A HAMPSHIRE entrepreneur will be bidding to put his business on the map when he appears on national TV tomorrow.

David Overton, founder of SplashMaps in Chandler’s Ford, will step into BBC2’s Dragons’ Den in a bid to secure backing from the five notoriously hard-to-please investors.

SplashMaps make weatherproof fabric maps for hikers, cyclists and outdoor adventurers which do not fall apart in the rain, unlike standard paper maps, and can fold up any way you like.

The former Ordnance Survey employee, who started his business three years ago, took the idea from the silk escape maps issued to wartime pilots.

David, who was pitching for a £60,000 investment for 15 per cent of the business, said he went into the Den hoping to attract investment from Nick Jenkins founder of on-line greetings card company Moonpig.

If successful David planned to extend his business into the US market.

Sworn to secrecy as to the outcome by the programme makers, David did admit that he was pleased with his pitch which he said had been a nerve-wracking experience.

He explained that he had to be at the studio for 7am but was not told when he would be going into the Den – six hours later as it turned out.

“It was strange. I was waiting in a room with others who had brought along dancing girls and performing dogs to take part in their pitches and every few minutes a lady would come and sprinkle powder on your face,” said David.

“What surprised me was that the Dragons do not know a thing about your business until you come through the door.”

Regardless of whether he bagged the investment David said his appearance on the popular show would be good publicity for the business.

SplashMaps have recently collaborated with multi-national cosmetics brand Lush to create a range of European city MapWraps, which can be used to store Lush’s range of solid-state toiletries during flights which can then be used as a guide upon arrival.

The company has also worked with Eastleigh Tec Hub founder, Blue Donut Studios, to design the “Harry’s Hampshire” augmented reality map for Eastleigh Borough Council’s Road to Agincourt project.