Doug Richard was one of the original Dragons on the British television programme Dragons' Den.
Richard is an American entrepreneur and technology investor who joined the original British panel when the series launched. His background was particularly associated with technology businesses and start-ups, giving the opening panel a perspective distinct from the retail and consumer-business experience of some other Dragons.
The original line-up was important because it established the programme’s balance of personalities and investment styles. The panel changed over time, so later viewers may remember Dragons who were not present in the first series.
Doug Richard is often confused with investors from the United States version of the concept, Shark Tank. Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary are associated with that separate programme, not the original British Dragons' Den panel.