Dragon's Den Thread

[glaswegian]

Anyone follow this show

http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/

Anothr one of those British ideas that has creeped over here.

[sprung]

FYI - for people in Toronto tonight (Sept 28)

Kevin O'Leary Presenting his book Cold Hard Truth. 7 pm. Free. Reference Library, 789 Yonge, torontopublicibrary.ca.

[Mykester]

I love the show, but prefer Shark Tank. In DD it's mostly "I would have gone in but your evaluation is too high" or "it's too early" while in ST they take more risks. I also hate the new guy and Robert looks like a rat.

[grappos13]

^ lol.. Robert's hair is beyond repair..

[Juggs88]

The new guy was a much needed addition to the show. He seems to be the only one with any sort of personality.

[biee]

I was actually watching this last night for the first time... had some laughs but probably wouldn't follow it...

I thought the show was similar to 'America's next great inventor', which was better than this one...

[noodlesalad]

can't stand Jim - never formulates his own thoughts about a deal.. Jim only has 2 lines: always just chimes in with "i'll do that deal" or "i want at least 50% for me to consider" lol
kevin is prick but is hilarious

the best invention was that kid who invented the uno-cycle : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXO4Ki8qsvk

[carmaster]

Jim is dead weight on the show. What's up with Robert's hair!

[YourBuddy]

Does anyone else think they have no idea about how to invest in websites? I remember one episode where the were wowed by a job website that had Google Maps integration. Another was some cell phone bidding website which thought they could get better rates than the carrier. If anyone remembers the website please let me know because I want to see if I was wrong about them failing.

I always wonder if they just "pretend" to invest then cancel out later just to make it seem like they have unlimited money. Everyone knows that the team is more important than a website idea yet they don't care about that at all. They think website ideas are worth so much money and don't check to see if the team can actually build the website.

As much as the show is fun to watch, it always makes you wonder if they're just fake investing.

[motto1997]

Does anyone else think they have no idea about how to invest in websites? I remember one episode where the were wowed by a job website that had Google Maps integration. Another was some cell phone bidding website which thought they could get better rates than the carrier. If anyone remembers the website please let me know because I want to see if I was wrong about them failing.

I always wonder if they just "pretend" to invest then cancel out later just to make it seem like they have unlimited money. Everyone knows that the team is more important than a website idea yet they don't care about that at all. They think website ideas are worth so much money and don't check to see if the team can actually build the website.

As much as the show is fun to watch, it always makes you wonder if they're just fake investing.

Yeah, during due diligence, they back out of a lot of deals. I think they only actually invest in 40 percent of the ppl they made deals with in person. I also read somewhere a while ago, this was one of the reasons Brett left the show. Because Dragons were just looking good for tv, and not actually helping entrepreneurs.

The website pitches are always the weakest. Almost every single website idea has existed at one point. Without an all-star team, there's no money to be made, no matter the idea.

[PCDawg]

I watch it on occasion to see some weird as wacky ideas. Some people have poured their lives in what they believe will make then money and the DD does put a wake-up call to them to drop it.

One if the pioneers of website groupbuys, teambuy was invested by the DD, but I don't see them as a step ahead of any other web groupbuy sites out there.

[boumbo]

who is the richest out of the 5?

[Cas77]

who is the richest out of the 5?

Kevin. He has always refused to divulge his net worth, but he's the only billionaire on the show.

[theguyz]

Yeah, during due diligence, they back out of a lot of deals. I think they only actually invest in 40 percent of the ppl they made deals with in person. I also read somewhere a while ago, this was one of the reasons Brett left the show. Because Dragons were just looking good for tv, and not actually helping entrepreneurs.

.

Actually the "Due Dilligence" is where investors, verify all aspects of what is being told to them is true. You need to pass it. It's legal protection for any investor. patents ownership? does product exist already? any liens against company for previous stock.? how tight is patent from copies? etc.,...?

In the 5-10 minutes on the show, all details given are verbal and not confirmed. In real life its can take weeks of paperwork prior to getting a investment.

They do have updates every once and a while, where shows them pulling out and why( usually fake #'s used in presentation or outstanding debt ), as well as success or even the one where the teacher told the students to not accept the offer when dragons ready to sign the check over.

[Kuurgen]

Do yourself a favour and try to watch the British version, much better.

The one thing about Jim, is I can always tell when he's going to invest because he can barely contain his excitement, he leans forward tapping his pen when he's going to invest.

[SLOGAN]

I love the show, but prefer Shark Tank. In DD it's mostly "I would have gone in but your evaluation is too high" or "it's too early" while in ST they take more risks. I also hate the new guy and Robert looks like a rat.

The over-production on Shark Tank is brutal, it has that same tone and music soundtrack as all reality shows coming out of the states that makes it unbearable to watch.

It's a shame Brett left DD.

[Beradon]

I also read somewhere a while ago, this was one of the reasons Brett left the show. Because Dragons were just looking good for tv, and not actually helping entrepreneurs.



It's a shame Brett left DD.

I know Brett is now on another investment type show which airs I think on Global. Anyone have any details?

[Cas77]

I know Brett is now on another investment type show which airs I think on Global. Anyone have any details?

Risky Business Monday 9pm on Slice. Reruns every day.

[zoro69]

Does anyone else think they have no idea about how to invest in websites? I remember one episode where the were wowed by a job website that had Google Maps integration. Another was some cell phone bidding website which thought they could get better rates than the carrier. If anyone remembers the website please let me know because I want to see if I was wrong about them failing.

I always wonder if they just "pretend" to invest then cancel out later just to make it seem like they have unlimited money. Everyone knows that the team is more important than a website idea yet they don't care about that at all. They think website ideas are worth so much money and don't check to see if the team can actually build the website.

As much as the show is fun to watch, it always makes you wonder if they're just fake investing.

yes, very few of the deals ever close(same in UK) , and most of them were bretts. Some the presenters found they could get better deals after being on tv, some fell part after serious negotiations...a lot never went anywhere. Don't know about the last couple years but here were complaints to be found from some online about how things happened eg dragons werent remotely interested in them after the "deal" on tv.

don't think anyone actually knows their real net worths, but for sure its portrayed as more then reality. eg they always talk of Kevin selling "his" The Learning Co. for "billions". he was president and had a stake, but it was publicly traded with his stake being a small % of that

they talk about Jim "owning" a hockey league. Which is publicly traded, troubled global entertainment http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/14/idUS111537+14-Apr-2011+BW20110414 that he is involved with

[Kuurgen]

Just a clip you may not have seen. The jobloft incident LOL


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5145072418411108059


The over-production on Shark Tank is brutal, it has that same tone and music soundtrack as all reality shows coming out of the states that makes it unbearable to watch.


Yup, just like how they ruined Kitchen Nightmares..

[OliverK]

Big fan of this show. Met Robert in person when he signed a copy of his book Driven (http://www.amazon.ca/Driven-How-Succeed-Business-Life/dp/155468708X). Talks a bit about the show and some of the deals.

Your right none of there networths are ever fully mentioned. As far as I remember no dragons are on the forbes Canada list which would put them under 400m. I do remember a few companies actually getting the deal done and having success afterwards. Most companies enjoy a good sales bump from the advertising being on the show gets.

[Beradon]

Risky Business Monday 9pm on Slice. Reruns every day.
Thanks. Don't know if Slice is part of my sub. Unfortunately the scene doesn't put the episodes on torrents so I'm going to have some fun hunting past episodes down.