Dragons' Den
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television programmes featuring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan as "マネーの虎" (Tiger of Money, a pun on "Tiger of Malaya", the nickname of a famous WWII general, Tomoyuki Yamashita). The format is owned by Sony Pictures Television International.
Show format [edit]
The contestants are usually product designers or service operators who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding and direction. They pitch their idea to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, the eponymous "dragons" (or "tigers" in the original Japanese show, "sharks" in the U.S. and Israeli versions and "lions" in Finland and Romania). Before the show, the contestants have named a specific amount of money that they wish to get (along with a percentage in the business that the contestant is offering to sell to the investors), and the rules stipulate that if they do not raise at least this amount from the dragons, they get nothing. In return, the contestant gives the dragons a percentage of the company's stock, which is the chief point of negotiation. The program does not show the entire pitch as scenes are selected and edited from the episode due to time constraints.
The dragons probe the idea further once the contestant has made the presentation. This will either reveal a sound business proposition that the investor may become interested in investing capital in return for equity, or an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestant (such as the contestant's lack of knowledge of the business' profits or margins), the uncovering of troubling facts (such as insufficient sales or manufacturing margins) or other reasons which may play a factor in the investors consequently rejecting the investment (such as the investor asking for a larger equity stake in the business than the contestant wants to give up, the contestant's valuation on the business being too high compared to its overall profits or the investor's belief that they cannot add value to the business). A contestant may give a counteroffer to the investors, if they feel their offer is not sufficient compared to the contestant's initial offer, which may also be subject to rejection if the investor feels the contestant asking for too high a monetary amount and/or an insufficiently low equity than the investor's previous offer.
Versions [edit]
Dragons' Den series have been produced in numerous different countries. Apart from in Japan (where the show debuted) the show names, structures, and styles are based upon the UK version.
Afghanistan [edit]
In Afghanistan, the show is called Fikr wa Talash.[1]
Arab world [edit]
In the Arab world, Dragons' Den was known as Dragons' Den: Al Aareen العرين (The Den). It was broadcast on the Lebanese channel Future Television and was hosted by Ibrahim Abu Jawdeh. The show received contestants from various Arab countries.
The panel of Dragons for the 2007 series consisted of:
- Omar El-Quqa
- Ahmad Tantash
- Nassif Karam
- Roger Azar
Australia [edit]
The Australian version of Dragons' Den was broadcast on the Seven Network and hosted by Andrew O'Keefe. Different from other versions, the host ran through the outline of the business with the contestant then negotiating with the Dragons for a deal. It was produced by Michael Horrock. The Australian Dragons were:
- Peter Higgins
- Sarina Russo
- Darryn Lyons
- Suzi Dafnis
- Siimon Reynolds
The Seven Network announced in December 2005 that the show would not be back for a second season after poor ratings.
Canada [edit]
English version [edit]
The Canadian Dragons are/were:
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Québec version in French [edit]
The Québécois version: Dans L'Oeil du Dragon (In the Dragon's Eye), began airing in 2012, hosted by Paul Houde.
The Dragons were:
- Dany Vachon - co-founder of Impera Advisory Inc., PVG Partners LLC and Fusion Immunovative/NVNC
- Danièle Henkel - president and founder of Danièle Henkel Inc
- François Lambert - co-founder of Aheeva and Atelka
- Gaétan Frigon - executive chairman of Publipage
- Normand Legault - member of several boards of directors [2]
Croatia [edit]
The Croatian version of Dragons' Den called Zmajevo gnijezdo was scheduled to be broadcast in May 2007 on Croatian Radiotelevision and produced by Ocean Film, a local production company.
Contracted Croatian Dragons were:
- Maja Pečarević - owner of Generalturist, the leading and oldest travel agency in Croatia.
- Hrvoje Prpić - owner of Smee d.o.o, bamboo flooring company.
- Davor Štern - owner of Trade Consulting d.o.o., business consulting company.
- Juroslav Buljubašić - co-owner of Blue Line International, the international maritime company.
- Branko Roglić - owner of Orbico, one of the leading importers and distributors of various consumer goods and toys in Croatia.
A few shows were filmed but never broadcast because of undisclosed reasons.
Czech Republic [edit]
In the Czech Republic, the show is called Den D (The D-Day).
It first aired on 31 March 2009 on Czech TV (CT1 channel), in a very similar set up to the British version of BBC.
