As the latest series of the popular TV show The Apprentice hits our screens this week, it raises the question about the impact these programmes have on today's entreprepreneurs. Do they give the impression that starting a business is easy, do they trivialise what is a very serious subject and are the people we see on the likes of Dragons' Den and The Apprentice a true representation of today's entrepreneurs?

Clearly some of the people we see on these shows haven't got the first clue about business, despite what they might think, plus there's the inevitable fame wannabes just looking for some TV exposure and hoping for the phonecall that will lead them into the entertainment industry rather than business. But then, if they are successful as, say, TV presenters, you could say they are simply marketing themselves into a successful business.

There's been a lot of talk about crowdfunding and in particular the website, Crowdcube, which is the world's first equity-based crowdfunding community dedicated to business investment. A second business has now successfully raised capital using this website.

Personal Development Bureau, which helps unemployed ex-forces personnel into work, has gained £25,000 through 68 investors who contributed between £10 and £3,300. In return the company gave away 15% equity. It's hoped the funds will help the Personal Development Bureau help thousands of people find employment.