Dragons' Den

[shifty_uk]

Anyone watch Dragons Den?
It's one of the only television programs I'll actually sit down and watch week after week. I think really good.

Not sure if this thread will spark a great discussion on the program...it's worth a try though eh

Anyone see old chap that was on last night? The one with the exercise armchair? He had Duncan Ballentyne(sp?) in tears with laughter

Thanks

 

[shifty_uk]

There are some right numpties that get ripped to shreds though. That pillock with the chair gym was hilarious.

Yeah
Did you see the chap with the breakdown phone service thingy? That was just the silliest idea...

I don't like the new woman though, apart from cracking my tv screen I don't think she has added anything constructive so far.

I totally agree.

 

[shifty_uk]

A lot of the 'Dragons' do appear to think of themselves as better than everyone that is presenting though They come off as being very rude at times!

Yep they do, but it's a large sum of money remember, and it's theirs They need to make sure they get a return and everything runs smoothly etc.

 

[shifty_uk]

You can watch the full episode's here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/programmes/?id=dragons_den

They've also got behind the scene's footage aswell.

Will need to watch it when I get home

 

[shifty_uk]

I wasn't really sure what to think of the final decission of guy with the big lorry wash. He had his own business, and had already started selling this machinery, and he could afford the 200K if he put his house up for another mortgage, yet he gave away 40% of his business. I wasn't sure wether to think of that as a good decission or a bad one.

He has gained the experience of these people, which will help his business along, but was it really worth giving up a 40% steak in his business? After all he did have experience in business himself, and has been quite successful I believe.

 

[shifty_uk]

Hehe, yeah

I was thinking that if he still owned that 40%, he could potentially earn a lot more money, and not have to end up buying investors out just to own 100% of his business. I agree though, the fact that he's not having to put his own money on the line is important. His return could be far greater though, if the business was successful...Which again is another factor, as the business might go bust, I suppose he doesn't need to worry as it's not his cash

The idea sounded as if it had some potential, I'm not sure how much potential though.

 

[shifty_uk]

(Duncans new hairstyle is particularly dodgy though!)

lol

I agree about the aussie guy, I like him the most.

 

[shifty_uk]

I enjoyed the show last night Some bad ideas though.

"Look mate, I'm going on national TV to try and secure a huge investment in our company. Dont move from where you are for the next few hours and make sure you answer the phone."

Totally agree

 

[shifty_uk]

Has anyone noticed any competition between Richard Farleigh and Peter Jones. Both times I've seen the show this series, they're always counter-offering, giving sly digs and looks to each other.

The same thought was going through my mind last night. I've noticed it a couple of times, although last night Richard Farleigh did show an interest in the product from the start. I'll need to see if this continues to happen

 

[shifty_uk]

I would really like to know where a couple of the Dragons got the money to startup their own businesses. Take Peter Jones for example, when he was 16 he started up his own Tennis academy...where did he get the money to do that, at just the age of 16, fresh out of school? He must have came from a rich family.

 

[shifty_uk]

Do you think he had a go at himself every morning for not wearing a suit?

 

[shifty_uk]

I guess you don't watch "Dead Ringers" then?

I have a couple of times, but not regularly

 

[shifty_uk]

http://www.profevents.com/cgw/pjones.htm

Thanks for the link dude and thanks for the info Sequoia

I find the dragons most annoying. They are all trying to model themselves after Simon Cowell.

I like Duncan, Peter and Richard as people, but I admire them all as businessmen.
They need to be blunt and slate people, it's a way to learn, and they give out decent advice most of the time. As I said in a previous post, it's their money after all. They can't go around giving out 200K for a business idea that will never take off, or go completely bust.

[edit]
Simon Cowell is a joke, and I wouldn't compair these people to him.
He needs to get a decent haircut aswell, the top of his head looks square.

 

[shifty_uk]

Ok this auto-mixing thing.

I have used software that does this before. It doesn't do that great a job - but I am not convinced his will either. Now is this guy seriously saying if I wrote a program that did auto beat matching (all kinds of ways you could do it) he can sue?

Also this business to me doesn't stand up. I thought Richard was 100% right that he shouldn't get invovled in the music download market - even itunes doesn't make money and its almost impossible to compete with them. Surely the cache of the MoS mixes comes from the celebrity DJs and their inherent skill?

Anyway, I just see this one as a bad investment.

I totally agree. I didn't see any good in this "invention" atall.
There is a lot of software available, even free software that is available to download that will automatically beatmatch and mix over two tracks. I see nothing original about this idea, and I don't think it will get anywhere.
He still needs to find a web agency to properly design/build a site and all the backend applications that will allow users to register, download and do all the things they're required to do.
To me, it's a useless idea, and it won't make any money atall. I didn't like the guy either tbh.

I thought it was quite nice tonight when the "cucumber condom" guy got offered a job

I seen some conflicts between Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh tonight

 

[shifty_uk]

Then once they made a few mill then they can do there next idea all alone.

You could also eventually buy back the Dragons percentage of your company.

I watched last nights episode but can't really remember it well enough to discuss anything. I'll watch it again online when I get home.

That woman they were all annoyed at last night was a read me I thought she was going to cry during her introduction.

 

[shifty_uk]

Anyone know when the new season starts? i miss it already

Was that the last episode last night?

 

[shifty_uk]

I am looking forward to next week's episode and seeing how some of the pitchers have got on.

 

[shifty_uk]

*Smoking thread revival!*

Didn't see the point in making a new thread....

New series of Dragons Den starts tonight - 9pm. Who's watching? All new Dragon, James Caan(No, not the one that stars in the Godfather ). Read more here. I hope he lives up to Richard Farleigh, it's a shame they gave him the boot.

 

[shifty_uk]

It was announced on 21 May 2007, that Richard Farleigh had been dropped from the series. The Daily Mail suggested he may have been dropped in order to have a new dragon from an ethnic minority. Farleigh said, "It would be disappointing if that was the reason - rather than anything fundamental - if it was because I was the wrong colour. I don't know why this has happened and I am very disappointed and bemused - I wasn't expecting it because all the feedback I got was very positive. I had even moved back to the UK to focus on commitments for the show. I am gutted that I have not been invited back."[3] James Caan, a venture capatalist and founder of Hamilton Bradshaw, will replace Farleigh in series five.

Quote from Wiki.