict O’Donovan, second year St Chad’s economics undergraduate, and managing director of DART (Durham Applied Robotics & Technologies), was runner up in the final of this year’s Durham University Business School ‘Dragons’ Den’ competition.

Benedict and his co-directors (also Durham students) impressed the panel of business industry judges with their pitch and their concept.

DART is developing ‘Dionysus’, a mobile robotic bartender system which will mix and serve drinks and cocktails “through an intuitive touchscreen interface” from a standard bar menu or crafted from scratch”. Bar staff input will not be necessary as customers will be able to “pay at the point of service through the inbuilt card or cash reader.”  The drink is then made before their eyes.”

Benedict and the DART team is currently building the prototype of Dionysus, making sure that the final product lives up to its potential.

About coming second in the Dragons’ Den final Benedict said: “We were very happy with the way it turned out; although we didn’t win, the feedback we received couldn’t have been any more positive.”

The other five finalists’ products were either web or app-based concepts.   DART was the only team in this year’s final developing a physical engineered solution.

Find out more about DART and Dyonisus at: www.durhamrobotics.co.uk