Fighting for survival in the Dragon's Den
Posted By GARY HOWARD
Updated 2 months ago
It's not often I get hooked on a regular television program as I tend to avoid the sitcoms, reality shows and soap operas
But I'ma survivor of many television series and go way back even beyond the tube to iconic radio shows such as the Great Gildersleeve, Our Miss Brooks and Amos and Andy.
Recently I've become attached to a weekly CBC television offering called the Dragon's Den. It's more of a reality show than most run-of-the-mill reality shows and it usually draws everyone's interest because it features everyday, ordinary Canadians like you and I.
The purpose of the show is for various entrepreneurs and would-be inventors to pitch their ideas to a very astute and wary panel of five millionaire business people. The object of their presentation is to obtain financing for their dreams and business plans from the ever attentive members of the panel.
Some entrepreneurs are successful while the majority strikes out completely. It is no easy task trying to survive in the Dragon's Den.
The panel consists of Kevin O'Leary, W. Brett Wilson, Robert Herjavec, Jim Treliving and Arlene Dickinson, the lone woman in this group of very successful business people. They were once ordinary, everyday working people like you and I but have been fortunate to hit it rich in their chosen fields of endeavours. That is perhaps why they scrutinize each presentation in a cold, practical, businesslike manner.
O'Leary has emerged as the Simon Cowell of the den, very abrupt and abrasive, giving short shrift to any presenter who can't quickly tell him how he's going to make money out of the plan. If you catch his interest, you are in luck, if not your plan is usually dismissed as 'too dumb.' He has a quick wit but does not suffer fools gladly. He has been successful
in the consumer software industry and now heads his own mutual fund company.
If you've ever eaten in the local Boston Pizza, you were visiting an establishment owned by Jim Treliving. The straight arrow of the group, Treliving is an ex-RCMP officer who has other investments in businesses including Mr. Lube. His lawman's background sometimes surfaces, as it did recently when he showed no interest in a presenter's plan to market a medicinal marijuana business or when another presenter outlined a plan for an oil change venture that he clearly thought infringed on his Mr. Lube enterprise.
Brett Wilson, the Calgary businessman seems to be the benevolent member of the panel. Unlike O'Leary whose interest is solely in the gold, the precious commodity often shows in Wilson's heart as he takes a chance on borderline presenters with their business plans. He is a well known and respected philanthropist.
Most of the panel members have a sense of humour but none more so than Robert Herjavec, who is proud of the fact his parents were Croatian immigrants. Herjavec started from meager beginnings and made his fortune wheeling and dealing in the technology field. He often challenges O'Leary on deals and has a penchant for keeping the proceedings light.
The only woman on the panel, Arlene Dickinson is a marketing whiz who can more than hold her own against her male counterparts. She has a soft spot for female entrepreneurs and usually lends encouragement if not investment money to their plans.
O'Leary and Herjavec are also seen on the Shark Tank, the American version of the show.
These, then, are the dragons. They can devour you in a New York minute or feed your dreams. At times there is one-upmanship at play and serious competition between panel members.
The boys are not averse to turning down a deal as they did recently on a modern version of table top hockey and then promptly commandeering the game when the presenter left the set. They also brighten up when attractive females are part of the presentation, as does Dickinson when a hunk walks into the den. None of the dragons were amused recently when a presenter mischievously tricked them into eating dog food.
Altogether the show makes for good television and recently won a Gemini award for best Canadian reality show. An ongoing Internet poll lists Brett Wilson as the favourite dragon among viewers in contrast to my own choice of Kevin O'Leary.
What makes the show more appealing is when a familiar face appears. Several years ago Alex Rigo from Pembroke pitched his idea to the dragons. Mr. Rigo invented a cart that could safely wheel your garbage and recycling bins to the curb in one trip. There were some advantages and disadvantages to his plan, but in the end he was unable to slay the dragons. But at least he was given the opportunity to have his day in the den.
Although the five panel members are considered wealthy, none of them cracked the recent list of the 100 wealthiest people in Canada. Perhaps some day the many contestants who pitch their ideas each week will beat them to the punch.
That is, of course, if they don't get devoured in the process.
Gary Howard is a former Community Editorial Board writer and a regular contributor to this page
