The Sunday Mirror has an expose on BBC2’s Dragon’s Den programme, listing various examples of promises of money that have simply not appeared after agreements were struck.
Whilst I admire the BBC’s attempt to make business and entrepreneurial skills a subject of interest, the format has deep flaws that undermine the very aim. Essentially, I don’t see how sensible promises of investment/involvement can be made by the Dragon’s - presented as leading business figures - based on a short pitch by frequently nervous wannabe entrepreneurs. In the grand scheme of businesses, one hundred thousand pounds is not a massive amount of cash, and perhaps they can afford to throw it away on deals with minimal facts. Presumably the BBC does a great deal of filtering and background research on the people and their plans, but the point is still it’s high-drama, make or break stuff, and whilst it might (for some) make great TV, it consequently undermines its very premise.
But that the money promised hasn’t actually appeared, or that contact with the Dragons is non-existant in many cases, just confirms to me that the format is seriously flawed, and - most likely - the Dragons themselves are merely in it for the ego/vanity. For me, at least, they wind up doing themselves few favours.
September 22nd, 2006 at 11:11 pm
Ah but Rich I saw Peter Jones on tv yesterday and he was talking about the very same thing. It transpires that often the “would be entrepeneurs” tell lies - the example which is oft quoted is the umbrella dispensing machine. The chap presenting that (successfully!) to the dragons said he had a contract with London Underground, which he didn’t. What would you do? I think I would pull out of a deal where someone had lied. It’s all very interesting to sit and go, “oooh, you wouldn’t buy one of those”…I especially like the grillings they receive, must bring out the mean side in me