Dragons’ Den Type Opportunities on the Internet

March 12, 2013 - PRLog -- Most small business entrepreneurs are having a really hard time getting any funding for start-ups or growth. Many have watched the TV programme Dragons’ Den and cringed for the hopefuls who were ill prepared to beard the dragons in their den, even while they admired their courage in putting themselves into such a stressful situation. They probably envied those who were successful and walked away with thousands of pounds of investment in their businesses by the dragons, as well as gaining the benefit of their experience and expertise.

Office Assistants (http://www.officeassistants.org/) has been looking at a website which is opening up similar opportunities for anyone who needs cash for starting or growing a business. It has been set up by Peter Hart and his wife, who did succeed on Dragons’ Den, winning £100,000 in investment from Duncan Bannatyne. They know just how nerve wracking that was, and they decided to set up a facility for anyone to pitch to potential investors without having to go through that stressful experience.

Pitching for Everyone

Their brainchild is the website www.pitchforit.co.uk, where it is free to upload a video pitch to investors. It has a panel of high profile investors who see it as both a way to find worthwhile investments, and to help and advise would-be entrepreneurs. Currently you can go onto the site, watch the pitch videos and read the comments and advice they have given. They include Mark Pearson, of MyVoucherCodes, Sara Murray of Confused.com, Brad Burton of 4Networking and original Dragon Rachel Elnaugh.

The way the website owners make money is that, for anyone wanting to upload a pitch who doesn’t feel confident about making a video, they will organise a professional one at a price that won’t break the bank. They’ll even create an animation for it, so that it won’t be just a talking head.

Proof That it Works

Even before it was successfully launched, pitchforit won £10,000 in digital media and mentoring for Laura Thomas to develop her website business Happy Sugar Habits. The investment came from someone who was not on the panel of business gurus, so it seems that other investors can be reached as well.

The site owners say they intend to add a facility to make pitches private and viewable only by investors, in case people are worried about making their ideas public. Office Assistants (http://www.officeassistants.org/) suggests that anyone whose business development is being held back by lack of funds has nothing to lose by giving this a try, with a lot to gain if it works for them.