How long is the standard initial pitch by an entrepreneur on Britain's Dragon's Den?
Answer
Three minutes
The standard initial pitch by an entrepreneur on Britain's Dragon's Den lasts three minutes.
During this opening presentation, an entrepreneur introduces the business, explains the opportunity and states the investment sought in exchange for an ownership stake. The Dragons then question the entrepreneur, examining subjects such as sales, valuation, costs, competition and intellectual property.
The short pitch is only the beginning of the negotiation. A strong presentation does not guarantee an offer, because the investors can continue questioning the business and may withdraw even after initially showing interest. Several entrepreneurs can also appear together when a venture has more than one founder.
Viewers sometimes confuse the pitch duration with the total time spent in the Den. Filming and questioning can last much longer; the three-minute figure refers specifically to the opening presentation.