Which British Dragons' Den investor founded the hotel company YOTEL?

Simon Woodroffe founded the hotel company YOTEL.

Woodroffe launched YOTEL after taking inspiration from Japanese capsule hotels and adapting the idea for modern travellers. The brand focused on compact but efficiently designed rooms, self-service features and locations close to airports or city transport hubs. Its name combines the ideas of a hotel and a more streamlined, technology-oriented stay.

Woodroffe was already known for founding Yo! Sushi and for serving as one of the original Dragons on the British television programme. His businesses therefore span restaurants, hotels and design-led customer experiences rather than a single narrow sector.

YOTEL is sometimes confused with another capsule-style hotel company because compact rooms are a broader hospitality trend. The specific founder of YOTEL, however, is Woodroffe. The company later expanded internationally, including locations in the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere.