As everyone mentally prepares for Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 2025 inauguration (not that it’s even possible to be ready), it’s no surprise that The View co-hosts are talking about Joe Biden’s legacy. And when Shark Tank‘s Kevin O’Leary tried to insult the outgoing President, Ana Navarro-Cárdenas wasn’t having his hypocrisy.

O’Leary said, “How do you think history is going to treat his foreign policy, his Bidenomics, how do you think he’s going to be treated, pardoning his son? The Biden brand name.” Navarro-Cárdenas didn’t miss a beat and said, “I don’t think you can argue against pardoning the son when when you voted — when you ed a felon.” She added, “you lose the moral authority there.”

Navarro-Cárdenas, who recently said Biden should pardon some Democrats, might not have been able to convince O’Leary that he was wrong, but no one can get through an ego that big. The fact that the Shark Tank host said Biden has a “brand name” says it all, doesn’t it? Since when is running a country and trying to help its residents and do some good in the world a business opportunity? Well, he did attempt to run for Prime Minister once, and that didn’t work out for him. People are always telling celebrities to stop talking about politics and only focus on what’s “relevant,” like their acting or singing careers, and most people wouldn’t have a problem with O’Leary keeping his political opinions to himself.

Besides having no problem ing a felon, O’Leary is of the mind that Trump’s presidency will lead to employment opportunities in energy and infrastructure. He said on Fox Business, “You can still hate Trump, but you’ve got to love his policies because that will bring jobs to these states.” How about that’s highly unlikely to happen? Does O’Leary really think Trump knows what he’s doing when it comes to the economy considering all of Trump’s business disasters? If he does, he clearly doesn’t care since he’s more interested in standing behind Trump no matter what. According to him, Trump “saved entrepreneurship,” as he said on Fox News in Nov. 2024. Okay?

Anyway. O’Leary also believes that it would be a good idea if Canada became part of the U.S. As he said earlier in Jan. 2025, “there’s some very interesting concepts. One of them would be the economic union.” It’s “interesting” to say that one country should become part of another country just because Trump says so? Is this real life?

Also, let’s not forget that O’Leary once tweeted that it’s no big deal if someone ruins all the personal relationships in their life because “What matters is that you achieve success and become free. Then you can do whatever you like.” And then there was his recent Instagram post of a burger with Trump’s face drawn on the bun. Gross.

Navarro-Cárdenas isn’t the only one who has clapped back at O’Leary. Jon Stewart described the Shark Tank host this way: “He’s a guy who’s such an a**hole … even the other people on Shark Tank think he’s an a**hole.” Tell us what you really think, Stewart!

I’m sure everyone will be treated to more of O’Leary’s ridiculous praise of Trump in the next four years. But in the meantime, maybe he should focus on buying TikTok and go away for a little while.

Do you when Kim Kardashian and her sisters Khloé, Kourtney, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner went viral for their black-and-white photos from Kendall’s 20th birthday party in 2015? The snaps exuded old Hollywood glam, and all of the Kardashian-Jenner sisters looked so stunning and flawless that there was a bit of a commotion on social media about who styled them for the occasion.

Turns out it was more than just having the right glam team. The viral photos were a product of a photo booth startup that has since become a staple among gatherings and celebrations of Hollywood’s elite and beyond. 

Mirmir — pronounced like “mirror mirror” — was the company that the Kardashians hired for Kendall’s party and other family events that needed photo booths, according to Cosmopolitan.

Unlike the traditional photo booths that produce cringe snaps at gatherings, Mirmir transformed the classic party staple into a luxury must-have for A-list events. From Hollywood’s elite to high-profile corporate galas, this high-tech photo booth brand took the event photography game to new heights with its proprietary software and hardware setup. But did you know Mirmir’s rise to stardom almost didn’t happen? The formerly small company had to appear on Shark Tank and ask for an investment before becoming a favorite among stars like the Kardashians, Taylor Swift, and more.

From Shark Tank to Star-Studded Events

Mirmir was founded by business partners Ryan Glenn and Sean Spencer in 2013. Glenn was a former fashion photographer, so he knew quite well what their target market wanted. After hiring a team of developers to make their proprietary software, they launched the company intending to revolutionize the unflattering world of photo booths.

Unlike the outdated machines we reluctantly step into at weddings and other events, Mirmir offered a sleek, high-tech experience. Its photography software retouched photos instantly, while its booth’s strobe lighting gave every shot a red-carpet glow. As such, Mirmir was perfect for the selfie-obsessed social media generation.

