Dragons' Den
Encyclopedia
Dragons' Den is a series of reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 programmes featuring entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...

s pitching their business ideas in order to secure investment finance from a panel of venture capitalists. The show originated in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 as "Manē no Tora" (Tiger of Money, a pun on "Tiger of Malay", the nickname of a famous WWII general, Tomoyuki Yamashita
Tomoyuki Yamashita
General was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...

). The format is owned by Sony Pictures Television International.

Show format

The contestants are usually product designers or service operators who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding and direction. They pitch their idea to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, the eponymous "dragons" (or "tigers" in the original Japanese show, "sharks" in the U.S. and Israeli versions and "lions" in Finland and Romania). The contestants have, before the show, named an amount of money that they wish to get, and the rules stipulate that if they do not raise at least this amount from the dragons, they get nothing. In return, the contestant gives the dragons a percentage of the company's stock, which is the chief point of negotiation.

Once the contestant has made the presentation, the dragons probe the idea further, often revealing an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestant, or uncovering troubling facts and consequently rejecting the investment, or revealing a sound business proposition and offering to invest capital in return for equity.

Versions

Dragons' Den series have been produced in numerous different countries. Apart from in Japan (where the show debuted) the show names, structures, and styles are based upon the UK version.

UK

In the UK, Dragons' Den is broadcast on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...

 which has exclusive rights to the show's format from its Japanese producers. The Executive Producer is Dominic Byrne and it is hosted by former BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 economics editor Evan Davis
Evan Davis (journalist)
Evan Harold Davis is a British economist, journalist and presenter for the BBC. In October 2001, Davis took over from Peter Jay as the BBC's economics editor. He left this post in April 2008 to become a presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today programme...

. So far in the Den, the 'Dragons' have agreed to invest in 110 companies, with Peter Jones
Peter Jones (entrepreneur)
Peter Jones, CBE is a British entrepreneur and businessman with interests in mobile phones, television, media, leisure, and property. He became a television celebrity through his appearances on the BBC Two show Dragons' Den and on his American television show American Inventor...

 and Theo Paphitis
Theo Paphitis
Theodorus "Theo" Paphitis is a retail magnate and British entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin. He made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector, and is best known to the general public for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall...

 agreeing investments in 29 businesses each since 2005, followed by Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden is a British business woman who ran a multi-million pound family holiday business, before completing a management buyout...

 who has invested 21 times since she joined in Series 3 in 2006, followed by Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Walker Bannatyne, OBE is a Scottish entrepreneur, philanthropist and author. His business interests include hotels, health clubs, spas, media, TV, stage schools, property and transport. He is most famous for his appearance as a business angel on the BBC programme Dragons' Den...

 with 17 investments since 2005, and James Caan
James Caan (entrepreneur)
James Caan is a British-Pakistani entrepreneur and television personality. Caan has been building and selling businesses since 1985, including Alexander Mann Group, Humana International, and the private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.Caan initially achieved success in the recruitment industry,...

 with 14 since he joined in 2007.

The Dragons are/were:
Seat Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Series 5 Series 6 Series 7 Series 8 Series 9
1
Peter Jones
Peter Jones (entrepreneur)
Peter Jones, CBE is a British entrepreneur and businessman with interests in mobile phones, television, media, leisure, and property. He became a television celebrity through his appearances on the BBC Two show Dragons' Den and on his American television show American Inventor...

2
Doug Richard
Doug Richard
Doug Richard is a United Kingdom based Californian entrepreneur and specialist in technology transfer, commercialisation, and business incubation. He came to prominence as a result of the BBC programme Dragons' Den, where he appeared as a 'dragon', or investor in the first two series...

Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden is a British business woman who ran a multi-million pound family holiday business, before completing a management buyout...

3
|
Simon Woodroffe
Simon Woodroffe
Simon Woodroffe OBE is a British motivational speaker and entrepreneur. He started the sushi chain YO! Sushi in 1997, and has appeared as a 'Dragon' on the first UK series of Dragons' Den....

