ENTREPRENEURS were today challenged to enter the Dragons' Den.

They have been invited to step into the lair of the business magnates on the popular BBC television programme.

Producers are now working on the new series of the show and are searching for business ideas, inventions or products with serious business potential that are investment ready and looking for funding'.

Entrepreneurs can ask for any amount of investment in return for equity in their business.

However, they must get the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing.

The Dragons are prepared to listen to a pitch for any kind of business but they must be convinced that it will make money.

Businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a good chance of securing the Dragons' interest:

  • The Unique Selling Point: a product that serves a need like nothing else.
  • Scalability: something that can be up-scaled to make real money.

n Route to Market: the clear way the product can be sold and marketed.

  • Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: just what will the Dragons get out of it?
  • Exit Strategy: a plan of how the entrepreneur/Dragon will exit and make money.

To enter, email dragonsden@ bbc.co.uk, phone 0871 200 3003 or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden