CREDIT: COURTESY OF CBC
Dragons' Den is coming to London to try and find business prospects to invest in.

Dragons’ Den is touring across Canada to find any hidden business ideas and allow that business the opportunity to find investments.

On Feb. 13, they are making a stop here in London at the Windermere Manor, 200 Collip Circle from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

According to Molly Middleton, senior producer for the Dragons’ Den, the auditions will be in front of the show’s producers, rather than the actual Dragons. The producers will evaluate and then will choose who will actually be pitching their idea to the Dragons in Toronto.

From all of the 37 cities, approximately 200 businesses will be chosen, according to Carly Klassen, associate producer of Dragons’ Den.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young and enthusiastic entrepreneurs to come down and pitch their business concept for the chance to appear on national television,” said Klassen in an email.

According to the press release, the pitch should be five minutes or less, but can be at any stage of development, from just an idea to a functioning business.

“You need to know the service and product you are pitching very well. You need to be well prepared. You need to know what your value proposition is, who your customer is and what your revenue stream is, you need to be very clear on the ask,” said Annette Markvoort, entrepreneurial animator at Fanshawe’s Leap Junction. “You need to be able to think quick on your feet. The Dragons’ are demanding and they need to be.”

And an opportunity like this is exactly what students need to get any business ideas on their feet.

“The next great idea could be right here in London, it could belong to one of our Fanshawe students,” Markvoort said.

Prospective pitchers are encouraged to apply online at cbc.ca/dragonsden/auditions, but there will also be application forms at the audition.

“If you have a great idea, if think you have what it takes and are willing to do the prep work, fill in the online application; take the leap, go for it,” Markvoort said. “ You never know, and the experience you gain along the entrepreneurial journey is always valuable.”