Theo Paphitis
Theo Paphitis
Theodorus "Theo" Paphitis is a retail magnate and British entrepreneur of Greek Cypriot origin. He made the majority of his fortune in the retail sector, and is best known to the general public for his appearances on the BBC business programme Dragons' Den and as former chairman of Millwall...

4
Rachel Elnaugh
Rachel Elnaugh
Rachel Elnaugh is a British entrepreneur, who came to prominence as an investor on the first two seasons of BBC Two's TV show Dragons' Den, in which hers was the sole female perspective alongside four male entrepreneurs known as the Dragons.-Early life:Her family lived above her father's...

Richard Farleigh
Richard Farleigh
Richard Farleigh is an Australian private investor. He is currently a member of the Business Review Weekly Rich 200 list, a list of the 200 wealthiest Australian individuals.- Early life :...

James Caan
James Caan (entrepreneur)
James Caan is a British-Pakistani entrepreneur and television personality. Caan has been building and selling businesses since 1985, including Alexander Mann Group, Humana International, and the private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.Caan initially achieved success in the recruitment industry,...

Hilary Devey
Hilary Devey
Hilary Lorraine Devey is a British businesswoman, television personality, entrepreneur and commentator. She is probably best known for her appearances on the BBC Two programme Dragons' Den.-Early life:...

5
Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Bannatyne
Duncan Walker Bannatyne, OBE is a Scottish entrepreneur, philanthropist and author. His business interests include hotels, health clubs, spas, media, TV, stage schools, property and transport. He is most famous for his appearance as a business angel on the BBC programme Dragons' Den...


The BBC website also has an online Den hosted by Radio 1's Dominic Byrne
Dominic Byrne
Dominic Anthony Byrne is a newsreader for BBC Radio 1 and a presenter on the BBC News Channel.-Biography:Born in Norwich, Norfolk, Byrne attended St Ivo School before attending Bournemouth University for two weeks. However, he dropped out to work at a local radio station...

 and featuring two new Dragons: Shaf Rasul and Julie Meyer
Julie Meyer
Julie Meyer is an American-born entrepreneur, investor, business adviser, networking expert, broadcaster and business commentator. She is the founder and Chief Executive of Ariadne Capital and the Managing Partner of Ariadne Capital Entrepreneurs Fund ....

. Entrepreneurs can pitch for a maximum of £50,000, and as with the television version, must be offered all the money or they walk away with no investment. In contrast to the television version, however, entrepreneurs may apply by submitting a three-minutes 'raw pitch'. BBC Two have commissioned this as 30-minute programs broadcast on Wednesdays from 9:30pm until 10pm.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the show is called Fikr wa Talash.

Arab world

In the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...

, Dragons' Den was known as Dragons' Den: Al Aareen (The Den). It was broadcast on the Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

 channel Future Television
Future Television
Future Television a television station broadcasting from Lebanon. It was founded in 1993 by Rafik Hariri, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon. Future TV is also available via satellite in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Politically, the channel supports the views of the Future...

 The show received contestants from various Arab countries.

The panel of Dragons for the 2007 series consisted of:
  • Omar El-Quqa
  • Ahmad Tantash
  • Nassif Karam
  • Roger Azar

Australia

The Australian version of Dragons' Den was broadcast on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...

 and hosted by Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew Patrick O'Keefe is an Australian entertainer, best known for being the host of the hit game-show Deal or No Deal. He is also the co-host of Weekend Sunrise....

. Different from other versions, the host ran through the outline of the business with the contestant then negotiating with the Dragons for a deal. It was produced by Michael Horrock. The Australian Dragons were:
  • Peter Higgins
  • Sarina Russo
    Sarina Russo
    Sarina Russo is an Australian entrepreneur. She is the founder of the Sarina Russo | Group of Companies an international education, training and recruitment business.-Early life:...

  • Siimon Reynolds
  • Darryn Lyons
    Darryn Lyons
    Darryn Lyons is an Australian paparazzo, media personality and entrepreneur, best known for his work in Britain.-Early life:...

