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The region's sharpest young entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges at the regional final of the Dragons' Den competition at the Theatre Royal, in Nelson, on Tuesday night.

The winners were a joint team from Marlborough Boys' and Marlborough Girls' colleges with their business, Scholar, which aims to streamline the scholarship application process.

It matches students with scholarships they are eligible for at a cost of $9.99 a year. Scholar also won the audience choice award at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology competition.

Team member Evan Shram said taking out the top spot was an "amazing experience".

"We were definitely nervous but even if we hadn't won we would have gone ahead with our project anyway.

"Initially we thought the dragons were just there to judge us but they were all so supportive and listened to our ideas.

"We knew we were in with a chance as we were solving a problem and tried to be optimistic as that's key to success."

The team won a $300 prize and the chance to meet with business contacts to take their project further.

"It was an education too; learning from people who are out there in the business world," she said.

The Westmount School Marlborough campus placed second with Tane's Team, a business aimed at helping children shaken up by earthquakes.

Their poetic children's book 'A shiver, a shake, a massive earthquake' was created to teach children how to be safe in an earthquake.

In third place was the Tasman campus of Westmount School with Tocal (Taste Local), gift boxes that celebrate artisan products from regions across New Zealand and "make thank you easy".

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