Simon Woodroffe founded the Yo! brand and appeared as an original Dragon on the UK television programme Dragon’s Den.
Woodroffe created the Yo! brand, best known initially through Yo! Sushi, a restaurant concept that used a conveyor belt to circulate dishes. The brand later expanded into other hospitality and lifestyle ventures, including Yo! Home.
He joined the original Dragon’s Den panel when the British programme launched in 2005. His presence connected the show with a distinctive hospitality entrepreneur whose businesses were built around unusual customer experiences and strong visual branding.
Woodroffe was not the same person as Doug Richard, another original Dragon associated with technology businesses and investment. Peter Jones was also on the launch panel, but his best-known business interests were different. Keeping the founders and their companies separate avoids a common mix-up among the original five investors.