  • Suzi Dafnis


The Seven Network announced in December 2005 that the show would not be back for a second season after poor ratings.

Canada

The Canadian Dragons are/were:
Seat Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6
1
Jim Treliving
Jim Treliving
W. James "Jim" Treliving is a Canadian businessman who, with George Melville, owns the collective investment portfolio T&M Group of Companies. Treliving has stepped into the public eye in recent years as one of the "dragons" on the Canadian television show Dragons' Den.-Career:Treliving began his...

2
Kevin O'Leary
Kevin O'Leary (entrepreneur)
Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, investor, and television personality.-Early life and education:O'Leary was born in Mount Royal, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal, to a salesman father and seamstress mother....

3
|
Jennifer Wood
Arlene Dickinson
Arlene Dickinson
Arlene Dickinson is a Canadian marketing professional and CEO of Venture Communications.Dickinson joined Venture Communications in 1988, taking sole ownership in 1998...

4
Laurence Lewin
W. Brett Wilson
W. Brett Wilson
Brett Wilson is a Canadian entrepreneur, member of the Order of Canada, philanthropist and the lead deal making panellist or "Dragon" of all-time on CBC's Gemini Award-winning Dragons' Den. Wilson was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan...

Bruce Croxon
5
Robert Herjavec

Croatia

The Croatian version of Dragons' Den called Zmajevo gnijezdo was scheduled to be broadcasted in 2007 on Hrvatska Televizija and produced by Ocean Film.

Contracted Croatian Dragons were:
  • Maja Pečarević - owner of Generalturist, the leading and oldest travel agency in Croatia.
  • Hrvoje Prpić - owner of Smee d.o.o, bamboo flooring company.
  • Davor Štern - owner of Trade Consulting d.o.o., business consulting company.
  • Juroslav Buljubašić - co-owner of Blue Line International, the international maritime company.
  • Branko Roglić - owner of Orbico, one of the leading importers and distributors of various consumer goods and toys in Croatia.


At least few shows were filmed but never broadcasted because of undisclosed reasons.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the show is called Den D (The D-Day).

It first aired on 31 March 2009 on Czech TV (CT1 channel), in a very similar set up to the British version of BBC.

The show is hosted by experienced radio host Jan Pokorny, and the dragon investors are:
  • Ivan Pilny - former GM of Microsoft in Czech Republic, Chairman of the Board of Czech Telecom and entrepreneur (1st & 3rd series)
  • Marta Novakova - founder and CEO of U&SLUNO software company (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
  • Ondrej Bartos - serial entrepreneur, consultant and venture capitalist, Partner with Credo Ventures (1st & 2nd series)
  • Dana Berova - former minister of informatics, entrepreneur and Business Development Director of Gartner (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
  • Tomio Okamura - Czech-Japanese entrepreneur in travel and retail, he brings Japanese tourists to the Czech Republic and sells Japanese products to Czechs (1st, 2nd & 3rd series)
  • Michael Rostock - investment banker and advisor with Venture Investors Corporate Finance (2nd & 3rd series)

Finland

In Finland Dragons' Den is called Leijonan kita which actually means the jaws or the mouth of a lion when translated into English. The show started running in Finland on 27 September 2007 on MTV3
MTV3
MTV3 is a Finnish commercial television station owned by Bonnier. It had the biggest audience share of all Finnish TV channels until Finnish Broadcasting Company’s YLE1 took the lead. The letters MTV stand for Mainos-TV , due to the channel getting its revenue from running commercials...

 channel. The show is hosted by Anna Sorainen. The local Dragons, or Leijonat (Lions in Finnish), are:
  • Kyösti Kakkonen
    Kyösti Kakkonen
    Kyösti Kakkonen is a significant Finnish businessman, art collector and millionaire. He is the chief executive officer of Tokmanni.-External links:*...

