For Ryan O'Neil Knight, the answer lies in resilience, humility, and an unyielding commitment to the community.

Knight has polished his business acumen to a mirror shine and become a driving force in empowering the next generation of Black entrepreneurs.

As the mastermind behind Detailing Knights—a car detailing service with a social conscience—and the Chairman and President of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN), Knight somehow found time to cruise into the Season 19 premiere of Dragons’ Den, leaving the Dragons in awe.

I caught up with the down-to-earth Brampton native, who secured a deal with Dragon, Brian Scudamore, founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

BB: So, what inspired you to start Detailing Knights? And congratulations on your win!

Thank you! Detailing Knights started 15 years ago when I was laid off just two weeks before my wedding. I share this story because I truly believed I would grow with that company, and losing my job was the gut check I needed to push myself into entrepreneurship. 

My dad always said, 'If you want to control your destiny, start your own business.' I took that advice to heart and decided it was the perfect time to go back to school. Thanks to my wife's patience and stability, I pursued my education while launching the business.

It all began with my brother's idea—he loved cleaning cars, and I was studying accounting. From there, things just evolved naturally. We introduced a youth entrepreneurship program, and now our vision is to expand into every city and country with cars. The goal is twofold: establish a franchise and implement our youth entrepreneurship program in each location.

{https://www.instagram.com/p/DAiJriVuzps/?hl=en}

BB: Let's talk more about the youth entrepreneurship program, since that’s a core part of the business. What motivated you to incorporate that into it?

I wish someone had introduced entrepreneurship as an option when I was in high school. It might have prevented the years I spent drifting after graduation, dropping out of college, and working odd jobs. 

That's why we structured our company to teach entrepreneurship to students in high school, college, and even those who are out of school. Entrepreneurship is a unique and powerful tool that develops valuable skills for any career path. Starting a business, even if it's just for the summer while you're in high school, gives you real-world experience that prepares you for your future career. It's like a crash course in essential life skills.

BB: How has mentoring these young entrepreneurs impacted you, personally and professionally?

The most impactful part is hearing the unique stories of each youth I meet. Their journeys are often diverse and inspiring. But what sticks with me is not just their stories but their goals. 

But I've noticed that many high school students today don't dream as big as they used to. 

Our aim is to broaden their horizons, to help them think beyond their neighbourhood and consider the entire city, the country, and even the world. It's an international landscape out there, yet we often limit our thinking to just our immediate surroundings.

BB: Your waterless cleaning service is unique and sets you apart from other businesses in the industry. Can you tell us more about the approach and why environmental sustainability is important to you and the business?

Our waterless cleaning service helps reduce water waste by about 99%. Instead of using 100 gallons of water to clean a car, we only use six ounces of our solution. When sprayed onto the car, the dirt is sealed into the solution and provides lubrication. As you rub it in, the dirt moves to the cloth, and you wipe it off. It's essentially washing and polishing the car in one step—imagine waxing your car without having to pre-wash it.

This method allows for a more convenient service. We can clean cars anywhere: in driveways, open parking lots, or even underground garages. The combination of reduced water waste and increased convenience has been a major selling point for our company. Plus, the fact that our solution is plant-based ensures it's as eco-friendly as possible.

BB: When did you decide to pitch Detailing Knights on Dragons’ Den?

I've been a fan of the show for years—I think I've watched all 18 seasons and always dreamed of pitching. I tried to pitch about nine years ago, but I didn't even get a callback to present to the Dragons.

This past year, I realized it would be an incredible experience to bring other entrepreneurs along with me. So, we organized a delegation of about 25 entrepreneurs, all going down as a group. Being there together really boosted our confidence in pitching, and it encouraged me to try again.

When I finally got to pitch, it felt like the culmination of that journey. The whole experience was about inspiring others to take that leap as well. Then, everything just fell into place—we received a callback, I got to pitch, and they loved how it turned out on air.

{https://www.instagram.com/p/DAeFjG0ySSW/?hl=en}

BB: What was the most challenging aspect of the presentation?

When I committed to pitching, there weren't any challenges. The focus was on crafting and practicing my two-minute pitch and then delivering it to the producer. After that, it was all about being prepared with the details—your revenue, gross profit, plans for the investment, how much you're asking for, and what percentage of the company you're willing to offer.

The key is to anticipate the typical questions from the producer and be ready with solid answers. But beyond the numbers, they really want to understand the 'why' behind everything. Why do you want to be on the show? Why did you start the business? Why do you need the money, and what will you do with it? They're looking for the story behind the business, not just the facts and figures.

BB: The Dragons seemed supportive overall, even though only Brian Scudamore, the 1-800-GOT-JUNK? founder made a financial offer. How did you feel about the outcome? 

I was definitely hopeful that Wes might join in, but Brian was my main target because of his expertise in franchising. You might have noticed during my pitch that I was dropping hints, mentioning I was reading his book and naming companies in his portfolio like WOW 1 DAY PAINTING. I'd done my research on him and his businesses.

With Wes, I was hoping he might partner with Brian on the deal, which would have been an even bigger dream come true. But honestly, just being on the show was already a dream realized. That's when my nerves disappeared. I told myself, 'You're already here. Everything after this is a bonus.' The TV exposure, potentially getting a deal, all of that was extra. Just being selected to pitch was the fulfillment of a long-held dream for me.

BB: Have you seen any of the funds yet?

Well, first, you go through a due diligence process. Brian has a team that vets and guides new franchise partners through their process. You meet with their lawyers, who request all your documentation—financials, articles of incorporation, and other relevant paperwork. This process typically takes six months to a year, so we're still in the midst of it.

They've even provided some suggestions on fine-tuning our company structure. For instance, they want to ensure our board is robust and our C-suite is strong, focusing on roles like CEO, CTO, CMO, and CFO. We're collaborating with their team to refine our corporate structure.

After this, you receive a term sheet from O2E Brands, which is the umbrella company for all of Brian's franchises. Currently, it includes 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Shack Shine, and WOW 1 DAY PAINTING. We're working towards becoming the fourth company under this umbrella.

BB: What’s your expansion plan for Detailing Knights?

Our focus now is on finalizing the business model, including all systems and processes, essentially creating that 'business in a box' so we can sell franchises. By next year, all of that should be in place. Then, it's about marketing, attending franchise shows, and selling territories to potential franchisees.

For the youth program, we have similar goals. We're aiming to partner with more school boards and expand into more schools. The idea is to introduce our summer opportunity with Detailing Knights to every Grade 11 or 12 student. At a minimum, we should be in every high school in the GTA by the end of next year. Our maximum goal is to be across Canada within the next two to three years.

BB: Finally, what advice would you give to other Black entrepreneurs considering applying to appear on Dragons’ Den?

Absolutely do it! I call it a no-lose situation. Even if you only pitch to the producers, you'll get valuable feedback on your business story. These producers have been running the show for 19 seasons, so they've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of pitches. They know what works for TV and what doesn't.

Just sharing your idea gives you the chance to pitch in front of the Dragons and possibly appear on national television. I see it as a form of practice—you're auditioning, but you're really honing your pitch with the opportunity to reach a massive audience.

At the very least, you'll get great feedback. At best, you'll get on TV and possibly secure an investment in your company.

The 19th season of Dragons' Den is airing now on CBC and CBC Gem.