Doug Richard was one of the original five Dragons in the first UK series of Dragons' Den.
The launch panel consisted of Doug Richard, Duncan Bannatyne, Peter Jones, Rachel Elnaugh and Simon Woodroffe. Together, they established the programme's original investor line-up when the British version premiered in 2005.
Richard is an American-born entrepreneur and technology investor who co-founded the software company MicroAngels. His background made him particularly associated with technology and online business proposals during his time on the programme.
Viewers sometimes confuse the original panel with later line-ups because Dragons' Den has changed investors many times. Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Kelly Hoppen all became Dragons in later periods, but none belonged to the first five-person panel.