The Future Leaders Hub: The Dragon's Chair

The Dragon’s Chair: An Online Taster from The Future Leaders Hub

Switch sides. Take the investor’s chair.

Many young people have pitched a business idea. Far fewer have sat on the other side of the table. In The Dragon’s Chair, students aged 10–16 become Managing Partners at a venture capital firm, with £100,000 of virtual capital to invest. Their job is to decide which start-up deserves it, and why.

The challenge

Three eager start-ups are competing for the investment. On paper, each looks fantastic, with impressive products, glowing reviews and slick pitches. But each one hides a critical trap that could sink the business. It might be a pricing strategy that loses money on every sale, an operation that can’t keep up with demand, or a product with no path to profit. Students must look past the hype and find out what’s really going on.

What happens during the session

• The Executive Briefing: Students are welcomed as newly appointed Managing Partners and given their mission.
• The Venture Audit: In small breakout teams, students study each start-up’s dossier. They rate it across four pillars: production and operations, financials and pricing, marketing, and team dynamics.
• The Investment Decision: Teams choose one start-up to back and agree why the other two must be rejected.
• The Pivot Plan: Teams set the non-negotiable changes the winning founders must accept before receiving a penny. These cover an operational fix, a pricing fix and a marketing fix.
• The Boardroom Pitch: Each team presents its decision in a sharp 60-second pitch to the main room.
• Wrap-Up: A debrief on the choices made, the traps spotted, and how real investors and business leaders think.

Skills students will develop

• Critical Risk Analysis: Auditing start-ups, exposing hidden traps, and seeing past the hype.
• Financial Acumen: Unit costs, profit margins, and revenue model evaluation.
• Strategic Decision-Making: Team negotiation, turnaround planning, and persuasive boardroom pitching.

Who it’s for

The session is for curious, ambitious young people aged 10–16 who enjoy a challenge. No prior business knowledge is needed, just a willingness to think critically, work as a team and speak up. Students who have already pitched their own ideas will find a fresh challenge in evaluating the ideas of others.

Event details

• Date: Wednesday 18th November
• Time: 6–7pm (UK time)
• Location: Live online
• Cost: £5
• Ages: 10–16

Online safety and tech requirements

A parent or guardian must supervise throughout the session. Students must keep their cameras on at all times, and the lead facilitator will also keep their camera on. We strongly recommend that students put their phones away so they can stay fully engaged. Students will need a laptop or tablet with a working camera, microphone and a stable internet connection.

About The Future Leaders Hub

The Dragon’s Chair is a taster of The Future Leaders Hub programmes. These help young people build the real-world commercial thinking, leadership and decision-making skills used by entrepreneurs and executives.

Questions? Contact us at info@gettheedgeeducation.com