Former Dragons' Den Contestant Builds £40m Pasta Chain, Plans 100 UK Restaurants

Alessandro Savelli, co-founder and CEO of Pasta Evangelists, appeared on Dragons' Den in 2018 seeking a £75,000 investment but was rejected, with one Dragon labeling his pitch 'delusional.' Despite this setback, Savelli has built Pasta Evangelists into a £40 million fresh pasta brand that began as letterbox-delivered meal kits. The company is now investing £30 million to open 100 new restaurants across the UK, including in the Midlands, Scotland, and southern England, aiming to become the fastest-growing casual dining destination for pasta lovers. Savelli remains optimistic about the business's resilience despite challenges in the hospitality sector, citing recent successful restaurant openings as evidence. This success story follows a pattern of other entrepreneurs who were turned down on Dragons' Den but later thrived, such as BrewDog and Hair Syrup. The narrative highlights the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurial success beyond initial investor rejection on the show.