Simon Woodroffe was part of the original five-investor panel when Britain's Dragon's Den launched.
The launch panel also included Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh and Doug Richard. Together, these five investors established the British programme’s original on-screen lineup and helped define the contrast of personalities and business backgrounds that became central to the format.
Woodroffe is known as the founder of the Yo! brand, including the Yo! Sushi restaurant business. His presence gave the early series an investor associated with hospitality, branding and innovative service concepts. He later left the regular Dragon's Den panel, so viewers who know only later series may not immediately associate him with the launch lineup.
Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis are also strongly associated with the programme, but they joined after the original panel. Kelly Hoppen became a Dragon much later. The question therefore asks about the first five rather than the best-known long-term lineup.