  • Eero Lehti
    Eero Lehti
    Eero Heikki Lehti is a Finnish businessman, the chairman of the city council of Kerava, and a member of the Finnish parliament since 2007. He is the founder of Taloustutkimus Oy and also the chairman of the company's board of directors as well as the chairman of the Federation of Finnish...

  • Toivo Sukari
    Toivo Sukari
    Toivo "Topi" Ilmo Kalevi Sukari is a Finnish businessman. He is the founder and largest shareholder of Maskun Kalustetalo and Ideapark. Sukari also owns the shopping mall chain Masku Koti and Sukarin Lomarakennus. Sukari comes from a Laestadian family and he has seven siblings. His father was a...

  • Lisa Sounio
    Lisa Sounio
    Lisa Sounio is a past CEO and the current chairperson of social networking site Dopplr. She is also the CEO of her own design management consultancy Sonay. She has a has a background in industrial design management. Early in her career she worked as a sales- and export manager in the Finnish...

  • Kaija Ward

Ireland

An Irish version of the show began in 2009 on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...

, the state broadcaster. It is presented by Richard Curran, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday newspaper published by Post Publications Limited. Post Publications is owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Ireland, the average weekly circulation was 57,783 for the period January to June 2009. The...

.

The Irish Dragons are/were:
Seat Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4
1
Niall O'Farrell
2
Bobby Kerr
Bobby Kerr (businessman)
Bobby Kerr is an Irish entrepreneur and businessman. He is the Chairman of Insomnia Coffee Company. Recently he was a dragon on the Irish version of Dragons' Den produced by Raidió Teilifís Éireann.- Career :...

3
Sarah Newman
Norah Casey
4
Gavin Duffy
5
Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher , is an Irish entrepreneur, businessman and politician from County Cavan, Ireland. He is the founder of the company Smarthomes and has featured as a panellist on RTÉ's Dragons' Den. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election.-Biography:Gallagher grew up...

| Sean O'Sullivan


The Dragons have appeared on television in Ireland, in promotion of the series, on Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...

, on RTÉ One. RTÉ started broadcasting show promos after Christmas as part of their winter line-up.

The first episode was broadcast on 19 February 2009.

A third season of Dragons' Den began airing on RTÉ One, on Thursday, 20 February 2011. Norah Casey was the new Dragon for the third season. Episodes at the end of the third season, for the first time on Dragons' Den in Ireland, showed the Dragons on tour visiting their past investments.

Dragon Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher
Seán Gallagher , is an Irish entrepreneur, businessman and politician from County Cavan, Ireland. He is the founder of the company Smarthomes and has featured as a panellist on RTÉ's Dragons' Den. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2011 Irish presidential election.-Biography:Gallagher grew up...

 stood for President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...

 in 2011, and very nearly succeeded, only to be pipped at the post by poet and intellectual Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins is the ninth and current President of Ireland, having taken office on 11 November 2011 following victory in the 2011 Irish presidential election. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster. Higgins was President of the Labour Party until his...

 after a controversy erupted over a €5,000 cheque he had received in an envelope.

A fourth season of Dragons' Den was commissioned. Sean O'Sullivan replaced Seán Gallagher.

Episodes of Dragons' Den are also now being shown on Dave every Wednesday at 7pm which means it is also available to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

. Episodes began airing on 6 July 2011.

Israel

In Israel, Dragons' Den is entitled Hakrishim (which is Hebrew for "The Sharks"). It is produced by Gil Productions and is broadcast on Channel 10. It is hosted by Guy Zohar. In the Israeli version, there are 6 dragons who rotate their appearance weekly. The first season was broadcast during the summer and fall of 2006. The dragons in season 1 were: Ze'ev Holtzman, Israela Shtier, Aviv Tzidon, Oded Dessau, Jacky Ben-Zaken, and Nir Sharatzki.
The second season began being broadcast on Channel 10 on 24 May 2007. As in the first season, the dragons rotate their appearance weekly. Aviv Tzidon and Jacky Ben-Zaken returned from the first season and were joined by the following new dragons:
  • Yossi Moldavsky
  • Nir Barkat (who, in 2008, was elected as mayor of Jerusalem)
  • Amir Eyal
  • Roni Ross
  • Amos Luzon

