On February 28, Durham College (DC) hosted auditions for the hit CBC television show Dragons’ Den for the third year in a row. The packed schedule saw 30 new business concepts and products pitched to producers of the show.

DC students and members of the general public, all of them entrepreneurs, auditioned while trying to balance their nerves, emotions and determination to secure a spot to present their pitch directly to the Dragons.

A wide variety of ideas were unveiled during the auditions, including three pitches from DC students. A group from the Sport Management, Marketing Business and Entrepreneurship and Small Business programs showcased a project focused on taking competitive athletic training to the next level to prepare high-school students for upcoming competitive seasons. A student from Paralegal program presented a tool for legal self-representation. A student from the Entrepreneurship and Small Business program pitched an organization that helps bridge the gap between professional videogame teams and potential sponsors.

DC students were encouraged to get support from FastStart, the college’s entrepreneurial training program, ahead of their pitches. Those who did were given advice on how to create a short, concise and to-the-point presentation and were reminded that most successful pitches tell a story about who the entrepreneurs are, what their motivation is for their business, what value the proposition holds for potential customers and what’s in it for the investors.

Holding events on campus like the Dragons’ Den auditions helps DC to continue developing entrepreneurial skills and strategic thinking among students, while encouraging them to keep moving forward in order to succeed.