‘Dragons’ Den’ contestants tease details of products they’ve been selected to pitch

For a television show that is predominantly about timing "Dragons' Den" has managed to keep Canadians in suspense since 2006 by filming episodes up to nearly a year in advance of their broadcast.

The popularity of the CBC series has meant media outlets are eager to learn more about the entrepreneurs selected in local auditions to fly to meet the dragons in Toronto.

Whether they're willing to talk, of course, is an entirely different matter.

The venture capitalist stars dedicate three weeks each spring to hearing real-life pitches. And, with ratings having recently surpassed two million viewers per episode, what was originally conceived as a fall series now runs up until the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Still, some of next season's hopefuls have emerged with a hint of what's to come, even if not all of them are guaranteed to have their pitches make the final cut.

For example, a device designed to pop frozen juice from cans, and help with the stirring process, will be presented by Daniel Lichty of Abbotsford, B.C.

"I'm going to race the Dragons," Lichty promised when showing his "Juice Loose" to the Vancouver Province. "If they can make juice faster any other way, they don't need this."

Recent auditions in Abbotsford also reportedly resulted in imminent pitch opportunities for a hay delivery service, and an odourless toilet.

Meanwhile, a Windsor woman who designed an outdoor leisure product nearly brought to market 10 years ago has publicly expressed her gratitude for an opportunity to potentially revive an idea set aside due to personal problems.

But the inventor, Dawn-Marie Dominas, didn't want to tell the Windsor Star what the product was actually for, or allow it to be photographed.

Considering the pitches deemed suitable for the show won't be shown for several more months, after all, it would seem most of the 266 businesses selected for the next season of "Dragons' Den" aren't too keen on having someone else scoop their idea.

(CBC Photo)