Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett has made history by becoming the youngest ever Dragon to appear on Dragons Den, at age 29. Steven appeared on his first episode last night alongside fellow Dragons, Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Sara Davies.
Bartlett said of his appointment on the investment show, that he felt it was a “tremendous honour” and that he had been watching the show since he was 12 years old.
“I feel a responsibility because there’s never been a black, young Dragon on the show. The most powerful role models, of course, are those that are most relatable.”
He added that it had served as his “first window into the real world of business and investing,” and he hopes to represent “a new generation of entrepreneurs, inspiring young and specifically under-represented entrepreneurs to follow in my footsteps.”
Steven is the founder and former CEO of social media marketing agency The Social Chain, which he set up from his bedroom in Manchester.
After dropping out of school and Manchester Metropolitan University at 18, he went on to build The Social Chain and Media Chain, taking his company public aged 27, with a current market valuation of more than £300 million.
He left the business after six years to pursue other investment opportunities.
Steven, who was born in Botswana before moving to Plymouth at two years old, released his debut book – ‘Happy Sexy Millionaire’ – in March 2021, and also hosts a podcast titled The Diary Of A CEO.
Recent guests on the podcast have included Molly-Mae Hague, Gym Shark founder Ben Francis, comedian Jimmy Carr, and presenter and radio DJ Reggie Yates and last year it ranked as Europe’s most downloaded business podcast.
You can watch Dragons Den weekly on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One and will be available on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
