Don’t reinvent the wheel

The Dragons Den is a typically subdued UK program.

The contestants are people who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding. They present their business ideas to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, the “dragons” of the show’s title. They have, before the show, named an amount of money that they wish to get, and the rules stipulate that if they do not raise this amount they cannot get any. The dragons then probe the idea further, often revealing an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestants or uncovering troubling facts, and consequently rejecting the investment. In return, the contestant offers the dragons a percentage of the company, which is the chief point of negotiation.

Top tip: Come-up with something new