Japan

Titled "マネーの虎 Manê no Tora", (Money Tigers), this original version was created by and broadcast on Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...

 from 2001 to 2004. It was the first entertainment programme in the history of Japanese television that dealt with the concept of business investment. During its three year run, as many as 16 business executives appeared in the programme as Tigers.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands the show was broadcast in May 2007 on Nederland 3, every Friday at 20.25 (+1 GMT). The second and last season was broadcast in May 2008 on Nederland 3
Nederland 3
Nederland 3 is the third and youngest of the terrestrial television channels operated by the Dutch public-broadcasting organization NPO in the Netherlands and carries programs provided by member-based non-profit broadcasting associations. It is oriented towards children, youth and innovative...

, every Monday at 21.25 (+1 GMT). As in the first season, it was hosted by Jort Kelder.

The dragons were:
  • Henk Keilman
  • Annemarie van Gaal
  • Jan Pieter Melchior (2007)
  • Willem Sijthoff
  • Arjen de Koning
  • George Banken (2008)


http://www.dragonsden.kro.nl

New Zealand

In New Zealand Dragons' Den is broadcast on TV One and hosted by Rawdon Christie
Rawdon Christie
Rawdon Christie is an English New Zealand news reporter.Christie was born in London. He attended Marlborough College, and then Edinburgh University, where he gained a Bachelor of Music degree....

. Initially the UK and Australian series were broadcast, but a local version was produced and screened in 2006. The series is produced by Eyeworks Touchdown
Touchdown Television
Eyeworks Touchdown is a New Zealand-based television production company specialising in reality and unscripted formats, which has become a leader in the field in New Zealand, and the world...

. The New Zealand Series 1 Dragons are:
  • Julie Christie
  • Bob Jones
    Bob Jones (New Zealand)
    Sir Robert 'Bob' Jones is a property tycoon, author and former politician in New Zealand. Growing up in the City of Lower Hutt suburb of Naenae, he attended Naenae College and then Victoria University of Wellington...

  • Annette Presley
    Annette Presley
    Annette Sylvia Presley is a New Zealand telecommunications entrepreneur, known as a co-founder of Slingshot, one of New Zealand's largest internet service providers ....

  • Paul Webb
  • Barry Colman


Production company Eyeworks Touchdown is currently soliciting applications for a second series of Dragons' Den.

Nigeria

Nigeria's adaptation of Dragons' Den was broadcast weekly in 2008 on the AIT Network and produced by Storm Vision.

The Nigerian Dragons were:
  • Prince Femi Tejuoso
  • Ibunkun Awosika
  • Chris Parkes
  • Alexander Amosu
  • John Momoh
  • Tokunboh Ishmael


A second series is now being commissioned.

Poland

In Poland, the program is called "Dragons Den - How to be a millionaire" http://www.jakzostacmilionerem.biz/inwestorzy which is broadcast on the station TV4 since 2011.
The biggest win in the program fell April 24, 2011 in the amount 15 000 000 PLN (5 500 000 U.S. dollars)
The Polish Dragons in 2011 are:
  • Maciej Kaczmarski founder, Kaczmarski Inkasso companies, the National Debt Register and Reliable Company, called the king of Polish recovery
  • Anna Garwolińska, head of Glaubicz Garwolińska Consultants
  • Grzegorz Hajdarowicz, owner of the Group Gremi
  • Marian Owerko CEO Bakalland
  • Krzysztof Golonka, president of an investment fund Xevin

Romania

There is a Romanian version of the format called Arena Leilor.

The Romanian Lions are:
  • Marius Ghenea
  • Dragos Anastasiu
  • Florin Talpes
  • Mircea Tudor
  • Mihaela Nicola


The show started in 2007 and a new series will be on air in March 2011.

