The Dragon's Den has arrived in Rotorua - but for the first entrepreneur to pitch it was an "exhilarating" rather than scary experience.
Tauranga-based angel investment group Enterprise Angels has been working with Grow Rotorua to establish a Rotorua chapter, signing up established business people to invest in local entrepreneurs.
On Tuesday night it held its first Rotorua meeting at the BNZ Partners Centre.
About 14 potential investors, including some of Rotorua's most successful business people, listened intently as Julia Charity told them why they should invest in her homestay business Look After Me.
Despite admitting to a few nerves beforehand, Dr Charity was pleased with her 30-minute pitch.
"It was exhilarating. I have been preparing for this moment for nearly nine months," she said. As a performance poet, she was used to being on stage.