Who is Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett?

The latest series of Dragon's Den has welcomed a new investor, Steve Bartlett — but what do you need to know about him?

As he takes his seat in the Den alongside the show's established stars, we find out more about him and his business background.

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Here's everything you need to know about Steven Bartlett.

Who is Dragon's Den's Steven Bartlett?

When he joined the BBC One entrepreneurial pitch show, Steven Bartlett was just 28 years old - making him the youngest ever Dragon.

But while he might have spent fewer years in boardrooms than his fellow Dragons, he's certainly packed a lot of experience into the time.

He is founder and former CEO of social media marketing agency The Social Chain which he set up from a bedroom in Manchester, after dropping out of university at 22 and taking his company public at 27.

It was obviously a savvy move, as it has a current market valuation of over £300m.

Bartlett said: "I’ve been watching Dragons’ Den since I was 12 years old - it was my first window into the real world of business and investing. It’s a tremendous honour to join the Den, hopefully representing a new generation of entrepreneurs, inspiring young and specifically under-represented entrepreneurs to follow in my footsteps."

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Championing under-represented entrepreneurs is a cause close to his heart, having won the Entrepreneur Rising Star at the Black British Business Awards, and he has worked to inspire disadvantaged schools and communities.

Bartlett, whose accolades include Forbes 30 under 30, has also published the Sunday Times bestseller Happy Sexy Millionaire, works as a speaker, investor and content creator, and hosts top charting podcast The Diary of a CEO.

His recent investments have included food replacement brand Huel, biotech company Atai Life Sciences which is working to cure mental health disorders, and his other investments are in blockchain technologies, biotech, space, and social media.

Who will he be going up against in the Den?

Of course, Dragon's Den isn't just an opportunity for the entrepreneurs pitching their ideas - it can reap serious rewards for the investors, too.

As the newest Dragon, Bartlett will have to convince successful pitchers to pick him over the more experienced Dragons, although they may go for his social media expertise.

Bartlett will be sitting alongside investors Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies this series.

Who left Dragon's Den last series?

Bartlett's seat in the Den was freed up by the departing Dragon Tej Lalvani.

The Vitabiotics CEO announced back in January 2021 that he was leaving the show, with his final series airing in April.

He wrote: "After 4 proud years as a Dragon on the BBC's Dragons' Den, I've decided that the upcoming series will be my last.

"I look back on my time in the Den with great fondness. I entered tentatively as someone who had no idea what to expect. I leave having met so many incredible people, with unforgettable memories and, of course, numerous successful investments!

"As my own business, @vitabiotics, continues to expand, and my portfolio of investments grows, I am no longer able to dedicate the necessary time and attention to the show.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been a part of the journey and wish them all the very best for the future. And a big thanks to my fans for your fantastic support. I'll still be very active on social media, so stay tuned for the great content that's coming up!"

Dragon's Den continues on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC One.

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