John Caudwell co-founded the electronics retailer Phones 4u before appearing on the UK show Dragon's Den.
Caudwell and his brother Brian founded the business in the 1980s, initially trading in mobile phones and related communications equipment. The company grew into one of Britain's best-known mobile-phone retailers and operated through stores and other sales channels before its later collapse in 2014.
Caudwell joined the Dragon's Den panel for the programme's second series. His background made him especially associated with retail, telecommunications and building a large commercial enterprise. He later became better known publicly for philanthropy through the Caudwell Children charity, which supports disabled children and their families.
Phones 4u is sometimes confused with the mobile networks whose contracts it sold. It was a retailer rather than a single network operator. Caudwell's business history therefore illustrates the distinction between selling communications products and owning the underlying telecommunications infrastructure.