Derbyshire Entrepreneur To Appear In Latest Series of Dragons' Den
9th February 2018
Dynamic Derby businessman Ed Hollands will appear on an episode of the current series of Dragons’ Den on February 11 2018.
The 23 year old owner of DrivenMedia has spent the last two years building his business which uses the advertising ‘space’ on the sides of trucks and lorries to market products and services.
Ed, who lives in Derby, came up with the idea soon after finishing a degree at the University of Derby where he achieved first-class honours in business studies.
His ‘eureka’ moment occurred while returning home after dropping his fiancé at work. He noticed numerous lorries and heavy good vehicles stationary in traffic on the A38, a main transport artery road within the Midlands transport network. Many were sporting plain colours, or plain white material along their length with no imagery to engage the eye or attract the interest of fellow motorists or pedestrians.
“I immediately began my research by literally standing on the side of the road and taking down the details of trucks and lorries. I then phoned the companies to find out if they would consider renting out their ‘space’ to potential advertisers. One finally agreed and others soon followed.”
Ed decided he’d also like to apply to appear on Dragons’ Den in the hope of impressing one or several of the Dragons. He applied and was selected to present a pitch to the Dragons.
He said: “There were a number of reasons why I applied to participate in the series. I wanted to raise awareness about the business however, more significantly I need to raise funding to take DrivenMedia to the next level. I appreciate I’m rather young to enter the Den but I’m not going to let my age put me off.”
Ed will be making his screen appearance before the Dragons on Sunday (February 11). Watching him will be his business mentor Graham Mulholland, a well-known entrepreneur based in Derby.
Graham has helped Ed re-think his original approach and has advised him on forming key strategic business partnerships.
Graham said: “While I consider it my duty to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of business leaders, I’ve relished mentoring someone as talented as Ed. He absolutely deserves his time in the Den. We practised his pitch until it was perfect. I’m confident he’ll face the Dragons and be ready to seduce them with his business proposal.”
Ed said: “Thanks to my mentor Graham, I wasn’t nervous on entering the Den. I know my business works and I have the business acumen necessary to ensure I can deliver.”
Dragons’ Den has been running for 12 years on BBC Two. In 2017 the ‘Dragons’ multi-millionaire investors are: Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Jenny Campbell, Tej Lalvani and Touker Suleyman.