However, Glenn and Spencer seemingly struggled to grow the business despite their innovative product. And so they entered Shark Tank in Season 9, hoping to lure the Sharks with their offer of $350,000 in exchange for 10% of their company. At the time, Mirmir operated just nine machines, each costing a whopping $22,000 to produce. They’d already racked up $4 million in revenue over three years but needed help to expand the business outside of New York and Los Angeles. But Mark Cuban and Daymond John weren’t sold on Mirmir’s longevity in the ever-changing tech world, while Lori Greiner doubted the direction the partners were headed for. Kevin O’Leary offered what they asked but wanted a hefty interest rate (18%) in return.

Fortunately, Robert Herjavec recognized Mirmir from his own wedding to Kym Johnson in 2016. As someone who had experience using their booth, he gladly swooped in with a $700,000 offer for 20% equity. In the end, Glenn and Spencer left the tank with Herjavec’s deal, according to Shark Tank Recap.

But in true reality TV fashion, the plot thickened after Mirmir’s appearance on Shark Tank. The deal fell apart after filming the episode, leaving Mirmir without Herjavec’s investment. According to Forbes, this happens to 43% of Shark Tank deals, so it’s not that surprising. What’s surprising, however, was how Mirmir quickly became a big deal after the free publicity from ABC’s hit show. Even without a Shark, the brand became the go-to photo booth for Hollywood’s hottest events, with celebrities like the Kardashians, Gigi Hadid, Ariana Grande, and even Beyoncé flocking to it for its flawless results. After all, who wouldn’t want their party snaps to look like Vogue covers?

Since appearing on Shark Tank, the brand quickly expanded beyond Los Angeles and New York, adding operations in Austin, Dallas, San Francisco, and even international cities like London, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Major clients such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon flocked in, with some even buying Mirmir’s photography machines for their offices. Mirmir has also become a fixture at big events like Coachella, the Oscars, and the Emmys.

Thanks to its celebrity clientele, Mirmir thrived in the industry without having to aggressively its name and services. Word-of-mouth from Hollywood stars did all the heavy lifting. In 2023, Mirmir was estimated to have earned an annual revenue of $24 million. So yes, even without a Shark Tank deal, Mirmir survived and conquered the photo booth scene. And with Hollywood’s obsession with looking perfect, Mirmir will likely be lighting up red carpets for years to come.

Wally Amos, the man behind the cookie brand Famous Amos, started selling his cookies in Los Angeles in the 1970s. His business was a huge success, and his sales reached a million dollars by the second year of operations. By the ‘80s, however, sales dwindled and a financially-struggling Amos was left with no choice but to sell his business.

Shawn Amos, Wally’s son, said that his father wasn’t a savvy businessman. “He was an amazing marketer and had great promotional instincts. But he made a lot of bad decisions,” Shawn shared. Amos may have lost the brand that he built, but he still loved baking cookies. In 2016 at 80 years old, Amos went on Shark Tank to pitch his new cookie venture to the sharks in hopes of getting an investment.

Wally Amos’ Cookie Kahuna

Amos appeared on season 8, episode 3 of Shark Tank where he faced potential investors Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, and Kevin O’Leary. Upon his entrance, the sharks immediately recognized the Famous Amos founder. Amos asked the investors for $50,000 in exchange for 20% equity in his business, the Cookie Kahuna.

The sharks tasted samples of the Cookie Kahuna, and everyone agreed that the product tasted good. When Amos formally introduced himself as the founder of Famous Amos, Cuban called him a “legend.” As investors, though, the five sharks wanted to know what happened to Amos and his famous cookies. ittedly, Amos said that he wasn’t a good businessman and didn’t focus on how much money he made. Instead, he just wanted to make his cookies and, in his words, “have a good time.” Eventually, he had to sell percentages of his business until he was left with no equity. 

Amos started the Cookie Kahuna more than a year before he appeared in Shark Tank, and he had the products in Costco stores in Hawaii, where he lived. Having his products sold in retail stores was a success in itself, but his profit margins were “bad” as the sharks pointed out. Taking into consideration all the expenses, Herjavec noted that Amos’ profit was less than 20%, which isn’t ideal in the food industry. When asked why he went back to selling cookies after losing Famous Amos, Amos answered that he “loves cookies” and believed that he could make Cookie Kahuna as successful as Famous Amos.

O’Leary opted out, as he said Amos faced big challenges and the business wasn’t investable. Greiner opted out as well. Herjavec was the third to say he wasn’t investing because of the high production cost and low profit margin. Corcoran also ed on the opportunity but “with great respect.” Lastly, Cuban said he learned a lot about business from Famous Amos — both the good and the bad — but he was already in the cookie business and it would be a conflict of interest to invest in Cookie Kahuna. Amos took the sharks’ rejections with grace and exited with a smile on his face.

What happened to Cookie Kahuna after Shark Tank?

Despite leaving Shark Tank without a deal, Amos said in an interview with Business2Community that his appearance on the show boosted sales, and he got what he wanted from the experience. “I needed exposure more than money to create awareness, which would create more sales,” he stated.

Unfortunately, Amos’ business went south a couple of years after Shark Tank because of a “not-so-good business arrangement.” In 2018, the Famous Amos founder started another cookie business in Charlotte, which he swore was his last cookie company. Amos died of complications related to dementia in August 2024 at 88 years old. 

Over 15 seasons, the “sharks” on ABC’s mega-popular Shark Tank have found some products that have truly changed the world. Other products are just really great, but all of them have benefitted from appearing on TV. There are, of course, more busts than wins, but there’s something truly exciting when the sharks start a bidding war for something they know is revolutionary.

In case you’re not aware of the specifics of the show, there’s a of “sharks,” aka investors who decide whether they want to help a particular product or company. People come into the “tank” to pitch their ideas, often in an over-the-top way, and the sharks will dissect the pitch and scrutinize what the investor thinks their company is worth.

If the entrepreneur decides to take a shark up on their offer, they make a handshake deal. It can be exciting if it happens, but it’s also darkly amusing to watch people flat on their faces. Here are 12 of the best products featured on the show.

Ring Doorbell

Of all the products that have appeared on Shark Tank, no success story has been quite as lucrative as the Ring Doorbell. Of course, back then it was called the “doorbot,” and what’s funny is the sharks didn’t quite know what to do with it. You know who did? Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and he bought the bot, renamed it and the rest is history–making founder Jamie Siminoff a billionaire in the process.

Scrub Daddy

Another ridiculous success story, the Scrub Daddy almost didn’t happen. Inventor Aaron Krause had it stashed somewhere in his garage until his wife suggested he go on the show, and the product triggered a bonafide feeding frenzy in the tank. Eventually he made a deal with shark Lori Greiner, and the Scrub Daddy has sold more than 25 million units since, making Krause a very rich man.

Bottlekeeper

Known colloquially as perhaps the simplest product ever pitched on the show, the Bottlekeeper is basically just an aluminum koozie. With the simple idea that “nobody likes warm beer,” Adam Callinan and Matt Campbell turned their idea into a $15 million business. While the company is still going strong, both founders seem to have moved on to other things. The website is also down, but the product is still available on Amazon.

Squatty Potty

The squatty potty was an absolute smash when it came out in 2013, and it got even more popular a year later when it appeared on the show. One year later, Dookie the Unicorn brought the squatty potty to even greater heights. The company was bought in 2021 by Aterian and just a year later there were 8 million of them sold. Put your feet up!

Bombas Socks

One of the original “companies with a social message,” Bombas were born after founder David Heath learned that socks were the most requested item at homeless shelters. His company, like TOMS and Warby Parker before it, is rooted in a social mission over a bottom line. This social message struck a cord and the company became worth $100 million. It doesn’t hurt that they’re pretty good socks, too.

Snack Lins

A meat-free pork rind? This seemingly preposterous product was a smash in the tank and founder and chef Samy Kobrosly scored a deal with none other than the coolest shark, Mark Cuban. It’s made of yuca, mushrooms, and onions and it’s about as close to a pork rind as you can get while also being 100% vegan. Want a snack that’s healthy and delicious too? You can’t go wrong with a Snack Lin.

The Comfy

This is another one of those products that everyone seems to have. It’s an oversized hoodie/blanket/loungewear outfit and people absolutely love it. After appearing on the show, The Comfy is now sold in more than 80 countries with customers in the millions. You know else has millions? Brothers Brian and Michael Speciale, who got a little help from shark Barbara Corcoran, of course.

The Woobles

It’s hard not to want The Woobles. Justin Tiu and Adrian Zhang started the company after Tiu was frustrated trying to teach himself to crochet. The company sells kits with step-by-step instructions and some of the cutest characters you’re ever going to see this side of Disney. Thanks to the tank, The Woobles have more than $5 million in lifetime sales.

The Ta-Ta Towel

LA native Erin Robertson was getting ready for a date in the balmy summer when she wished she had a way to control her boob sweat while also allowing the “girls” to have some freedom. From there, the Ta-Ta Towel was born. Robertson accepted an offer from shark Lori Greiner and the rest is history, making Robertson very wealthy in the process.

Poppi

Poopi is a prebiotic soda founded by husband and wife team Stephen and Allison. The main draw? It contains apple cider vinegar, which is very healthy but tastes like trash. The duo appeared on Shark Tank and made a deal with guest shark Rohan Oza. Poppi is now available in over 20,000 retailers, including Target and Whole Foods.

The Drop Stop

The Drop Stop stops one of the most annoying problems anyone can face – getting something lost in that space between the car seat and the center console, the “carmuda triangle.” This simple, genius idea fits around any seat belt and comes in a variety of colors. Inventors Marc Newburger and Jeffrey Simon create a bidding war between sharks Mr. Wonderful and Lori Greiner, with Lori winning out in the end. It was a smart investment because this thing is selling, and it’s only going to sell more as time goes on.

PhoneSoap

The best products solve problems that we didn’t even know we had, but once we do it feels almost impossible to live without. Wes LaPorte and Dan Barnes founded the PhoneSoap after learning that cell phones are 18 times dirtier than public bathrooms. All those germaphobes out there helped to make the product a success, but the company really exploded during the pandemic. Today, it’s a multimillion-dollar business.

Leave it to the old guy from Shark Tank to add some perspective to the whole Donald Trump fraud case fiasco. Kevin O’ Leary, best known for that show but also an investor and entrepreneur, took a step outside the “Trump is bad” bubble to let people know what he thinks is a sad truth: “New York is slowly becoming the number one loser state in America.”

For context: Former President Trump and his companies were found to have inflated the value of properties to secure better bank loans. He was fined $355 million, and barred from running any companies in New York for a few years. On the surface, it seems pretty cut and dry: You lie about the value of your properties, and you get in trouble for it. Not so fast, says O’Leary. The Canadian businessman appeared on CNN last night to share his own thoughts on the matter.

“Excuse me, what fraud">In an appeal, Trump’s lawyers argued that the lenders at Deutsche Bank had to do their own due diligence on the deals, and that they, as financial experts, should be smart enough to know that Trump was inflating the value of his property. O’Leary thinks the court’s ruling is just painting a black smear over business in New York, and will have a chilling effect on everything.

He then goes after the judge in the case, Judge Arthur Engoron, who had to deal with the unenviable task of wrangling the former president inside of the courtroom. O’Leary thinks Engoron was being irrational in his ruling, and in the amount he fined Trump. He wants everyone to know that he thinks this is bigger than Trump.

“Forget about Trump, I don’t care about Trump anymore. I care about America I care about entrepreneurship and I care about democracy.” Of course, Trump has been playing the hits for this one,. screaming that the whole thing is a political witch hunt, and a hack job, etc. When you look at it from that point of view, is he right?

As for the whole “doing a fair assessment” thing, a Deutsche Bank employee named David Williams testified during the trial that doing due diligence on client information was standard practice, and that at one point, they even dropped Trump’s net worth from $4.9 billion to $2.6 billion. Apparently that wasn’t enough for the government. Whether or not this has a chilling effect on business remains to be seen, but if O’Leary is right, then the real loser here is the great state of New York.

Mark Cuban has his fingers in almost every pie. The billionaire has one of the most diverse portfolios on the market. His NBA franchise, Shark Tank ventures, and film production companies are slowly pushing the businessman higher on Forbes World’s Billionaire List.

Cuban is involved with over 200 companies, and shows absolutely no sign of slowing his business-savvy roll.

What were Mark Cuban’s first business ventures?

Mark Cuban has been, according to Mark Cuban, a natural businessman since he was 12. As a youth, he sold garbage bags door to door and sold his first company, MicroSolutions, to H&R Block fresh out of college. By 1995, he was a pioneering voice for the first streaming service, AudioNet, which he sold in 2000 for just under 6 billion dollars.

Later that same year, Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks, and though he’d never considered owning a team, his recent windfall – and the lack of fan enthusiasm for his favorite team – pushed the entrepreneur to reach out. Within 3 months, Cuban was the sole owner of the team, and cemented his fame as one of the most outspoken billionaires in the market.

What are Mark Cuban’s businesses?

