The Boardroom with Richard Farleigh

What happens when an original Dragon watches modern-day Dragons' Den for the first time in over 20 years?

In this episode of The Boardroom: Dragons' Den Watchalong, I sit down with entrepreneur Jon O'Donnell to revisit the Den and analyse whether the show still reflects the reality of investing.

As they watch a series of pitches unfold, I share behind-the-scenes insights from his own time on Dragons' Den and explains the questions I believe every investor should be asking. Together we discuss valuations, margins, scalability, investor psychology and why great businesses are built on more than compelling personal stories.

Has Dragons' Den evolved into better entertainment at the expense of business education? Would the original Dragons have approached these deals differently? And what can entrepreneurs learn from the way investment decisions are made in the real world?

A fascinating conversation about investing, entrepreneurship and how one of Britain's most iconic business shows has changed over the last two decades.

#theboardroom #dragonsden #entrepreneurship #business

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

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TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Watching Dragons' Den with a Dragon

01:45 My first Dragons' Den viewing in 20 years

04:20 The first pitch: What would I ask?

07:15 The importance of margins and paying yourself properly

10:10 Investing in people vs investing in businesses

12:20 The deal I didn't expect

13:40 £2.5 million valuations in the Den

15:00 The £2 million question nobody asked

17:30 Behind-the-scenes Dragons' Den stories

19:45 Analysing the self-defence franchise pitch

21:30 Why are so many deals getting funded?

23:00 Has Dragons' Den become reality TV?

24:30 What entrepreneurs are no longer learning from the show

26:30 How real investors evaluate opportunities

27:05 Dragons' Den then vs now

28:20 Final verdict and what's next

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In one of the most iconic pitches in Dragons' Den history, Levi Roots walked into the Den with a guitar, a homemade sauce and a dream.

What followed became television history.

In this special episode of The Boardroom, I sit down with Levi Roots to revisit the Reggae Reggae Sauce pitch that changed both of their lives.

Levi shares the untold story behind receiving the invitation to Dragons' Den, why he refused to watch the show before appearing, how he accidentally got his numbers completely wrong in front of the Dragons, and why I ultimately decided to back him anyway. I reveal the moment he realised that Levi himself was the real investment, not just the sauce.

Together we explore what happened after the cameras stopped rolling, how a £50,000 investment turned into a national success story, and the Sainsbury's order that transformed Reggae Reggae Sauce from a family recipe into a household brand.

This is the definitive behind-the-scenes story of one of Britain's most memorable entrepreneurial journeys.

#TheBoardroom #LeviRoots #dragonsden #entrepreneurship #business

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

Chapters

00:00 One of Dragons' Den's Greatest Comebacks

00:07 How Levi Roots Was Invited Onto The Show

01:10 Why Levi Refused To Watch Dragons' Den

02:15 Walking Into The Den With A Guitar

02:55 The Famous Reggae Reggae Sauce Pitch

03:35 The Numbers Mistake That Nearly Killed The Deal

04:08 Dragons Start Pulling Out

04:46 Richard Farleigh Makes His Move

04:58 "You Were The Product, Not The Sauce"

06:05 Levi Accepts The Investment Deal

06:50 What Happened After Dragons' Den

07:20 The Sainsbury's Order That Changed Everything

08:05 Outselling Heinz Ketchup

08:35 Richard Explains The Reality Of Co-Investing

08:55 Levi's Emotional Thank You To Richard

09:14 End

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Everyone talks about startup success.

Almost nobody talks honestly about failure.

I explain the uncomfortable realities behind why most businesses never make it.

From survivorship bias and bad valuations to hidden costs, competition, and the psychology of founders… this is a grounded look at entrepreneurship without the fantasy.

If you’re building a business — or thinking about starting one — this episode might save you years of frustration.

Entrepreneurship can create extraordinary outcomes.

But only when you understand the reality of the game.