Saudi Arabia

It was announced in December 2009 that Saudi Arabian broadcaster STV1 will be showing the BBC version of Dragons' Den in January 2010, followed by a local production in February.
It has been broadcasted on 2011, and it's called " Altujar " the dragons are : Saleh Kamel, Ahmed Fitihy, Nashwa Altahir, Altaiar, Alhalafy

Sweden

The British version was on air in Sweden for several years on TV8
TV8 (Sweden)
TV8 is a television channel owned by Modern Times Group broadcasting to Sweden. It focuses on news, current affairs, documentaries and drama. The channel was started by the private equity firm Ratos in 1997 and was sold to MTG in 1999....

 and BBC Prime
BBC Prime
BBC Prime was the BBC's general entertainment TV channel in Europe and the Middle East from 30 January 1995 until 11 November 2009, when it was replaced by BBC Entertainment.-Launch:...

. A Swedish version called Draknästet (English: "The Dragons' Nest") was broadcast in 2009 on Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...

. A second season started in March 2010.

The Swedish Dragons 2010 are:
  • Mats Gabrielsson, who sold his IT firm at the height of the late 80s for over $100 million
  • Douglas Roos founder and chairman of nyheter24.se
  • Susanna Falkengren cofounder and member of Exipos Invest and since 1997 also working with a large amount of law offices.
  • Sven Hagströmer
    Sven Hagströmer
    Sven Johan Gösta Barthen Hagströmer is a Swedish financier and businessman. Together with his business partner Mats Qviberg, he controls a group of companies including HQ Bank, Avanza Bank and Investment AB Öresund....

     founder of HQ
    Hagströmer & Qviberg
    HQ AB is a Swedish finance and banking corporation founded by Sven Hagströmer and Mats Qviberg, and which is currently being liquidated after having had its banking licence revoked on August 28, 2010.-History:...

    , Avanza
    Avanza
    Bankaktiebolaget Avanza is the largest online stock broker in the Nordic countries with more than 150 000 customers and the largest number of deals on the Stockholm Stock Exchange...

    , Öresund
    Oresund
    The Sound , is the strait that separates the Danish island Zealand from the southern Swedish province of Scania. Its width is just at the narrowest point between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden...

     and also in the board for the public companies Bilia, Eworks and Insplanet
  • Richard Båge, founder of Insplanet IPO in 2006, founder and chairman of Mediaplanet


Previous Dragons 2009:
  • Gunilla von Platen CEO and founder of Xzakt Kundrelation, a telemarketing company located in Sweden
  • Ljubo Mrnjavac sold his fast food company Pölsemannen 2002. Today active in real estate

Turkey

The Turkish version of Dragons' Den will be shown on BloombergHT. In 2010 the UK version is shown with Turkish subtitles.

Ukraine

In Ukraine, the series was called Акулы бизнеса (Business Sharks), and featured Dragons such as future presidential candidate Sergei Tigipko.

United States

In 2008, television producer Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...

 signed a deal with format holder Sony to produce an American version of the series. The series on U.S. television is titled Shark Tank.

The U.S. network ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 has ordered a pilot episode which will be produced by Sony Pictures TV. On 9 October 2008, a casting producer announced that The Shark Tank was accepting applications for a pilot, giving entrepreneurs two weeks to submit their ideas. The pilot was filmed 6-9 January 2009 in Los Angeles.

The Sharks are:
  • Mark Cuban
    Mark Cuban
    Mark Cuban is an American business magnate and investor. He is the owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network HDNet....

    , owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks and billionaire entrepreneur.
  • Robert Herjavec, who sold his IT security firm at the height of the dot-com bubble
    Dot-com bubble
    The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...

     for over $100 million and a dragon on the Canadian version of the show
  • Kevin O'Leary
    Kevin O'Leary (entrepreneur)
    Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, investor, and television personality.-Early life and education:O'Leary was born in Mount Royal, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal, to a salesman father and seamstress mother....