The show is hosted by radio host Jan Pokorny, and the dragon investors are:
- Ivan Pilny - former GM of Microsoft in Czech Republic, Chairman of the Board of Czech Telecom and entrepreneur (1st & 3rd series)
- Marta Novakova - founder and CEO of U&SLUNO software company (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
- Ondrej Bartos - serial entrepreneur, consultant and venture capitalist, Partner with Credo Ventures (1st & 2nd series)
- Dana Berova - former minister of informatics, entrepreneur and Business Development Director of Gartner (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
- Tomio Okamura - Czech-Japanese entrepreneur in travel and retail, he brings Japanese tourists to the Czech Republic and sells Japanese products to Czechs (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
- Michael Rostock - investment banker and advisor with Venture Investors Corporate Finance (2nd & 3rd series)
The Dragons are/were:
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Finland [edit]
In Finland Dragons' Den is called Leijonan kita, which means the jaws or the mouth of a lion. The show started running in Finland on 27 September 2007 on MTV3 channel. The show was hosted by Anna Sorainen. The local Dragons, or Leijonat (lions), are:
- Kyösti Kakkonen
- Eero Lehti
- Toivo Sukari
- Lisa Sounio
- Kaija Ward
Ireland [edit]
An Irish version of the show began in 2009 on RTÉ One, the state broadcaster. It is presented by Richard Curran, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Business Post.
The Irish Dragons are/were:
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The Dragons have appeared on television in Ireland, in promotion of the series, on Tubridy Tonight, on RTÉ One. RTÉ started broadcasting show promos after Christmas as part of their winter line-up.
The first episode was broadcast on 19 February 2009.
A third season of Dragons' Den began airing on RTÉ One, on Thursday, 20 February 2011. Norah Casey was the new Dragon for the third season. Episodes at the end of the third season, for the first time on Dragons' Den in Ireland, showed the Dragons on tour visiting their past investments.
Dragon Seán Gallagher stood for President of Ireland in 2011 but came second behind poet and intellectual Michael D. Higgins after a controversy erupted over a €5,000 cheque he had received in an envelope.[3][4]
A fourth season of Dragons' Den was commissioned.[5] Sean O'Sullivan replaced Seán Gallagher.[6] Sean is co-founder at Avego Ltd, based in Kinsale.
For the fourth series of Dragons' Den, a live, interactive "Sixth Dragon Game" was developed to be played whilst watching the show. Where viewers are able to decide in real time if they're IN or OUT as the pitches unfold. The "Sixth Dragon Game" is the first live, interactive game for a TV show in Ireland.
Episodes of Dragons' Den are also now being shown on Dave every Wednesday at 7pm which means it is also available to the Great Britain. Episodes began airing on 6 July 2011.
Israel [edit]
In Israel, Dragons' Den is entitled Hakrishim, which is Hebrew for "The Sharks". It is produced by Gil Productions and is broadcast on Channel 10. It is hosted by Guy Zohar. In the Israeli version, there are 6 dragons who rotate their appearance weekly. The first season was broadcast during the summer and fall of 2006. The dragons in season 1 were: Ze'ev Holtzman, Israela Shtier, Aviv Tzidon, Oded Dessau, Jacky Ben-Zaken, and Nir Sharatzki. The second season began being broadcast on Channel 10 on 24 May 2007. As in the first season, the dragons rotate their appearance weekly. Aviv Tzidon and Jacky Ben-Zaken returned from the first season and were joined by the following new dragons:
- Yossi Moldavsky
- Nir Barkat
- Amir Eyal
- Roni Ross
- Amos Luzon
Japan [edit]
Titled "マネーの虎 Manê no Tora" (Money Tigers), this is the original version. It was created by and broadcast on Nippon Television from 2001 to 2004. It was the first entertainment programme in the history of Japanese television that dealt with the concept of business investment. During its three year run, as many as 16 business executives appeared in the programme as Tigers.[7]
Netherlands [edit]
In the Netherlands the show was broadcast in May 2007 on Nederland 3, every Friday at 20.25 (+1 GMT). The second and last season was broadcast in May 2008 on Nederland 3, every Monday at 21.25 (+1 GMT). As in the first season, it was hosted by Jort Kelder.
