Dragons’ Den is in its fifth series and continuing to offer entrepreneurs from across the country the chance to make their business dreams come true. The BBC is currently searching for Britain’s best entrepreneurs and will be auditioning throughout the coming months.

Brixton-based Levi Roots secured an investment of £50,000 when he serenaded the Dragons, convincing them that his Reggae Reggae Sauce was hot stuff. Just three and a half weeks after his appearance on the programme he launched his sauce in 607 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide with his first batch selling out across the country in the first day.

Imran Hakim pitched his I-Teddy, a teddy bear with an integrated multimedia player, securing an investment of £140,000. He has just signed a multi-million pound deal and is preparing to launch later this year.

The rules are simple: the entrepreneurs can ask for any amount of investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing.

The Dragons are prepared to listen to a pitch for any kind of business, but they must be convinced that it will make money.

As demonstrated by the investments in the last four series, ideas, businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a good chance of securing the Dragons’ interest:

• The Unique Selling Point (USP): a product that serves a need like nothing else
• Scalability: something that can be up scaled to make real money
• Route to Market: the clear way the product can be sold and marketed
• Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: just what will the Dragons get out of it?
• Exit Strategy: a plan of how the entrepreneur/Dragon will exit and make money.

To apply, send an email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk, or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden