Dragon's Den Quebec: a defining moment in our entrepreneurial journey
It hadn't even been six months since Virginie and Alexandre had started in business when Virginie's mother was already asking them: "When are you going to be on Dragons' Den?" She had a knack for it... but at the time, it was still far too early.
We chose to wait until we were really ready. Four years later, with a well-established company, we felt the time had come. For us, Dragon's Den Quebec is the ultimate achievement in an entrepreneurial journey. It's the kind of moment when you realize whether your project holds up in the eyes of the best.
A long process
The selection process was long, but the day we received confirmation that we were going to present our company to the Dragons, we were both excited and a little stressed: we knew we only had one chance, and we wanted to do things right.
Virginie knew the pitch by heart. Any time was a good time to practice, even during walks with Pancho! Passers-by must have really thought she was talking to herself.
On the day of filming, we were confident. Virginie's parents were even present; they were the first to hear our pitch... we were too embarrassed to do it in front of anyone else... And now, we were going to do it on TV!
All day long, we were surprisingly calm. Almost zen. Until we found ourselves behind the big doors, waiting for the famous countdown: 3-2-1. That's when the adrenaline kicked in. The moment you push the doors is hard to describe: it's like stepping into a television screen. After years of watching the show, it was our turn to be on stage.
Questions... and a surprise
Once the pitch was over, we felt the pressure drop: we had managed to deliver our message exactly as we wanted. Then came the more technical questions. And there, we were impressed by the Dragon's kindness, their listening skills, and their genuine desire to understand our company. They challenged us, asked pointed questions, and offered valuable insights for consideration.
To be honest, we didn't expect to receive an offer. We were just going there for the experience. In the best-case scenario, maybe a Dragon would raise their hand. But when the offers started coming in, 4 out of 5 offers, we were destabilized... in the best way possible!
Choosing an investor was not an easy task. Since the beginning of our project, we've relied heavily on our gut feeling. While discussing in the bunker, we quickly realized that we had the same feeling: Isabèle Chevalier. We both sensed a real interest from her, and with her exceptional entrepreneurial background, we knew it was a perfect match. Isabèle was the perfect person to help us propel OVS even further.
An unforgettable experience
Our appearance on In Dragon's Den Quebec will remain etched in our memory. It was a unique, human, demanding, but deeply enriching experience. If we had to summarize it all in one word: unforgettable. We would do it again tomorrow morning, without hesitation.
To all those who dream of going there one day: go for it. Prepare yourselves, be genuine, and live it to the fullest.