The dragons were:
- Henk Keilman
- Annemarie van Gaal
- Jan Pieter Melchior (2007)
- Willem Sijthoff
- Arjen de Koning
- George Banken (2008)
New Zealand [edit]
In New Zealand Dragons' Den is broadcast on TV One and hosted by Rawdon Christie. Initially the UK and Australian series were broadcast, but a local version was produced and screened in 2006. The series is produced by Eyeworks Touchdown. The New Zealand Series 1 Dragons are:
- Julie Christie
- Bob Jones
- Annette Presley
- Paul Webb
- Barry Colman
Production company Eyeworks Touchdown is currently soliciting applications for a second series of Dragons' Den.
Nigeria [edit]
Nigeria's adaptation of Dragons' Den was broadcast weekly in 2008 on the AIT Network and produced by Storm Vision.
The Nigerian Dragons were:
- Prince Femi Tejuoso
- Ibunkun Awosika
- Chris Parkes
- Alexander Amosu
- John Momoh
- Tokunboh Ishmael
A second series is now being commissioned.
Poland [edit]
In Poland, the program is called "Dragons Den - How to be a millionaire" and is broadcast on the station TV4 since 2011. The biggest win in the program happened April 24, 2011 in the amount 15,000,000 PLN (5,500,000 U.S. dollars) [8]
The Polish Dragons in 2011 are:
- Maciej Kaczmarski founder, Kaczmarski Inkasso companies, the National Debt Register and Reliable Company, called the king of Polish recovery
- Anna Garwolińska, head of Glaubicz Garwolińska Consultants
- Grzegorz Hajdarowicz, owner of the Group Gremi
- Marian Owerko CEO Bakalland
- Krzysztof Golonka, president of an investment fund Xevin
Romania [edit]
There is a Romanian version of the format called Arena Leilor. The Romanian Lions are:
- Marius Ghenea
- Dragos Anastasiu
- Florin Talpes
- Mircea Tudor
- Mihaela Nicola
The show started in 2007.
Russia [edit]
There was a Russian version of the format called KAPITAL.
Saudi Arabia [edit]
It was announced in December 2009 that Saudi Arabian broadcaster STV1 will be showing the BBC version of Dragons' Den in January 2010, followed by a local production in February.[9] It has been broadcasted on 2011, and it's called " Altujar التجار" the dragons are : Saleh Kamel, Ahmed Fitihy, Nashwa Altahir, Altaiar, Alhalafy
Slovenia [edit]
It was announced in May 2012 that new Slovenian broadcaster Planet TV, owned by Telekom Slovenije, will be showing local version of Dragons' Den in Fall 2012. The title of the Slovenian version will be called "Dober posel" (Good Deal). It will begun to air from November 11, 2012.
The Slovenian Dragons are:
- Branko Drobnak, Procurator at Alta Skupina d.d., a asset management, non-discretional brokerage services, corporate finance services, accounting and audit services company. He is part of The Business Angels Club of Slovenia and Non-executive Chairman of Acies bio d.o.o, a biotechnology contract research organization.
- Borut Rismal General Manager, CHS d.o.o., a computer peripherals distribution company
- Daniela Bervar Country Manager for Slovenia at Cotrugli Business School and co-owner of MEDIA LAB d.o.o. deal of the day business company.
- Jure Mikuž founder of RSG Capital, a venture-capital management company
- Matjaž Krč, a business angel and Managing Director at Ideus d.o.o., business consulting services for small and mid-sized companies.
Sweden [edit]
The British version was on air in Sweden for several years on TV8 and BBC Prime. A Swedish version called Draknästet (English: "The Dragons' Nest") was broadcast in 2009 on Sveriges Television.[10] A second season started in March 2010.
The Swedish Dragons 2010 are:
- Mats Gabrielsson, who sold his IT firm at the height of the late 80s for over $100 million
- Douglas Roos founder and chairman of nyheter24.se
- Susanna Falkengren cofounder and member of Exipos Invest
- Sven Hagströmer founder of HQ, Avanza, Investment AB Öresund and also in the board for the public companies Bilia, Eworks and Insplanet
- Richard Båge, founder of Insplanet IPO in 2006, founder and chairman of Mediaplanet
Previous Dragons 2009:
- Gunilla von Platen CEO and founder of Xzakt Kundrelation, a telemarketing company located in Sweden
- Ljubo Mrnjavac sold his fast food company Pölsemannen 2002. Today active in real estate
Turkey [edit]
The Turkish version of Dragons' Den will be shown on BloombergHT. In 2010 the UK version is shown with Turkish subtitles.
Ukraine [edit]
In Ukraine, the series was called Акули бізнесу (Business Sharks) and featured Dragons such as future presidential candidate Serhiy Tihipko.
