Dragon’s Den

Morning all, how goes the battle?

Just getting the day going and I wanted to comment on one of my new favourite shows I watched last night. I was watching the usual Wednesday night CSI and good ol Gary just was not doing it for me. I flipped by the CBC and that new show the Dragon’s Den was on. I had heard about it and have read reviews but I never thought it would grab me in like it did. I found it hard to turn the channel and in the end I gave up on CSI and settled in to watch the Den.

CBC paints the show as a gripping series where budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to get investment finance from The Dragons - elite Canadian business entrepreneurs.

I would describe it as just plain fun and if you think the judges are mean and harsh on shows like American Idol you have seen nothing. It is like the Apprentice without the over produced contestants. It is as if the Donald was putting his own cash on the line and if he were Canadian. Now that is where the comparisons stop.

The Dragons are Canadian business people who are looking to invest in companies. They are down right mean to the people pitching stupid ideas and the contestants are truly the best part. They are just like you and me. Not trying to make a name or get their five minutes of fame. They just want to grow their business that they have poured their life into.

They put one girl to tears last night and it makes for gripping TV.

More info from Wikipedia: Dragons’ Den is a television programme which originated in Japan. The format, which now airs internationally, consists of entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to secure investment finance from business experts — the “Dragons”.

Canada’s Dragons are:

Robert Herjavec, who sold his IT security firm at the height of the dot-com bubble for over $100 million.

Jim Treliving, a former RCMP officer who now owns Boston Pizza. In 2005, his restaurants generated well over $500 million in sales.

Jennifer Wood, one of the most influential executives in Canada’s beef industry. Her career in the cattle business began in 1990, and she now owns a 6,500-acre ranch with over 20,000 head of cattle.Laurence Lewin, founder of La Senza, a chain of lingerie shops with more than 310 stores throughout Canada, and, via corporate licensees, a further 320 stores operating in 30 countries around the world.

Kevin O’Leary, popular host of ROB TV’s SqueezePlay, who sold his educational software firm to Mattel for $3.2 billion.

This is a quick trailer of the show.

There is even an inside the dragon’s blog.

So next Wednesday if you are looking for something to watch, check out the CBC at 8pm and watch the carnage.

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