| Most people in the world of business will agree that | | | | thousand pounds investment to further develop and |
| hard work and dedication are prerequisites of success. | | | | distribute his product. Thanks to the Dragon's contacts |
| One of the best ways to achieve success is to | | | | he managed to place his sauce onto the shelves of a |
| ensure your bank has your best interests at heart at | | | | major supermarket chain and remains a popular |
| all times. If you are looking for success stories in the | | | | condiment in many homes. Recently, Levi has also |
| world of business a great place to start is the BBC's | | | | struck up a deal with a fast food chain to include his |
| television show 'Dragon's Den'. The board members on | | | | sauce in outlets across the country. |
| this show represent the ultimate of British | | | | Another success story from the Den was a board |
| entrepreneurial talent who have built up personal | | | | game named 'About Time'. While the Dragons normally |
| fortunes pursuing profits in a variety of industry | | | | reject items such as board games the inventor Iain |
| sectors. | | | | McGill had won over the board with an inventive pitch. |
| For those who have not seen the show, the premise | | | | The bank had invested already but after a period had |
| is that those who have ideas or inventions present | | | | withdrawn their support as they thought the idea was |
| them to a board of business experts. The hope of the | | | | a non-starter. Unfortunately for Iain the board game |
| interviewees is to gain a financial investment from | | | | was in a critical part of its development and this loss of |
| members of the board. Many of these hopefuls have | | | | support had hit his idea hard. He visited the Dragons as |
| already tried to gain funding from their bank but have | | | | his last chance to achieve a major investment. |
| been rejected for a number of reasons. For most | | | | The board game was based upon historical events |
| interviewees the hope is that one of the Dragons will | | | | and had a strong educational element. Seemingly this |
| see potential in their business and decide to invest. | | | | appealed to the Dragons who appreciated the |
| There is a price to pay however for gaining the | | | | educational aspect of the idea. The game is now |
| Dragons' financial backing and business acumen; | | | | stocked in specialist shops around the country and has |
| interviewees will always have to give up some of their | | | | experienced a great response from the public, |
| equity or future profits in order to secure a deal. In | | | | obviously helped by the appearance on the BBC |
| comparison, if funding is loaned from the bank, although | | | | show. |
| there will be interest no equity will be relinquished. For | | | | So far the Dragons have helped many entrepreneurs |
| most who are peddling their wares on the show | | | | who have lost the support of their bank. After many |
| however, the surrendering of equity is a small price to | | | | series the sum invested has entered the millions; while |
| pay to gain the expertise, contacts and know-how of | | | | not all of the deals brokered on the show have |
| one or more of the Dragons. | | | | experienced success, those that were pursued |
| One of the success stories from the Den was that of | | | | vehemently have managed to bring popular services |
| Levi Roots. Levi had been a MOBO music award | | | | and products to the marketplace. Most of the |
| winner in 1998 and came to the Den hoping to sell his | | | | interviewees will agree that it is not the financial |
| idea of a unique sauce. His pitch included a catchy tune | | | | investment that they want when entering the Den, to |
| advertising his 'Reggae Reggae Sauce' and the | | | | secure the knowledge and contacts of these |
| Dragons bough into the idea. Levi managed to secure | | | | behemoths of business is the ultimate objective. |
| the support of two of the Dragons as well as a fifty | | | | |