Dragons’ Den’s most successful businesses
Startups takes a look at the progress of some of the best businesses to have passed through the Den

It’s now over 10 years since the first episode of Dragons’ Den aired on British TV screens and in that time we’ve seen some brilliant, and not so brilliant, businesses pass through the Den.
While many of the start-ups which have appeared on the BBC show have since floundered or failed to gain traction, a number have gone on to achieve huge success – with and without the Dragons’ investments.
We’ve delved into the Den archives to find out what has happened to 16 of the brightest businesses to have pitched to the Dragons and where they are now.
From the popular Levi Roots to the £65m-valued Tangle Teezer dubbed “hair-brained” by Peter Jones, click the red button to find out just what happened once the Den’s cameras stopped rolling, and discover a few highlights below…
Dragons’ Den success stories
2006 (Series 3)
- The £8m ride-on hand luggage suitcase business for children that received no investment
2007 (Series 4 and 5)
- Spicy BBQ sauce success for Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones
- Children’s theatre and dance company for Duncan Bannatyne
- A £29m turnover online takeaway ordering service that received no investment
- That ‘hair-brained’ detangling hairbrush
2008 (Series 6)
- A portable whiteboard in a roll for Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis
2010 (Series 8)
- A dairy-free, sugar-free frozen pudding alternative to ice cream backed by Peter and Duncan
2012 (Series 10)
- These fashionably quirky phone cases whose deal fell through
2013/2014 (Series 11)
- A ‘shouty outy’ quiz game who rejected their offer
- Tanning lotion backed by both Kelly Hoppen and Piers Linney
- A youth-focussed tour operator backed by Piers Linney
- DIY mobile phone repair kits backed by Kelly Hoppen
2014 (Series 12)
- Swing dance classes supported by Deborah Meaden
- Funding for personalised illustrated fiction books for children by Piers Linney
- A £14m plasterboard fixings company also supported by Deborah Meaden
2016/2017 (Series 14)
- The gin and wine subscription box service backed by Sarah Willingham
- A ticket price comparison site that turned down all the Dragons' offers
2017 (Series 15)
- The discount code browser extension that attracted offers from all five Dragons