Rachel Elnaugh was the first female dragon when the British television programme Dragons' Den launched.
Elnaugh is an English entrepreneur best known for founding Red Letter Days, a company selling experience gifts. She was part of the original investment panel when the BBC programme began in 2005, making her the first woman to hold a dragon seat in the British version.
She appeared during the programme's early series and was later replaced by Deborah Meaden. Meaden became the show's longest-serving female investor, which can cause confusion about who was first. The distinction belongs to Elnaugh because she was present at launch.
Her career helped establish the programme's emphasis on consumer brands and experience businesses as well as traditional manufacturing and technology pitches.