James Caan founded the private-equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.
Caan established Hamilton Bradshaw in 1987, building a career around investment and business growth before becoming a Dragon on the BBC programme. The firm is associated with private equity, a form of investment in which capital is provided to companies with the aim of developing or restructuring them and eventually realising a return.
He joined Dragon's Den as an investor in the programme's fifth series and became known for examining management teams, market opportunity and the practicality of scaling a company. His background differs from that of Dragons whose best-known businesses were consumer brands or retail chains.
Hamilton Bradshaw should not be confused with Caan's later charitable and advisory work. The company name identifies his private-equity platform, while Dragon's Den shows him investing personally or through arrangements connected with televised deals.