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B.C. business owners make 91Ƶmini-gyms91Ƶ idea pitch on Dragon91Ƶs Den Sept. 28

91ƵIt was extremely intense, but we were well-prepared91Ƶ: Safe Sweat owner

Some South Surrey business owners will be featured on national TV on Thursday, Sept. 28.

That91Ƶs when Safe Sweat owners and co-founders Andrea Kloegman and Emre Ozgur will appear in CBC91Ƶs Dragons91Ƶ Den, after filming it in Toronto in May of this year.

The business owners opened Safe Sweat, which offers members individual mini-gyms, or FITsuites, to enjoy workouts in private or with their own personal trainer, in August of 2022.

After presenting their business at a health and fitness summit in L.A. earlier this year, they received an email from staff at Dragon91Ƶs Den, a CBC reality TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hopes of securing investment financing.

While they aren91Ƶt allowed to say what happened at the filming prior to their episode airing, Ozgur could share a little bit before the air date.

91ƵWe91Ƶre very excited!91Ƶ he said.

Their business model 91Ƶ individual gyms, or 91Ƶpod91Ƶ style fitness suites 91Ƶ seems to evoke one of two responses from people, he noted.

91ƵA lot of people had question marks about our idea then some were like, 91ƵOh my God, how come no one has done this before? I love it,91Ƶ91Ƶ Ozgur said.

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The airing itself was quite an experience.

CBC had built a replica, or mock FITsuite for the taping of the show, so the panel and audience can visualize what the actual, flagship South Surrey location looks like in person.

91ƵIt was extremely intense, but we were well-prepared,91Ƶ he said.

He and Kloegman have plans to launch additional locations as well as franchise, so they both felt Dragon91Ƶs Den would provide massive exposure.

91ƵThere91Ƶs a lot of pressure 91Ƶ there91Ƶs 10 cameras on you, there91Ƶs no retakes, you91Ƶre just going, going, going.91Ƶ

They filmed for hours, Ozgur said, adding that it paid to be prepared.

91ƵThere wasn91Ƶt anything that surprised me. There weren91Ƶt any questions we couldn91Ƶt answer91Ƶ if you ever go on (Dragon91Ƶs Den), make sure you know every single thing about your business,91Ƶ because they will ask, he noted.

91ƵWe loved it. We loved every single minute of it. This was an incredible opportunity,91Ƶ Ozgur said.

91ƵThe results are exactly what we thought,91Ƶ he shared.

And, he added, he plans to head back to Dragon91Ƶs Den at some point.

91ƵOne day in the near future I91Ƶll be back on, but as a Dragon this time.91Ƶ

Their episode airs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 on CBC.



Tricia Weel

About the Author: Tricia Weel

I91Ƶve worked as a journalist in community newspapers from White Rock to Parksville and Qualicum Beach, to Abbotsford and Surrey.
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