Double Dragon

The founder of StyleBible, Amanda Zuydervelt, writes in today’s Independent about her experience on the BBC2 show Dragons’ Den.

She didn’t get the quarter million she was after, but says that this was not her primary motivation for appearing. One wonders just why therefore she comes across as so bitter: attacking the BBC and the show’s producers, before singling out Doug Richard, chairman of Library House, for some special attention.

This is one crusading, feminist* entrepreneur, who — for some reason — thinks that this perfect world owes her something. She seems determined to overlook the fact that society is far from ideal (thankfully), so people, as they are perhaps entitled (it’s their money, after all), will make snap judgements; but, crucially, it’s up to the ’salesperson’ to sell the idea effectively. In the article she criticises the Dragons for not grasping the potential for her idea; is this not, at least in part, her fault for failing to explain and pitch it properly?

Maybe she’s cleverer than all that: she admits that she’s after PR, so what better way than pitching an aggressive article to the editors of the Independent? Hits a go-go. Or, as they would say on /., Step 2: ???; Step 3: Profit!

She’s also written a letter in her company blog claiming heavy editing bias (as there may be) and even more bitterness towards Doug Richard. She even seems to gloat about the poor viewing figures. Admittedly these difficulties may not be entirely down to her: I can certainly see why 4m people (presumeably 2m men, therefore) would prefer the disarmingly charming Sarah Beeny to the impoverished Rachel Elnaugh.

* – I say this only because of her attack that she thought she was being branded as ‘blonde’, when — out of some respect — she may credit those potential investors with the ability to see beyond that.
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