#entrepreneurship #startups #business #founders #startupadvice

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

00:00 — The 90% Startup Failure Reality

00:48 — Survivorship Bias & Founder Delusion

01:22 — Why Competition Is Brutal

02:14 — How Big Companies Kill Startups

02:55 — The “Unknown Unknowns” Problem

03:46 — Why Most Ideas Aren’t Valuable

04:33 — Startup Valuations Explained

05:16 — Why Management Beats Intelligence

05:52 — The Real Problem Selling To Corporates

06:17 — Why Billionaire Advice Is Misleading

06:42 — Business Plans vs Reality

07:08 — The Hidden Costs Of Business

07:25 — Why Everything Takes Longer

07:38 — Knowing When To Quit

07:53 — Final Thoughts

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What does it really take to build a successful consumer brand from scratch?

In this episode of The Boardroom, I speak with Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, to discuss the unconventional path that took her from property and investment banking to building one of the UK’s best-known family skincare brands.

Joanna shares how personal necessity inspired the creation of Childs Farm after struggling to find products that helped her daughter’s eczema-prone skin. She explains the realities of scaling a consumer brand, negotiating with suppliers, getting products into major retailers, and why “no” is never the end of the conversation.

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

Chapters

00:00 – Introducing Joanna Jensen

00:50 – Leaving School & Early Ambition

01:54 – Starting Her First Property Business

05:25 – Entrepreneurs & Adapting to New Technology

06:42 – Taking Risks Young

08:23 – Moving to Hong Kong

09:27 – Entering Finance Without a Maths Background

12:35 – Intellectual Curiosity & Career Changes

13:04 – The Importance of Speed & Attention to Detail

14:20 – Why Closing the Loop Matters in Business

15:20 – Efficiency, Meetings & Respecting Time

15:49 – Negotiation Tactics That Save Thousands

17:30 – Startup Hustle & Managing Cash Flow

18:34 – The Danger of Overspending on Ads

19:38 – Why Most Small Businesses Fail

20:23 – Free Business Research Entrepreneurs Ignore

22:05 – Returning to London & Investment Banking

24:23 – Leaving Finance to Raise Children

26:14 – Financial Crisis & Starting Again

28:14 – The Inspiration Behind Childs Farm

29:16 – Creating Products for Eczema-Prone Skin

31:20 – The Story Behind the Childs Farm Name

32:29 – Helping Children With Sensitive Skin

34:02 – Getting Childs Farm Into Retail Stores

35:12 – Why Receptionists Matter in Business

35:51 – The Viral Facebook Post That Changed Everything

36:54 – Joanna’s Books & Advice for Entrepreneurs

38:11 – Final Thoughts

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What starts with selling trainers during COVID can eventually lead to private jets, luxury watches and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

In this episode, I sit down with Ed Somner Bogard, founder and director of EMJ Exclusive, to unpack the remarkable journey from sneaker reselling to building a fast-growing luxury concierge business.

Ed explains how he scaled a shoe reselling operation buying thousands of pairs each week, pivoted into PlayStations during the global chip shortage, and eventually built relationships with footballers, YouTubers and successful entrepreneurs.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship, sales, networking, luxury markets, hiring, AI, trust, customer relationships and why most people overthink starting a business.

Ed also shares behind-the-scenes stories from the world of private aviation, sourcing rare watches, luxury travel and managing requests for high-profile clients around the world.

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

Chapters

00:00 From Shoes to Planes

00:27 What EMJ Exclusive Actually Does

01:02 Starting a Business During COVID

02:02 Buying 1,000 Pairs of Shoes a Week

02:53 From PlayStations to Footballers

04:35 The Ethics of Sneaker Reselling

06:33 Building a Business With No Money

09:08 Drifting Into Entrepreneurship

10:17 How PlayStations Opened New Doors

11:40 Flying Rare Cats to Ibiza on a Private Jet

13:04 The Reality of Private Aviation

14:43 Building Relationships With Wealthy Clients

17:26 How EMJ Exclusive Makes Money

19:15 Why Customer Relationships Matter More Than Margins

20:18 Scaling the Team & Business Growth

21:43 Hiring Great People Early

22:33 Trust vs Sales Skills

23:17 Relationship-Based Selling

24:41 Building Through Word of Mouth

25:19 Learning to Manage People

28:26 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

29:08 Why Most Founders Overthink Starting

30:43 Proving a Business Before Raising Money

31:33 AI, CRM Systems & Luxury Concierge Tech

32:40 Handling Online Criticism & UK Business Culture

35:02 Why the UK Needs More Entrepreneurs

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What if the way you hire people is fundamentally broken?