United Kingdom [edit]
In the UK, Dragons' Den is broadcast on BBC Two which has exclusive rights to the show's format from its Japanese producers. The Executive Producer is Dominic Bird[11] and it is hosted by former BBC economics editor Evan Davis. So far in the Den, the 'Dragons' have agreed to invest in 110 companies, with Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis agreeing investments in 29 businesses each since 2005, followed by Deborah Meaden who has invested 33 times since she joined in Series 3 in 2006, followed by Duncan Bannatyne with 17 investments since 2005, and James Caan with 14 since he joined in 2007.
The Dragons are/were:
| Seat Order (Right to Left) |
Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3 | Series 4 | Series 5 | Series 6 | Series 7 | Series 8 | Series 9 | Series 10 | Series 11 |
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The BBC website also has an online Den hosted by Radio 1's Dominic Byrne and featuring two new Dragons: Shaf Rasul and Julie Meyer. Entrepreneurs can pitch for a maximum of £50,000, and as with the television version, must be offered all the money or they walk away with no investment. In contrast to the television version, however, entrepreneurs may apply by submitting a three-minutes 'raw pitch'. BBC Two have commissioned this as 30-minute programs broadcast on Wednesdays from 9:30pm until 10pm.
United States [edit]
In 2008, television producer Mark Burnett signed a deal with format holder Sony to produce an American version of the series. The series on U.S. television is titled Shark Tank.[12]
The U.S. network ABC ordered a pilot episode which was produced by Sony Pictures TV.[13] On 9 October 2008, a casting producer announced that The Shark Tank was accepting applications for a pilot, giving entrepreneurs two weeks to submit their ideas. The pilot was filmed 6–9 January 2009 in Los Angeles.[14]
On September 4, 2012, Shark Tank began its 4th season. The Sharks are:
- Mark Cuban, owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks and billionaire entrepreneur.
- Robert Herjavec, who sold his IT security firm at the height of the dot-com bubble for over $100 million
- Kevin O'Leary, co-host of The Lang and O'Leary Exchange on CBC News Network, formerly president of The Learning Company, which was sold to Mattel for $3.7 billion in 1999
- Barbara Corcoran, self-made real estate millionaire who sold her company The Corcoran Group for $70 million in 2001
- Daymond John, founder of FUBU[15]
- Lori Greiner, President and CEO of For Your Ease Only, as well as host of a monthly show on the QVC Network
| Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 [16] | Season 4 |
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See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Burch, Jonathon (1 September 2008). "Reality TV show stirs business spirit in Afghanistan". Reuters. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012.
- ^ https://publicite.radio-canada.ca/b2bfcs/content/fcscontent.aspx?folderid=465&contentid=35266
- ^ "Businessman says Gallagher collected €5,000 cheque". The Irish Times. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Hugh Morgan says he handed cheque to Gallagher". RTÉ. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ "Dragons' Den looking for entrepreneurs". RTÉ. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ Kelpie, Colm (26 November 2011). "Latest Dragon breathes new life into show". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ ja:マネーの虎
- ^ http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/dragons-den-jak-zostac-milionerem-wiosna-w-czworce#
- ^ http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k9/dec/dec236.php
- ^ SVT pressrelease
- ^ http://careers.guardian.co.uk/audio/dominic-bird-executive-producer-dragons-den
- ^ Sony, Burnett dive into 'Shark Tank', Variety [1] 13 February 2008
- ^ ABC to Swim With Burnett's 'Shark' [2] 4 September 2008
- ^ First Shark Announced [3] 28 January 2009
- ^ Introducing the Sharks [4] 30 March 2009
- ^ Mark Cuban joins 'Shark Tank' for season three - EXCLUSIVE | Inside TV | EW.com
External links [edit]
- Dragons' Den at BBC Online (official UK website)
- Den D (official Czech Republic website)
- Dragons' Den (official Netherlands website)
- Dragons' Den (official Polish website)
- Dragons' Den (official New Zealand website)
- Hakrishim (official Israel website)
- Dragons' Den: Al Aareen (official pan-Arab website)
- Dragons' Den (official Nigerian website)
- Dragons' Den (RTÉ's official Irish website)
- Dragons' Den (official Slovenian website)
- "Manê no tora" (2001) at the Internet Movie Database
- "Dragons' Den" (2004) at the Internet Movie Database
- "Dragons' Den" (2005) at the Internet Movie Database
- "Dragons' Den" (2006) at the Internet Movie Database
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