Durham College opened its doors to entrepreneurs from all over the region as Dragons’ Den producers held open auditions for the show’s 11th season.
One of these creators was the father-son pair Brodi and Michael Stanfield, who were auditioning to show off their product: the ARAIG (As Real As It Gets) virtual reality gaming suit on behalf of their company, Inventing Future Technology Incorporated.
“They make the process really easy, that’s why I think so many people try out,” said Brodi at the audition on Mar. 2. “During the interview, they ask you a lot of the questions that you’d expect, plenty of ones that I think you’re supposed to in their position.”
Following them was Don Cordanly from Uxbridge, who was there to pitch his safety light for snow ploughs. “I watch [Dragons’ Den] religiously,” said Cordanly, “When I heard it was coming to Durham, I had to try out.”
Producers Ahmad Omar and Nicole MacKay, who were at DC to hear the pitches, expressed satisfaction with the entrepreneurs.
“This year we’ve got a diverse pool of applicants, as well as a wide variety in the industries that these products and ideas cover,” said Omar.
According to MacKay, proposals that are chosen to make it past this round in the show will be sent on to make a second pitch directly to the show’s “Dragons” in Toronto, with the most flamboyant and exciting pitches making it to air.
“We take these ideas to the other producers and vote on which ones will make it through,” said MacKay, “We expect around 3,000 applicants nationwide, but only 100-200 can go on to the actual show.”
According to MacKay, proposals that are chosen to make it past this round in the show will be sent on to make a second pitch directly to the show’s “Dragons” in Toronto, with the most flamboyant and exciting pitches making it to air.
Dragons’ Den is a CBC show on which entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas to successful business tycoons, or “Dragons” in the hopes of receiving financial backing to help their idea come to fruition. Dragons’ Den has led to the funding of several multi-million dollar products such as Awake! Chocolate and Holy Crap vegan cereal.
