Dragon’s Den welcomes new dragon into den
CBC’s hit program Dragons’ Den announced today that it is welcoming a new addition to its cast for the upcoming sixth season, scheduled to air in spring 2011. Bruce Croxon, co-founder of Canadian dating Web hub Lavalife, will replace Brett Wilson. Croxon—who has worked in a variety of roles at Lavalife, including partner, chairman and CEO—says he’s excited to explore untapped Canadian entrepreneurial talent, but Wilson seems less than thrilled about his departure, releasing a statement saying he would have loved one more season on the show, but his time was cut short by failed contract negotiations. (Did CBC not expect one of its own Dragons to fight for a favourable contract?)
According to a press release for the show, Croxon said he’s looking forward to his new seat in the den. “I’ve always been drawn to start-ups and to the challenges that come with funding early stage businesses,” Croxon said. “All big ideas start somewhere, and I’m really looking forward to the chance Dragons’ Den offers to take part in finding and investing in the best new undiscovered business opportunities the country has to offer.”
Wilson’s on-line statement is more candid, blaming his departure on stalled contract negotiations with CBC, his availability and disagreements over branding of the show. Wilson also hints at clashes between cast members as part of the reason he left. “Known as the philanthropist Dragon who liked to invest in people, not just products, Wilson often faced off with Kevin O’Leary, the voice of unadulterated greed on the show,” the Toronto Star writes. Wilson echoes this sentiment on his website: “I challenge CBC and the Dragons to ensure that the show’s momentum in celebrating, encouraging and fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship across Canada doesn’t get lost in faux-business conversations with theatrical rudeness and irrelevant commentary and advice.”
• Why Brett Wilson is leaving ‘Dragons’ Den’ [Toronto Star]
• Dragon with a heart leaves the den [W. Brett Wilson’s Personal site!]
Brett is a cool Guy. I could not take Oreally for 5 minutes when i went in the Den last May.
He is really good to finish off. To bad Oreally doesnt quit and Brett keeps going The good work.
Good luck Brett
Take care
these so-called “Dragons” are just bullies who get off on belittling people who have dreams … who needs it
everybody wants to be Simon Cowell the richest bully in the world
Brett Wilson and Arlene Dickinson are the only ones who actually “made” deals on the show. I think I’ve seen Herjavec open his wallet once – why is he even on the show if he never makes deals.
I’m sorry that Brett Wilson is leaving. Dragon’s Den is quite the “dampner” of entrepreneurial spirit. Some people need to be told not to remortgage their house (when they have 3 kids. Otherwise, even if YOU don’t like the business, keep encouraging Canadians in entrepreneurial activities. That’s why our country is so amazing!
I lost interest in this show after finding in the past two seasons that the focus had shifted from finding real entrepreneurs and marketable, interesting products to being mean and belittling the presenters. I get that the producers have to make the show interesting enough to watch, but I think people can be told in a factual, constructive way that their products suck and they should give it up or that someone needs to get a proper business plan or get a better presentation, etc. As someone who isn’t familiar with venture capital, start ups and generally the behind the scenes of the business world, I would still have found the show interesting. I get way more excited about the cool new products that may or may not be a good investment for the Dragon’s (and their reasons for deciding one way or another) than sending an earnest person home feeling humiliated. Brett was willing to be blunt where needed but he did it in a kind way, and I liked that he occasionally got a little soft and gave someone a break even if it might not have been objectively the best investment decision. Good luck Brent!
Ohhhhh what a dissapointment to turn on CBC’s Dragon’s Den and find Brett Wilson not part of the show. I understand that CBC may not have got the “deal” they wanted in negotiations with Mr. Wilson but he had a personality and underlying philosophy that made him so unique on the show that I felt like I was getting a nicely balanced meal. This first episode comes across a little bland in some areas and grating in others.
Of course I will probably give Bruce Croxon a second chance but I feel like it’s going to be an obligatory re-visit to a second best product that was much better last season. And for that reason, I’m Out.
Before I go I just have to say that what Brett Wilson’s quote on his website says it all:
“I challenge CBC and the Dragons to ensure that the show’s momentum in celebrating, encouraging and fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship across Canada doesn’t get lost in faux-business conversations with theatrical rudeness and irrelevant commentary and advice.”
just wondering if they had a tough time finding dragons in canada, when compaired to the UK version the dragons in canada are amature investors with very little business experience or a track record of successfully creating multiple business. Sure boston pizza makes money but it doesn’t prove he knows how to apply what makes boston pizza successful to other businesses, maybe he can, but when compaired to someone like James Caan or Peter Jones who have both made fortunes from hundreds of different business as opposed to just one I’d feel much better having one of them on my team, I guess if I wanted to open a pizza restaurant in Canada I’d have to consider it. Then O’leary, sure he’s made hundreds of millions but again from one business, why hasn’t he done it again, why would somebody with so much “business skills” decide to host a news show for a salery, doesn’t make much sense, even Warren Buffet claimed he’s a lucky guy but not nesissarily a business man with a great deal of experience (ktla interviw), not to mention he thinks he is rude, arrogant, and not somebody he would ever work with for the simple reason insulting people for the sake of insulting someone shows a lack of class. and the lady who has a house in Puerto Vallarta, why do they always seem to mention this, her house in Puerto Vallarta was in the posh area (Conchas Chinas) about 30 years ago, but now there are several areas such as Punta de Mita (close to PV ) that attract people with real money (20-30 million dollars homes) that make her PV neighborhood look like the ghetto. And nothing against Conchas Chinas but its just not something to brag about, it’s would be like bragging that you own a home in Calgary, maybe it’s nice but it’s just not that impressive. Nothing personal against any of these people, and I do consider all of them successful but just not to the same extent as the dragons in the UK who obviouslly have much more business success. There must be investors in Canada that have more experience and more success in hundreds of businesses.
Is it just me or are the “dragons” the most pretentious group of self indulgent, arrogant fops you’ve ever seen? They manipulate & degrade anyone that comes up with a good idea to the point they’re either in tears or willing to sell a portion of their business for far less than it’s worth. No wonder these jack asses are millionaires…they’ve very likely taken advantage of everyone they’ve come across.
When I first heard of this show, I thought “great, some wealthy Canadians with a good business sense, willing to invest in a great idea that otherwise might not have a chance simply because the creator didn’t have the capital to get it started”. Now I never believed they would be there to blindly fund anything & everything without a chance of a return on their investment, but neither did I think I’d see the disgusting behaviour displayed episode after episode. Openly conspiring to, and this is a quote from Kevin “take them for everything they’ve got”. If it’s the shows intent to create this image in an attempt to draw larger audiences it hasn’t worked with me. I will not be tuning in unless they change things…make the show about the people coming in. Despite what the dragon’s themselves clearly believe, their personalities aren’t appealing, interesting, controversial or anything else that prompts me to watch. They’re third rate business people (there are far more interesting and successful Canadians out there), who’s egos can only be satisfied by talking down to true innovators. For anyone with an idea DO NOT take it to the den – there are other options, banks, private lenders & investors…do your research.
Congratulations dragons…you’ve made got millions of dollars and no class.
dragons-den-ideabook@@burntmail.com
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