Kelly Hoppen MBE reveals only four of her Dragons’ Den investments are likely to “make it work”

Kelly Hoppen MBE predicts that only four of her “11 or so” Dragons’ Den investee companies are likely to “make it work” and has said that she has had a “wake-up call” after receiving several calls from the start-ups she invested in that have struggled to get their ventures off the ground.

Speaking at the launch of new YouTube business network BTube at the ICAEW in London this morning, the interior designer revealed “many people lack the entrepreneurial flair to make it work” and said that she’s had to respond to phone calls from the businesses she’s backed on the BBC show with the line “I don’t work for you, I’ve just given you £60,000”.

She went on to say that the “problem” with a lot of people and budding entrepreneurs today is that they “do it [starting a business] for fame and recognition”. Hoppen explained that when she started her design company at 16 it was”because I loved what I did, I was passionate about it […] the ultimate thing I got up in the morning to do was to design and make people happy”.

The comments come after Hoppen’s recent announcement that she is leaving Dragons’ Den after its current 12th series but Hoppen said today that the news does not reflect a shift away from television but that she’ll be “doing something else in TV”.