Are you a budding entrepreneur? Are you currently running a small business looking to expand?

Are you seeking a sizeable capital investment?

Could you be the person to feature in a new national TV series?

You might be looking in just the right place.

Have you watched the enormously successful BBC series 'The Dragon's Den'?

It's a Television programme about raising capital to help to start new businesses, or assisting small, existing businesses to grow.

Hopeful entrepreneurs face a panel of multi - millionaires, (The Dragons), who quiz them on their products or ideas.

The 'Dragons' then decide if they wish to invest in the concepts. In return for their investment, these business people look for equity in the project.

In exchange for their cash, the tycoons require a stake in the venture - a portion of the profits.

In return they offer not only their investment, but also, and equally importantly, their business expertise. It's a simple concept which has been in place since the dawn of time.

It can be a tough challenge, but in the past, individuals and small companies have raised huge sums of money to help them with their start up or expansion plans. Some of the ventures have proved to be enormously profitable.