Listen to the episode by clicking HERE
I want to share my experience on the show "Dans l'œil du dragon" (Dragon's Den), to show you what went on behind the scenes and how I experienced it. It's a long process filled with preparation and emotions.
A simple idea
It all started one evening in October 2018. I was sprawled out on my couch like a 38-week-old pregnant whale. I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw an ad for Dans l'œil du dragon (Dragon's Den): "Are you an entrepreneur with an interesting project? Here's the application form for the next season."
I have some time to kill, so I'm looking at the form without filling it out… After all, dragons are too hot for my little crochet business.
The idea kept nagging at me. The next day, I opened the form again and this time, I decided to fill it out "for fun".
Two weeks go by and the application for the show is far from my mind. On November 9th, my beautiful Gaëlle decides it's the day of the big meeting. It has to be an early morning, because she was born at 6:25 a.m. At the end of the day, I'm pretty battered in my hospital bed when I open my emails. Surprise! I see an email titled: "Application for Dragon's Den."
My heart is racing. I've passed the first stage and now I have to fill out a more detailed form. I confess, I'm not really looking forward to it. I'm trying my best to recover from the emotions of being a new mom.
On November 11th, we came home with our brand new baby. During a nap, I opened the Dragons' email, then closed it again. And I did this at least 3 or 4 times. I hesitated, then went for it. I filled out the new form. Dragons' Den is so cool… but you never know!
A few days later, another email. Oh my god!
I've been asked to do a phone interview.
On November 20th, Gaëlle was 11 days old. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the researcher. I answered her questions and she told me about the next steps in the process. She said that if I passed the interview stage, I would receive an email.
I'm starting to get annoyed.
I hope so, but not too much.
Will I meet the Dragons in real life? For real, right now?
Preparation
In early December, I received an email from the researcher of Dans l'œil du dragon.
I've passed the next stage. I've been invited to a rehearsal interview with the researchers and the producer on January 22nd. It's a real-life rehearsal. I have to deliver my pitch and convince them to invest in my company.
I'm panicking.
I only have a month and a half to prepare. And there are the holidays too!
My pitch is fine. I know my company well, but how do I prepare for the Dragons' questions? I have a million questions. I clearly need a professional to help me prepare.
I contacted several coaches to help me work with my numbers… within a month. I faced several rejections due to the tight deadline. I started to panic even more. Fortunately, my search paid off. Sujata from Attitude Orange agreed to meet with me and her friend Stéphane, who has worked with several big names, including Daniele Hankel! It's fantastic, the perfect duo!
On December 10th, I prepare for our meeting on December 20th. I work on my figures, my objectives, my mission, etc. I try to have as much information as possible to optimize our 2-hour coaching session.
The day before my coaching session, I left Quebec City for a hotel in Laval. My first night without my daughter (and I slept for 7 hours!!!). The next day, I arrived at the appointment rested and motivated. It was my first time meeting Sujata, and I was instantly drawn to her. She put me at ease, and Stéphane focused on the more technical aspects. I left with a significant assignment: to prepare my pitch for the Dragons to present at the second meeting on January 14th.
Back in Quebec City, I prepared my pitch and rehearsed it out loud at least a hundred times: in front of my daughter, in the shower, in the car, while making dinner, even in my dreams (yes, it really happened!). I spent the holidays in my head. And I couldn't tell anyone!
The process had to remain secret, and it would have been less of a blow to my pride if I wasn't selected after the audition. Julie from Accrochet also helps me by answering my thousands of questions every day. I'm so lucky to have her!
On January 14th, I returned to Laval for my second meeting with Sujata and Stéphane. I gave my pitch for the first time in front of people other than my 2-month-old daughter.
We are fine-tuning the text and the way it is presented.
We are working with the numbers again so that we can easily answer all the dragons' questions.
I am ready and confident.
Hearing
It's January 22nd, the day of my audition in front of the researchers and the producer of the show.
I arrive at the Germain Hotel in Quebec City feeling very confident and surprisingly zen. After all, there are no cameras. I still have some leeway to mess up. I'm really proud to have made it this far, but I don't want to go any further. I don't really want to face the real Dragons. I'm not "hot" enough for that.
I set up my equipment, including the toques, in a room at the hotel and gave my pitch. It went incredibly well. I didn't even mess up. The reactions were very positive, and the producer seemed surprised by my journey with Akroche Tatuk.
I return home, very proud of myself.
At the beginning of February, the phone rang. I never get calls. So, I knew perfectly well it was the Dragons' researcher. My heart skipped a beat. I was super nervous. "Hi Jennifer, I'm calling to tell you that you passed your audition. Your recording with the Dragons will be in a few weeks."
Oh my god!
I'm crazy as hell, but I'm also scared.
I don't want to look like a fool on television.
I continue to prepare and rehearse my pitch until the big day.
This is D-Day.
It's the morning of February 27th. I'm heading to Radio-Canada to meet up with Julie and Sujata, who have been incredibly supportive since the beginning of this process. I'm so glad they're here; I'm so nervous.
We have to set up the toque equipment in a room next to the recording studio. There are 3 other companies with us and the excitement is palpable.
Later, we were picked up for a tour of the studio and an explanation of how the filming would work. The dragons weren't there yet, of course. Then we went back to our dressing room: I felt like a star! Haha!
I'm eating.
I'm getting my makeup done.
I'm waiting for our turn.
It's taking a long time; I'm the last company to go through. (I have to say, I'm not the most patient person at this point.)
Technicians finally arrive to take our toque setup to install it in the recording studio. It's my turn!
I'm going into the studio. It's unreal.
My heart is beating so fast.
They fitted me with a microphone and gave me the final instructions.
Action in… 3, 2, 1.
I go through the door and down the metal steps in front of the Dragons.
You can watch the episode HERE
