In BBC's Dragon's Den, entrepreneurs who present business proposals are commonly called pitchers.
The term comes from the business expression “pitch,” meaning a concise presentation intended to persuade someone to support an idea. On the programme, a pitcher normally explains a product or service, states the amount of money wanted, and offers a percentage of the company in return. The dragons then question the entrepreneur about sales, costs, valuation and plans for growth.
“Pitcher” describes the person making the presentation, not the investor. The investors are called dragons because the programme presents them as powerful, demanding figures whose money and business experience can transform a young company. The same terminology is used in many versions of the international format.