Airbnb listings and property management company Air Agents has secured its second round of financial backing from a Dragons’ Den star without ever having to appear on the BBC show.

Air Agents already had investment from retail entrepreneur Touker Suleyman in January 2017 but has now announced backing from Vitabiotics chief executive Tej Lalvani – both coming outside of the series.

Lalvani has taken a 7.5% share in the company.

Set up in 2015 by Mark Hudson and Fran Milsom, Air Agents has 650 homes on its books that it manages and rents out on behalf of property owners through Airbnb but is expecting this to rise to 1,500 by the end of the year.

Milsom said: “We are delighted to have a second Dragon on board following Touker Suleyman’s investment in January 2017.

“We are still a young company but Lalvani will give invaluable advice as we continue to shape our brand into a household name like Vitabiotics.”

Lalvani added: “I am thrilled to be involved in a project as exciting as AirAgents.

“The business model is exceptionally clever to support a company like Airbnb during its boom, and I see only great things for the future of the brand.”