Mount Saint Vincent University alumnus and CEO of PrivacyWrap Inc., Peter Murchland, advanced through more than 4,000 entrepreneurs to pitch his product in an upcoming episode of the Dragons’ Den on CBC Television.
As the maker of Canada’s first do-it-yourself deck, patio and hot-tub privacy kits, Peter pitched his idea to the “Dragons” – a panel of Canadian business moguls and investors – this past May in Toronto.
“It was such a surreal experience,” says Murchland. “This little guy from Nova Scotia, walking down the dark platform with blowing smoke onto the national stage. I spent about 25 minutes in front of the lights, the cameras and the Dragons.”
PrivacyWrap and Privaspa are innovative wind, noise, UV and privacy protection systems. They can be custom fit to existing fencing as well as pergolas, trellises, spas and pools in an effort to create a private outdoor living space. Murchland worked with a Nova Scotia company, Archadeck, to build a mini deck with a custom fit PrivacyWrap that was shipped to Toronto for the taping of the show.
He originally came up with the idea out of necessity. “We wanted privacy on our deck but we didn’t want to completely shut out the neighbours with a tall, permanent fence,” says Murchland. “So we created a semi-permanent solution.”
Peter graduated from the Mount with his Public Relations degree in 1993.
“I have saved my business a lot of expense by handling the communications and promotion of PrivacyWrap myself,” Murchland says. “And as I begin to focus on product branding, I’ll be drawing on my Mount education even more.”
PrivacyWrap Inc. has been featured on CTV’s Live at Five and in Canadian House and Home magazine. Season Four of the Dragons’ Den will air in the fall.
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For more information contact:
Akiko Lovett
t. 457-6439
c. 441-0505