    , co-host of The Lang and O'Leary Exchange
    The Lang and O'Leary Exchange
    The Lang and O'Leary Exchange is a Canadian business news television series, which airs weekdays on CBC News Network. Hosted by Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary, the series presents a summary of the day's major business stories in a manner similar to Lang and O'Leary's earlier Business News Network...

    on CBC News Network, formerly president of The Learning Company
    The Learning Company
    The Learning Company is an American educational software company, founded in 1980. It produced a grade-based system similar to Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart series. The products for preschoolers through second graders feature Reader Rabbit, and software for more advanced students features The...

    , which was sold to Mattel
    Mattel
    Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...

     for $3.7 billion in 1999 and a dragon on the Canadian version of the show
  • Barbara Corcoran
    Barbara Corcoran
    Barbara Ann Corcoran is an American businesswoman, investor, speaker, business consultant, syndicated columnist, author, and television personality. As a television personality, she is a "Shark" investor on ABC's Shark Tank.She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a degree in education...

    , self-made real estate millionaire who sold her company The Corcoran Group for $70 million in 2001
  • Kevin Harrington
    Kevin Harrington (entrepreneur)
    Kevin Harrington, is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and founder of and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and is a pioneer in the infomercial industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion...

    , pioneer in the infomercial industry
  • Daymond John
    Daymond John
    Daymond John is an American entrepreneur, investor, fashion designer, television personality, and motivational speaker...

    , founder of FUBU
    FUBU
    FUBU is a clothing company. It includes casual wear, sports wear, a suit collection, eyewear, belts, and shoes for the African-American community in the sense of economic investment but not to be exclusively worn by African Americans...


Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
Robert Herjavec
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Ann Corcoran is an American businesswoman, investor, speaker, business consultant, syndicated columnist, author, and television personality. As a television personality, she is a "Shark" investor on ABC's Shark Tank.She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a degree in education...

Kevin O'Leary
Kevin O'Leary (entrepreneur)
Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, investor, and television personality.-Early life and education:O'Leary was born in Mount Royal, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal, to a salesman father and seamstress mother....

Daymond John
Daymond John
Daymond John is an American entrepreneur, investor, fashion designer, television personality, and motivational speaker...

Kevin Harrington
Kevin Harrington (entrepreneur)
Kevin Harrington, is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and founder of and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and is a pioneer in the infomercial industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion...

Kevin Harrington
Kevin Harrington (entrepreneur)
Kevin Harrington, is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and founder of and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and is a pioneer in the infomercial industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion...


Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban is an American business magnate and investor. He is the owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network HDNet....


Jeff Foxworthy
Jeff Foxworthy
Jeffrey Marshall "Jeff" Foxworthy is an American comedian, television and radio personality and author. He is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which also comprises Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. Known for his "you might be a redneck" one-liners, Foxworthy...

Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban is an American business magnate and investor. He is the owner of the National Basketball Association's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network HDNet....

 
Kevin Harrington
Kevin Harrington (entrepreneur)
Kevin Harrington, is an American businessman and investor. He is the chairman and founder of and co-founder of OmniReliant Holdings, Inc. and is a pioneer in the infomercial industry. He has financed more than 500 direct TV marketing product launches with sales totaling over $4 billion...



See also

  • American Inventor
    American Inventor
    American Inventor is a reality television series based on a competition to be named America's best inventor. It was conceived by UK entrepreneur Peter Jones, who appears on the British version of the somewhat similar programme Dragons' Den, a format originated in Japan where it is owned by Sony....

  • The Big Idea
  • Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway
    Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway
    Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway was a British television show hosted by Richard Madeley which first aired on ITV on Tuesday 2 January 2007. Over seven weeks, various members of the public appeared, several per show, and appealed before a panel of judges for money to fulfil ambitions or dreams...

  • Win In China
    Win In China
    Win in China is a national reality television show in China. The show airs on CCTV-2 on Tuesday nights to a core audience of 20,000,000, and through re-broadcast, internet, and DVD has an extended audience of nearly 200,000,000....


External links

(Official UK website)
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK