18th May 2012
BBC2's Dragons Den
31st Oct 2006
BBC2's Dragons Den are once again searching for great entrepreneurs with business ideas, inventions or products with serious business potential that are investment ready and looking for funding.
Please see flyer and application form
Last series, 27 year old Ian Chamings secured investment of £150,000 when he convinced the Dragons that his piece of mixing software MixAlbum.com was set to revolutionise dance music downloads.
Matthew Hazell pitched his First Light Solutions ‘man overboard’ alert system to the Dragons and impressed them with his water tight patent, securing the investment of £100,000.
Rob Kinna received an investment of £60,000 for his Bak-Jak – a simple support system designed to protect car mechanics from back strain injuries.
Not everyone gets investment in the Den but plenty go on to find success. John Moreland Lynn and his designer polo clothing label Polistas subsequently secured private investment and he’s now on track to open the flagship store. Anneliese Pritchard’s Nitty Gritty guide to Bristol went on to win a sponsorship deal with a major bank for a branded student map and she’s now discussing opportunities to go nationwide. And even after the Dragons pooh-poohed her disposable toilet seat covers, Jacqueline Edwards was approached by potential investors and is in discussions to supply through dispensing machines throughout the UK.
As demonstrated by the investments in the last three series, there are key areas that make an entrepreneur viable for Dragons’ Den. Ideas, businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a really good chance of securing the Dragons’ interest:
The Unique Selling Point: A product that serves a need like nothing else.
Scalability: Something that can be upscaled to make real money.
Route to Market: The clear way the product can be sold and marketed.
Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: Just what will the Dragons get out of it?
Exit Strategy: A plan of how the entrepreneur/Dragon will exit and make money.
Entrepreneurs wanting to apply can do so via email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or by visiting the website www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden
If you have any questions relating to the programme, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me:
Michelle Maxwell, Production Runner, Dragons Den, Room 4100, TVC, London, 0208 225 8955
