Top 5 Takeaways from Dragons’ Den
We pitched our electric car charging startup Kerbo Charge on the BBC's Dragons' Den show on 15 February 2024 with my co-founder Ben Whitaker.
We won investment from Deborah Meaden but it wasn't an easy ride - here are five things that surprised me about the whole experience.
1. First up it was remarkably straightforward to get on the show
I filled out the application form one day on the train, the BBC got in touch and invited us to a video practise pitch and then hey presto we were into due diligence. So hats off to the BBC for a straightforward application process.
As with any startup, you want to launch something that not many other people are doing - so if you're applying to Dragons' Den you're going to have more luck if it's NOT another skincare product, snack food or pet accessory (I see a lot of these on the show).
Anyway the lesson here is - just apply - if your product is innovative, unusual, and in an exciting market you have a good chance of getting on.
2. Waiting outside the lift was when the nerves really kicked in.
We'd felt surprisingly calm on the morning of filming, partly as we were backstage which felt quite 'homely', but after we'd walked down the corridor we were waiting outside the lift for about 15 minutes 😬.
Ben and I exhausted our conversation so we started talking about our favourite cheese 🧀. Eventually that ran out too and we just stood there, feeling awkward. We just knew the lift door would open at any moment, we were being filmed the whole time, and it was a really tough wait.
Ben's favourite cheese is brie by the way.
We were delighted to get investment from Deborah Meaden
3. Walking into the Den was surprisingly enjoyable!
There had been six months of build-up to the show, we'd rehearsed a hundred times, and at last we were walking on. The Dragons were stern-faced but we were just glad to be finally speaking after the lift-waiting ordeal.
So don't be put off from applying because you think you'll be too nervous - you're getting the chance to talk about your big passion project - and the thing to remember is you know more about it than anyone else. Of course you need to scenario plan the questions but that's easy to do - drop me a line if you'd like any advice on this.
I think this was after Sara reminded us we only had 5 Trustpilot reviews!
4. The whole thing is shot in one take and doesn't feel like a TV set.
Surprisingly you barely notice the cameras (most are hidden) and it really feels like a natural conversation. Lots got edited out, my background as a management consultant (too boring?), Ben's previous startup (too long a story? 😆), and I did drop in a few more jokes including "Peter, don't let this be your new Trunki" (reference to a successful company that he didn't invest in), but was immediately told by one of the Dragons that is wouldn't make the final edit. Not sure why, it was a great joke..
What a feeling - getting out of the Den alive
5. And.....I still managed to fluff my numbers
I pride myself on my numbers, I used to work for KPMG for goodness sake....yet remarkably I forgot our gross revenue numbers. I just about managed to save it by offering to work it out from scratch, and they looked so bored at the thought of this they just said 'Don't bother' and we moved on 😰
I still managed to fluff the numbers
