The most valuable asset known to man is a good idea. But success and greatness may not be achieved with just the imagination of a good idea but by the thoughtful and meticulous process of transforming that good idea into a profitable venture.

So many factors contribute to the success of any good business idea. For eleven weeks on Dragons Den, we’ve seen aspiring entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas approach the dragons hoping to secure investments for their various business ideas and products. Only five of such entrepreneurs emerged with investments.

On episode 12, we presented to you all the five successful entrepreneurs or the “dragons’ slayers” as you may like to call them – courageous young men and women who were able to secure mouth-watering investments from the dragons despite all the odds of fiery scrutiny and the inherent anxiety in the den.

1.      Yusuf Bello - the first successful entrepreneur on the show emerged in episode 2, slaying the dragons with the idea and application for a mobile directory solution he aptly called www.naijacities.com 

2.      With 10 million naira injected into www.naijacities.com by the dragons, Yusuf Bello’s brainchild has been launched online as the answer to the prayers of many visitors and travelling businessmen and women in Nigeria.

3.      Alsu Odemwingie emerged in episode 4 as the first lady to slay the dragons; securing a 3 million naira investment from the duo of Chris Parkes and John Momoh in Start-Up Sity – a business she conceived in order to nurture and resuscitate the profitability of ailing start-up companies.

4.      In episode 7, Aaron Adegoke Wright articulately convinced the dragons to commit a 5 million naira investment in Indigenes Creations – a fine culture-based business aimed at exporting the cultural heritage of the Nigerian state through creative greeting cards.

5.      Femi Odeleye, the brilliant inventor of the Trike-tor wowed the dragons with his three-wheeler mini-tractor, and in turn was able to secure a 6 million naira investment from the five dragons in episode 9.

6.      Food business was definitely good business in episode 10, when Philomena Izuka walked away from the den with 1.5 million naira after convincing Ibukun Awosika and Femi Tejuoso that the passion she had for “House of Plantain” could be transformed into a larger food venture.

Now that you’ve been adequately reminded of the reasons why these entrepreneurs were able to secure investments from the ferocious dragons, then I’m sure you agree with me that what they have achieved was no easy fit.

Next week we shall bring you highlights of some of the more pensive, hilarious, and tension-filled moments that made the first season of Dragons Den Nigeria both very educative and entertaining for millions of viewers all over Nigeria.

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–Den Sweeper