Everyone’s a Winner at Forward’s Dragon’s Den–Style Showcase in London

The event, hosted at the offices of the Financial Times, opened with an address from the FT’s CEO Jon Slade, who delivered a message of encouragement and strong support for the entrepreneurs taking part. Emphasising the importance of opportunity, inclusion and innovation, Jon’s opening remarks set an uplifting tone for the day ahead.

Funded by the City Bridge Foundation and philanthropic organization Porticus, the showcase marked the third instalment of The Forward Trust’s Enterprise Bootcamp programme, supporting individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Five entrepreneurs, Sharon Donaldson, Thor Guichard-Joseph, Samuel Kwarteng, Lola Abara and Tidjane Dumbia, presented business ideas shaped by resilience, creativity and ambition.

A panel with purpose

Chaired by Forward’s chair of trustees Tony Adams MBE, former England captain and long-time advocate for rehabilitation, the panel brought together leaders from business, law, technology and social impact:

• Erica Crump, Managing Partner, Bates Wells.

• Rukasana Bhaijee - Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Financial Times.

• Michelle Cuomo Boorer, Managing Director at London and Partners.

• Pierre-Frederic JAFFRE Consulting Leader at Microsoft.

• Gavin Darby, Vice-Chair, The Felix Project.

The panel’s task? To choose a single winner. In the end, they couldn’t.

Ideas driven by passion

From sustainable innovation to social impact fashion, the pitches highlighted both creativity and lived insight:

• Sharon shared plans for a fashion line amplifying the voices of women in prison.

• Thor pitched All4Green, a circular economy waste service creating opportunities for people with offending histories.

• Lola showcased her bespoke wig-making business, aimed at clients including those experiencing hair loss.

• Samuel outlined a healthcare recruitment service targeting gaps in the sector.

• Tidjane explored a future in health and fitness entrepreneurship.

Judges were particularly struck by the impact potential of Thor and Sharon’s ventures, ultimately unable to separate the two – they were both awarded a further £1000.

However, the remaining three entrepreneurs were each awarded £500 to develop their business ideas, an outcome that perfectly reflected the spirit of the day.

More than just business

Behind the pitches lies an intensive bootcamp programme offering one-to-one mentoring, masterclasses and ongoing support. Designed for individuals often facing barriers such as unstable housing or financial hardship, the initiative combines business training with pastoral care.

Confidence-building and role models are just as critical as technical skills too. Mentors from the world of business and many with similar lived experiences played a vital role in helping participants reimagine their futures.

Looking Ahead

At the Dragon’s Den in London, one message rang loud and clear: entrepreneurship is a powerful stepping stone, opening doors to opportunity, stability and long-term success. Another life is possible for our entrepreneurs with even greater momentum building thanks to the support of partners like the Financial Times and City Bridge Foundation.

Unfortunately, opportunities like these are not always the most accessible. At the Forward Trust, we are keen to grant a platform to every budding entrepreneur, no matter their background. Asi Panditharatna, Executive Director Employment Services at Forward, says:

"We call on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Government to invest properly in enterprise support for underserved groups and to commission suitable programmes of support."

Further Information

If you are an investor or corporation that wants to get involved with our entrepreneurs and enterprise programmes, please get in touch.