Derby entrepreneur to appear on Dragons’ Den
Derby businessman Ed Hollands is set to appear on 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.
Hollands, who lives in Nottingham, works with a range of hauliers, advertisers and marketing agencies including Three Counties Contracts and The Outdoor Advertising Directory.
He 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.”
Hollands decided he’d also like to apply to appear on Dragons’ Den. 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’m appreciate I’m rather young to enter the Den but I’m not going to let my age put me off.”
Hollands will be making his screen appearance before the Dragons on Sunday (February 11). Watching him will be his business mentor Graham Mulholland, the well-known entrepreneur based in Derby.
Mulholland has helped Hollands re-think his original approach and has advised him on forming key strategic business partnerships.
He 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.”
Hollands 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.”
