Serial entrepreneur, inventor, and CEO of The Hakim Group, Imran Hakim is best known for being one of the most successful individuals to gain investment from BBC’s Dragon’s Den. He is the creator of the award-winning iTeddy business, which has gone on to sell its products to over 40 countries worldwide, including all the major toy retailers in the UK.
Starting his first business at the age of 16, by trading in computer equipment and selling it on to college teachers and his local community, it was clear that Imran had a passion for business and entrepreneurialism. A couple of years later, Imran became an optometrist and thus developed a business from his profession called The Hakim Group. This business has now gone on to grow exponentially, and was crowned as the UK’s best company to work for in 2018.
A winner of multiple awards for his work, Imran has been presented with the titles of NorthWest Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Fusion Entrepreneur of the Year, as well as being awarded a Mosaic Award for Science and Technology from HRH Prince of Wales. Most recently, he was awarded the Overall award in the North for EY Entrepreneur of the Year and Scale-up Business of the year in 2019.
A passionate business individual, Imran wants to help encourage entrepreneurship through mentoring and speaking at events. Imran makes for brilliant inspirational role model for young entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to learn from his knowledge and experience. As a result of his own business success, Imran now works with UMIP as Director of Entrepreneurship to help provide insight, advice and innovate employees to develop the next-generation of technologies.
A professional public speaker that has featured at a number of corporate events, conferences and summits, Imran regularly speaks on topics that revolve around enterprise and innovation.
