The investor panel’s presentation room in BBC Dragon's Den is called The Den.
Entrepreneurs enter The Den to present their businesses to the Dragons. They normally state the amount of money they want and the percentage of equity they are prepared to offer. The investors then question them about the company’s performance, valuation, competition and plans.
The name is central to the programme’s branding. It gives the show its title and creates a dramatic setting for negotiations, but the room is still a television set rather than a separate type of financial institution. A successful televised pitch may lead to further legal and commercial checks before an investment is completed.
Viewers also hear the phrase “I’m out” when a Dragon decides not to continue negotiations. However, a Dragon can leave the discussion for several reasons, including an unsuitable valuation, a lack of confidence in the market or disagreement with the founder’s plans. The Den therefore represents both presentation and negotiation.