The 22nd series of Dragons’ Den began on the BBC last night with The Body Coach founder Joe Wicks appearing as a guest Dragon.
There were no tech companies in episode one, although several artificial intelligence startups are expected to feature as the series progresses.
BusinessCloud looks at five of the most successful tech firms that won investment in the Den.
OnHand
‘Tech for good’ firm OnHand emerged from the Den in 2023 with a promise of £100,000 funding in return for 10% equity. The employee volunteering and sustainability platform aims to help businesses deliver impact to local communities, people and the planet.
Founder Sanjay Lobo (pictured) secured backing from Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman, despite his ambitious request.
Total investment in OnHand to date now tops over £5m and it recently secured a £750,000 investment to help companies to improve their corporate responsibilities through its social impact platform.
Sibstar
Sibstar, a debit card and app designed for dementia patients and their families to securely manage their funds, received £125k from Dragons Sara Davies and Deborah Meaden in 2024.
Late last year the app launched a campaign calling on banks and governments to work closer together to ensure safer spending for financially vulnerable people.
SKIN
London-based tech entrepreneurs Flinty Bane and Ben Barter secured a £50,000 investment from Davies for their skincare and beauty price comparison app SKIN.
The two friends, who brought their money-saving concept to life during the first lockdown, aim to give consumers access to deals in skincare, makeup, fragrance, haircare and grooming products.
The app is connected with thousands of brands and the UK’s biggest beauty retailers and Sara Davies offered £50,000 for a 10% share of the company in the 2024 series.
BrandYourself
BrandYourself, an online reputation management company, appeared on the 2015 series of Shark Tank, the US version of Dragons’ Den, in 2015.
Co-founder Patrick Ambron turned down a $2m deal from the Sharks but would appear in the Den in 2018, telling the Dragons: “In retrospect, I didn’t know that there was extra value in having a Shark other than the money. We need to make sure we learn from that mistake.”
After accepting £100,000 from Peter Jones following several offers, it would be acquired by digital financial platform Array for an undisclosed amount in 2022. Its website is still in operation.
Gener8
Sam Jones walked away from Dragons’ Den in 2021 with a £60,000 investment from Peter Jones and Touker Suleyman after what was hailed as the best-ever pitch on the show.
Gener8 – a free-to-use app empowering people to control and be rewarded from their data – is now valued at £30m, making it one of the most successful startups to appear on the show, after a £5.1m funding round.
The company attracted celebrity Tinie Tempah, who recently became an investor.