Simon Woodroffe was one of the five original investors in the first British series of Dragons' Den.
Woodroffe is an entrepreneur best known for founding the YO! brand, including YO! Sushi. His business background made him a natural fit for a programme in which investors assess ideas, challenge assumptions, and decide whether a proposal merits their money and expertise.
The first British panel also included Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Rachel Elnaugh, and Doug Richard. The panel’s membership later changed substantially, so newer viewers may remember later dragons more readily than the original group.
This question concerns the initial five-investor lineup, not every person who has served as a dragon. Deborah Meaden, Kelly Hoppen, and Touker Suleyman all became associated with the British programme in later periods. The distinction matters because Dragons' Den has had a rotating panel while retaining the same core pitch-and-negotiate format.