In this episode of The Boardroom, I sit down with Lee McQueen, winner of The Apprentice UK, who went on to build multiple seven and eight-figure businesses.

We break down what actually drives growth in business today:

Why hiring based on CVs is outdated

What to look for instead (behaviour, mindset, performance)

Why most businesses struggle with sales

The importance of environment, standards, and execution

Lee shares lessons from scaling companies, hiring top talent, and building high-performance teams along with the hard truths most founders avoid.

If you’re a business owner, leader, or operator, this is a practical conversation on what it really takes to grow.

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

Chapters

00:00 – “No Revenue = No Business”

00:36 – Winning The Apprentice & Early Career

01:57 – Raising Money & Market Timing

03:28 – The CV Controversy Explained

07:26 – Why Hiring Based on CVs Is Broken

09:32 – How to Actually Assess Talent

11:01 – Standing Out in Job Applications

12:22 – Why Most Candidates Fail

14:17 – From No Money to First House at 18

16:42 – Getting Into Sales & Recruitment

18:20 – Environment & Who You Surround Yourself With

20:07 – Education vs Real-World Performance

22:51 – What Do You Actually Want?

24:24 – Why People Ignore Advice

25:00 – Sales: The Real Business Problem

27:00 – Reframing Sales (Not What You Think)

28:27 – Value vs Price

30:33 – Business as Experimentation

32:26 – Life After The Apprentice

35:03 – Final Advice for Founders

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Artificial intelligence is no longer just hype, it’s reshaping economies, industries, and even national sovereignty.

In this episode of The Boardroom, I sit down with AI pioneer and founder of founder of BenevolentAI, Kenneth Mulvany to explore the real impact of AI on jobs, business, and global power.

From the rise of one-person billion-dollar companies to the prospect of nations losing control over their own “cognitive infrastructure,” this conversation dives deep into what’s coming next.

Ken also shares how BenevolentAI became the first company to develop an FDA-approved drug using AI, and why the future of business may not include humans at all.

I also write a free weekly newsletter about business, investing and entrepreneurship. You can read it here:

https://richardfarleigh.substack.com.

📲 Follow Richard Farleigh:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richardfarleigh/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-farleigh-7a0a1616/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@richardfarleighhq

🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, investing, strategy, and the real side of business.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro: AI, Power & the Future

00:40 – Why AI Could Threaten National Sovereignty

03:10 – The Energy Crisis Behind AI Growth

05:20 – How Fast AI Has Really Advanced

07:10 – AI vs Jobs: Who Wins, Who Loses?

10:15 – Why Only 5% of Companies Benefit from AI

13:00 – The Coming Productivity Boom (or Not?)

16:10 – One-Person & “No-Person” Companies Explained

20:30 – AI Running Businesses Without Humans

23:30 – Can AI Replace Innovation & Creativity?

26:00 – Are Fully Autonomous Companies Already Here?

28:30 – BenevolentAI: The First AI-Discovered Drug

31:00 – From Pharma to AI Decision-Making Systems

33:30 – Who Will Win: Big Tech or Startups?

35:00 – Final Advice for Entrepreneurs

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In the latest episode of "The Boardroom", I sit down with former PageGroup CEO Stephen Ingham to unpack what it really takes to build a global company and survive life-changing adversity.

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What if everything you’ve been told about financial freedom is wrong?

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What would you do if you walked into a meeting expecting to be fired… and walked out as Managing Director?

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