Anisa Khan may have missed out on being crowned The Apprentice winner in 2025, but that has not stopped her business hitting £1m in revenue for the first time.
The 27-year-old former analyst at Accenture was runner-up to air conditioning boss Dean Franklin, who walked away with Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment and mentorship.
At the time, she said she ‘felt like my world had ended’, but the disappointment has not halted the growth of her business, Bombay Pizza.
She founded the business during Covid, putting her personal stamp on the industry with bold Indian-Italian fusion flavours.
Khan said: “A year ago, I received a call backstage at ‘The Apprentice: You’re Hired’, one year after filming and one week before the episode went live. That was the moment I found out I had not won the £250,000 investment.
“At the time, it felt like my world had ended. I made a decision that day. Every goal that Anisa on that show had set out to achieve, I was going to achieve without the investment.
“12 months on, Bombay Pizza has grown to 11 locations, surpassed £1m in revenue and now ships pizzas nationwide across the UK. Every single goal. Done.
“None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of the public since the show aired.
“Every order, every message, every share meant more than I can put into words. You gave me a reason to keep going and I am truly grateful.”
The entrepreneur, who has played international kabaddi, said she hoped her experience would inspire others facing setbacks.
“It does get better,” she said. “Life does not always go the way you plan. People will say no. Doors will close. But if you back yourself and work hard enough, you can achieve everything you set your mind to. This is just the beginning.”
During the show, the normally tough-talking Mike Soutar gave her pizza a five-star review.
On Thursday, beauty brand owner Karishma Vijay was named the winner of series 20 of The Apprentice.
Over the weekend, 2018 winner Sian Gabbidon revealed on Instagram that she is pregnant.