Steven Bartlett co-founded the social-media marketing company Social Chain before joining Dragon's Den.
Social Chain was founded by Bartlett and Dominic McGregor in 2014. The company focused on social-media marketing and built campaigns for brands by using online communities, influencers and shareable content. Its growth helped establish Bartlett as a prominent figure in the digital-business sector.
Bartlett later became a Dragon on the BBC programme, joining the regular panel for series 19. He brought experience from internet businesses rather than from the traditional retail, property or manufacturing backgrounds associated with several earlier investors.
Social Chain is sometimes confused with Bartlett's later media work, especially The Diary of a CEO. The podcast is a separate venture and became one of the main reasons he was widely known outside marketing. His Dragon's Den role followed both his technology-company career and his public profile.