New Dragon backs cellulite-busting fake tan brand

Outsourcery boss Piers Linney marks Dragons' Den arrival with joint investment with fellow newbie investor Kelly Hoppen

Cloud firm Outsourcery's chief Piers Linney has become the latest IT channel figure to branch out into the cosmetic space after throwing his weight behind a fake tan and anti-cellulite product during his first stint on Dragons' Den.

Skinny Tan is an Australian-based company selling a fake-tan product which also claims to reduce cellulite. Its British expat owners are looking to bring the brand to the UK market after launching it Down Under.

Linney was announced as a new face in the Den, along with interior design entrepreneur Kelly Hoppen, earlier in the year, with the duo replacing Hilary Devey and Den veteran Theo Paphitis.

On the first episode of series 11, which aired on the BBC last night, newcomers Linney and Hoppen teamed up on the deal, splitting a £60,000 investment for a 10 per cent stake between them.

The duo triumphed over the three other Dragons Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne and Expansys boss Peter Jones, who also bid to invest in the business.

Linney's wallet remained closed for the remainder of the first episode, after passing up the opportunity to invest in a Lego-style construction toy, and missing out on the chance to fund a natural food company after Peter Jones' offer was snapped up instead.

The IT-to-cosmetics path has been well trodden recently, with Alan Sugar splashing out £250,000 on Apprentice winner Leah Totton's cosmetic surgery clinic dream. Lord Sugar also invested in former Apprentice contestant Susan Ma's skincare business Tropic, despite her not winning the show when she appeared on it last year.