Entrepreneurs on the UK television series Dragon's Den are traditionally given a maximum of three minutes for their initial pitch before questioning begins.
The short opening pitch is designed to make contestants explain a business clearly and quickly. They normally introduce the product or service, state the amount of investment requested, and specify the percentage of the company they are willing to offer. The dragons then ask questions and negotiate.
The time limit creates a consistent television structure while testing whether an entrepreneur understands the central proposition. A strong pitch cannot rely only on a long presentation; it must communicate the business model, customer need and investment case efficiently.
The three-minute limit applies to the formal opening presentation, not necessarily the entire appearance. Questioning, discussion and negotiation can continue considerably longer. This distinction matters because viewers sometimes describe the whole encounter as a three-minute pitch, when the timed element is only the initial presentation.