Slides from Startup Wednesday 4&5: Websites & Funding

Posted by John King on January 19, 2011 under Slides | Be the First to Comment

Video: David Langer (GroupSpaces) on product & customer development, marketing and raising finance

Posted by John King on October 26, 2010 under Videos | Be the First to Comment

Ideas & Product Development

Customer Development & Marketing

Raising Finance

Pitching to Investors

Want to be on Dragons’ Den?

Posted by John King on February 8, 2010 under Competitions | Be the First to Comment

Entrepreneurs from across the country once again have a chance to make their business dreams come true by appearing on Dragons’ Den. If you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, the BBC would like to hear from you.

Dragons’ Den is a challenging place to pitch, but it’s also a genuine business opportunity to secure investment. In the most recent series, 15 entrepreneurs accepted offers of investment in the Den and plenty more have gone on to find success even without the backing of the Dragons.

The rules are simple: entrepreneurs ask for a cash investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get at least the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing. The Dragons are prepared to listen to a pitch for any kind of business but they must be convinced that it will make money.

As demonstrated by the investments in the last seven series, ideas, businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a good chance of securing the Dragons’ interest:

• A Unique Selling Point: a product that serves a need like nothing else.
• Scalability: something that can be up scaled 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.

The BBC is currently searching for Britain’s best entrepreneurs and will be auditioning throughout the coming months. We want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to enter the Dragons’ Den.

If you would like an application form please send an e-mail to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden