ABC’s Shark Tank Currently in its 18th season. The beloved reality show focuses on budding entrepreneurs pitching their businesses or products to a panel of Sharks (successful self-made multi-millionaires and billionaires) in an effort to attract investment. After nearly 20 years on television, viewers still tune in every week to root for ordinary people as they do whatever it takes to achieve the American Dream. “After all this time, it’s still very inspiring,” said shark Robert Herjavec. “Anyone watching our show in a basement in the middle of America can invent a great product or a great business, and ultimately Shark Tankand change their lives. “
“There’s never been a better time to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs,” said Rashawn Williams, noting that most “don’t have access to the capital or information they need to take their business or product to the next level.” Now a permanent shark on the series, Williams believes the show gives budding innovators “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve all the things they’ve always wanted.”
although Shark TankShark Daniel Lubetzky, whose format is tried and tested, appreciates that the show continues to “evolve” by introducing new Shark guests to shake up the panels, such as creator Mindy Kaling, former NFL player JJ Watt, dragon’s lair Dragon Steven Bartlett, Favorite Daughter co-founders Erin Foster and Sara Foster, and YouTuber Mr. Beast. “We’re doing more social media retweeting, and no one does it better than Mr. Beast,” Lubezki said.
Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary (aka “Mr. Wonderful”) have been working with Shark Tank Despite their busy business portfolios and having invested in hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years since the first season, the pair are committed to their roles on the show. “Each of us is an ambassador for the American dream,” O’Leary said. “In these very difficult political times, we are bipartisan. We create jobs red or blue, Democratic or Republican. We just love doing it.”
Herjavec, Lubetzky, O’Leary and Williams visited Decider Studios to talk about the show’s 18th season, introduce their fellow sharks, share advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and more.
Decider: Season 18 Shark Tank It’s in full swing! How does the series stay fresh after all these years?
KEVIN O’LEARY: We’ve learned over the years Shark Tank Two years ahead of the market. What you see in Shark Tank now will be available in about 18 to 24 months. We preview what makes America thrive.
ROBERT HERJAVEC: Anyone watching our show in a basement in the middle of America can invent a great product or a great business and ultimately Shark Tankand change their lives. After all this time, it’s still very inspiring.
Rashawn Williams: I agree with Robert. There has never been a better time to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. People are struggling with gas prices and all these issues. They don’t have access to the capital or information they need to take their business or products to the next level. when they appear Shark Tankthey have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get everything they’ve always wanted.
RH: Isn’t one of the great things about our show is that we’re teaching America the language of money?
Daniel Lubezki: Yes, we are just evolving with the times. We have Mr. Beast on our season premiere. We are doing more social media retweeting and no one does it better than Mr. Beast. Steven Bartlett joins us this season. Some of the most iconic leaders of our time are joining us as Sharks.
It’s worth noting that there are many amazing Shark guests this season, including Mindy Kaling, JJ Watts, and more. Who in this group surprised you the most?
KOL: I was so impressed by the Foster sisters Erin and Sarah. They are a crazy bunch of chicks. We had a lot of fun with them. They’re so witty; they’re so funny. They are awesome and spectacular. They show up on our show like they own it.
RH: JJ Watt is awesome. I knew he would be great, but his understanding of running a business really surprised me.
RW: That’s interesting. People think of these guest sharks as judges, but these are the people who are here to write these entrepreneurs the real checks and help them scale their businesses. People are really going to love the variety of our guest sharks this season.
Robert and Kevin, you are two of the longest running Sharks in the series. What keeps you coming back to the show year after year?
RH: Kevin. I only do this show because of my love for Kevin [laughs]. No, I love giving back. I feel very lucky to be in this position in my life. Last year we had 20,000 people apply to attend the show, but we would only see about 150 of those applicants. This is their dream when they stand on the carpet. I know it sounds cliché, but we have an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. I find that really inspiring.
KOL: Each of us is an ambassador of the American dream. America’s number one export is not energy or oil; This is the American dream. We are bipartisan during these very difficult political times. We create jobs red or blue, Democratic or Republican. We just love doing it.
Rashaun, congratulations on your first season as a Permanent Shark! The show is also filmed in your hometown of Atlanta. What do you think of the change of location? Is Atlanta the next startup hotspot?
RW: Atlanta has long been a hotbed for entrepreneurship, especially sports and entertainment. I’m excited to have entrepreneurs from all over the country come here to experience Southern hospitality. You don’t feel the pressure that you feel in Los Angeles or Hollywood. You can throw away your preconceived notions about Shark Tank, entrepreneurship, and fundraising, and you can be yourself.
We’re seeing some entrepreneurs who haven’t really had access to capital before. That’s a big part of keeping the American dream alive, right? In my world of venture capital, we see the same people from the same school, with the same resume backing them up, and their uncle gives them $2 million to start a business. exist Shark Tankwe saw a farmer from the Midwest selling sunflower oil. We saw a guy from the South Side of Chicago. Just all these different people. People looking for a new chance in life are now coming to Atlanta. We had a great time.
Daniel, you are an excellent judge of character. What makes Rashaun and Kendra Scott such great additions to the permanent team?
DL: Besides their appearance? [Laughs] Besides being a very handsome group, they are all great people. Kendra and I have known each other for many years. She and I are very good friends. Rashawn and I became very good friends. Rashaun, when I listen to him give advice, I often find myself thinking, “Oh, wow, I didn’t think of that.” I’ve been on it for eight seasons, and all of a sudden, Rashaun brings new insights. It’s incredible. I love learning from him. Kendra is also very intuitive. She also understands people very well and is very welcoming.
Kevin, you mentioned the Foster sisters before, but I think it’s incredible that you’re the only male shark in the second episode of the season, along with Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, and the Foster sisters. What’s it like to face the power of such a powerful girl?
KOL: I crush them like cockroaches [laughs]. I worked with the Sharkettes for a long, long time. I know them all well. The great thing about Lori and Barbara is that they have different perspectives. They connect with entrepreneurs in different ways.
DL: You talked earlier about judging character, and this is where Barbara excels. She captures the essence of people.
KOL: She doesn’t care about numbers.
RH: She doesn’t know numbers. [laughs]!
DL: But guess what? She does a great job by listening to her intuition.
Reader/writer: [Laughs] She always said, “I won’t invest in your company, but I want to marry you.”
DL: When I first met her, she said this to me in front of my seven-year-old son [laughs]. I was like, “What is going on?!” And then, you fall in love with her because Barbara is so real.
KOL: The truth is, her returns are as good as anyone else’s. She only invests in character, not numbers.
Rashawn, you recently joined former Shark Mark Cuban and your company, Harbinger Sports Partners, in acquiring a stake in the Athletics. What inspired this decision? Also, will you give Mark all the shark gossip?
RW: I tell him all the gossip and he tells me jokes and little secrets to help me get a competitive edge on the show [laughs]. But yes, he and I both have a passion for sports. Mark has a wealth of knowledge as an NBA owner since 1999. Our other partners include the former treasurer of Major League Baseball. We put the entire team together and invested our own capital into those teams. We’re helping Americans get their first chance to join a professional sports team. For a hundred years, the average American has been unable to do this. Now they can invest and gain access through private equity funds.
Sports owners are notoriously successful and billionaires. One person I’ve seen sports owners listen to and take advice from is Mark Cuban. I don’t care if their net worth is 100 billion. They will listen to Mark Cuban because of the brand he has built on Shark Tank and because of everything he has done in his basketball career with the Dallas Mavericks.
Finally, what is the number one piece of advice you would give to an entrepreneur? Shark Tank?
KOL: Lower your pitch. Be able to explain the opportunity in 90 seconds or less. Please tell us why you are the right person to execute this trade and how you can reduce risk for us. Finally, and most importantly, know your numbers.
RW: Seed round evaluation does not exist. You don’t have the financials to evaluate the business. if you come Shark Tankthe way I evaluate your team or your business is by looking at your qualifications, your obsession and knowledge of the business, the team you can build, and the traction you can achieve.
RH: In this world, there are a lot of distractions, a lot of noise. I don’t care about your enthusiasm. I don’t care what you’re passionate about, because passion will fade. I care about what you’re obsessed with because that’s what keeps you going when things get tough.