Duncan Bannatyne founded the Bannatyne Group before appearing on the British television programme Dragon's Den.
Bannatyne built his business career through several ventures, including care homes and health clubs. The Bannatyne Group became particularly associated with spas, gyms and hotels, giving its founder a substantial business background before he joined the Dragon's Den panel.
His story is different from that of contestants who arrive with a single early-stage product. Dragons are selected because of their experience, capital and ability to assess commercial opportunities, and Bannatyne brought experience from operating large service businesses.
The group name is sometimes confused with Bannatyne's television identity, but the Bannatyne Group is the business he founded. Dragon's Den was his later role as an investor, not the origin of the company.