With only a dream, a poster and a shot at making it big in the business world, Josh Mitchell stuck out his thumb and took a leap of faith.
The Victoria inventor of pant hem cufflinks called Scufflinks was one of 4,200 entrepreneurs across Canada who auditioned for CBC's TV show •••••••Dragons' Den earlier this year.
He and business partner Jeremy Green were ecstatic to be among the 300 chosen to go in front of the cameras in May and pitch their product to five very wealthy investors, who are the dragons.
Faced with paying his own way to Toronto, but lured by the idea of one day being seen by three million viewers, Mitchell decided to hitchhike and turn his journey into a publicity stunt.
He made up a poster and filled a backpack with Scufflinks, which are decorative and functional pins that keep pant hems from wearing, and blogged online about his trip along the way.
"I put Scufflinks in every province all the way to Ontario," said Mitchell.
Five provinces, 45 free rides and five days later, Mitchell arrived with a day to spare, and in time for a much-needed shower, shave and hot meal.
"I slept for a week when I got home. I was done," said Mitchell, who took the bus back home.
For Mitchell, the thrill of facing the dragons can only be topped by one thing.
"When I go cash my first seven-figure cheque, that will pretty much top it," he said with a grin, but remained tight-lipped about whether or not he struck a deal on the show.
"People try to dig for the answer," Mitchell said coyly. "Let's just say I didn't leave weeping."
For more information, please visit www.scufflinks.ca.
emccracken@vicnews.com