Born in Famagusta, in what was British Cyprus, Touker Suleyman moved to England when he was about five years old, settling in London. His transition into British life wasn’t always so east. He arrived not speaking English, and just a few years later he suffered a serious hand infection which almost ended in amputation. As a youth, he helped at his family’s restaurant, crediting his father for inspiring him to start his own business.

TOUKER SULYMAN | BUSINESS CAREER

At the age of 18, Touker entered into a joint venture in a leather factory, soon becoming a supplier to some of the biggest retail names on the British high street. But his rise in the business world didn’t come easy. In the 1980s, he was found to be in significant debt and was forced to shut the business, forcing him to start again from nothing. But he went on to build a thriving clothing manufacturer which still sits at the heart of his businesses.

He went on to acquire a small cash-and-carry business which went on to become Low Profile Group, a clothing manufacturer who supplied the likes of Marks and Spencer. The company acquired Haws & Curtis in 2001, and by 2014 he had increased the turnover from £600,000 to £30 million. He then purchased the fashion label Ghost in 2008, saving over 140 jobs across the company.

TOUKER SULEYMAN | INVESTMENTS

Touker is now a serial investor, through his own channels and via Dragons’ Den. He has a particular interest in supporting start-ups, especially in the retail and commercial property industries. His investments include:

– Bikesoup: a marketplace and store for pre-owned and new bicycles

– Matchstick Monkey: baby teethers and toys

– Sonisk: on-the-go dental care

– Docks Rio: a casual boat shoe brand

– Intelligent Futures: online advertising

– Personify XP: an AI personalisation start-up

– Timberkits: hand-crafted wooden toys

– Tru Tension: tools and products for bicycles and motorcycles

– Wool Couture: British-made range of crafting kits

– Gener8 Ads: an app that allows users to earn from the data they share

– Little Hoppa: wooden baby furniture and eco-friendly toys

– Mood Bears: plush bears available in emotions to help children and adults’ mental health

– Bobhead: motorcycle apparel and safety wear

– Pop-Up Games: pop-up books that transform into classic games

– Sooper Books: an online reading platform for children

TOUKER SULEYMAN | MEDIA WORK

Touker is best known for being on the BBC programme Dragons’ Den, which he joined in its 13th series. He has also appeared in programmes such as Sunday Brunch (2016), Morning Live (2021), Cold Feet (2017), and Children in Need (2024).

TOUKER SULEYMAN | CORPORATE SPEAKING

Touker is a popular keynote speaker, regularly talking about his expertise at industry events and global conferences. With years of experience in entrepreneurship – successful and otherwise – he has an abundance of expertise to share with audiences.

He has spoken at the Startups Awards in 2015, where he judged the competition and shared his own experiences, and also presented at an event with The Evening Standard, sharing his top business tips for prospective entrepreneurs.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Dragons’ Den investor Touker Suleyman for your next live event.

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