SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two Yellowknife entrepreneurs will be heading to Toronto this spring to face the "dragons" of CBC's hit reality show Dragons' Den.

Producers from the show were at the Yellowknife Inn March 28 to see auditions for the show's sixth season. A total of eight people presented ideas, including Aaron Hernandez, better known by his rap name Godson, and Mark Brown, who's come to be known by many as "the rock guy."

Mark Brown, owner of Rock Of Ages, will be heading to Toronto to face the Dragons' Den, where he hopes he can help market what he says are the oldest rocks in the world. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

Brown was at the audition asking for $50,000 to help market his business Rock of Ages, which sells samples of the oldest rock in the world, tonalite gneiss, nearly four billion years old.

"When I got the call inviting me to come to Toronto I was scared to death," said Brown. "It was one of those 'careful what you wish for, you might just get it' moments."

He said while he suggested a price of $50,000 for as much as 50 per cent of his business, he is not sure if that is what he will actually ask the dragons.

"I am doing an evaluation of the business right now. I don't want to be in a position where I ask for $50,000 and they grill me on how that would mean the business is worth a million dollars," said Brown.

He said he is looking for the money to help market his business. "I have the product, but just need help on the marketing end of things," said Brown.

For his part, Aaron Hernandez was not so much pitching a business as himself.

"I just told them my story, who I am and what I am about. That I have been doing this for 16 years and would like to branch out to the rest of the world," said Hernandez.

"I'm hoping they will make an investment, but it's really not about the money. Three million people watch the show, so that would be a lot of exposure. So this is a presentation to the rest of Canada," said Hernandez.

"My whole body froze when I got the call. I really wasn't expecting it," said Hernandez.

He says he hasn't watched the show very much, only a few episodes, and isn't sure how much he should ask from the dragons.

"I have a few friends who watch the show religiously. If any of them or anyone else want to give me advice for how I should prepare, they are more than welcome," said Hernandez.

Dragons' Den producer Molly Duignan conducted the Yellowknife auditions. She said she was impressed by how different Brown and Hernandez's ideas were from what they normally hear. "We are always looking for businesses that aren't typical," said Duignan.

"We have had rappers before, but Aaron is a rapper with a difference. He doesn't swear and is involved in the community and we liked that," said Duignan.

"Brown's idea was so different. I had never seen the oldest rock in the world before, but he does need help marketing. And he's just such a nice guy. I really liked his presentation," said Duignan.

Brown and Hernandez haven't confirmed when they will be flying down for the show, but they expect to be in Toronto toward the end of April.

Season six of the Dragons' Den will hit airwaves in September.

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