Cuban’s purchase of the Dallas Mavericks launched him to fame. His controversial presence on the court (he was fined nearly 2 million dollars over the years for his loud mouth), as well as his willingness to do whatever it took to see his team win, made Cuban a sensational owner to follow. Over the years, the billionaire has been incredibly generous with his money, and civic-minded with his investments.

Cuban regularly hands out massive bonuses to his players and staff, and his direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical company, Cost Plus Drugs, has dramatically cut into the pharmaceutical industry. Even if his every venture isn’t world-changing or guaranteed to net him an absolutely mindboggling amount of cash, the sheer number of businesses under his belt ensures Cuban will never drop off the billionaires list.

Things remaining constant has never been the name of the game called life and it definitely isn’t going to be the theme of Shark Tank once 2025 rolls. The news has just come in that billionaire businessman Mark Cuban will leave the reality TV series after being one of its prominent “sharks” for almost 15 years.

The business reality series debuted on ABC back in 2009 and became the top platform for budding entrepreneurs to put forward their blazing ideas and innovative products to hopefully secure the mega-investment they need to give their dreams life. Cuban first ed the show as a guest investor, back in season 2, and has stuck around as its main (and richest) “shark” when season 3 hit the channel.

In the last 13 seasons of the show — which is currently airing its season 15 — Cuban has invested in at least 85 companies, with the number reaching $29 million as per his chat with Forbes. The entertainment company Ten Thirty One Productions and Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race in season 5 as well as BeatBox Beverages in season 6 remain his biggest investments during his association with the show.

The Pennsylvania-born businessman is particularly proud of BeatBox’s growth since its founders managed to win Cuban’s trust (and his million-dollar investment, as the company has grown to the point that now it is worth over $200 million.

What’s fueling Mark Cuban’s decision?

Nothing controversial or even mildly alarming is pushing Cuban to leave the ABC series. The owner of the Dallas Mavericks first talked about his plans during his appearance on All the Smoke podcast, where he itted to the hosts that even though he loves the show and its message that “the American dream is alive and well,” it is time for him to leave after season 16.

Why? Because the father of three wants to spend some quality time with his three teenage children with his wife Tiffany Stewart — Alexis, Alyssa, and Jake — before they get engrossed in the big complicated thing called life.

“I just want to have a couple summers with my teens before they go off on their own,” Cuban shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “Nothing to do with the show. I love it. I love being on it. I love what [it] represents and how it motivates entrepreneurs around the world.”

As for the one who will eventually replace Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, the experienced investor shared on the podcast a few tips on cracking the code of what would make a good investment and recognizing the ones that don’t right out of the gate.

“I just listen to them. You can just tell. Body language matters, the harder they have to try to sell, the worse the deal … when someone walks in Shark Tank, you can tell if they are trying too hard. I have this rule: the longer the back story, the worse the deal. The minute you start telling me how hard it was for you, it’s hard for every mf-ing entrepreneur, tell me about your business, tell me why you are going to be successful.”

I look for ideas like, damn, why didn’t I think of that.”

For now, only Cuban has confirmed his impending departure from Shark Tank as neither ABC nor the remaining “sharks” have commented on his decision.

It’s hard to forget Lucas Bradbury’s memorable pitch for Project Pollo on ABC’s Shark Tank. He presented the captivating story of his business concept and invited the investors to help him make it a nationwide phenomenon. The vegan fast food brand’s rapid growth in the plant-based sector and the deal on offer from Bradbury elicited an astonishing reaction from the Sharks.

Project Pollo’s Shark Tank pitch

Lucas Bradbury appeared on Season 13, Episode 24 of the award-winning reality TV show. He pitched what he described as “America’s first vegan chicken fast food chain.” His business concept was to “free the chickens” by selling tasty, healthy poultry alternatives at reasonable prices to help people transition to a plant-based diet. The unique selling point of Project Pollo prices was great taste at an affordable cost, so people in all income classes could enjoy the option of a meat-free alternative.

Project Pollo’s core ingredient was breaded soy patties with a yummy chicken taste. Bradbury started selling sandwiches, wraps, salads, and buffalo macaroni with vegan cheese from a food truck in Austin, Texas and soon expanded to physical restaurants. During his appearance on Shark Tank, he proudly informed the that the company was launching its eleventh and twelfth locations.

The Sharks’ Analysis of Project Pollo

After a compelling pitch and successful taste test, Bradbury made an audacious proposal to the sharks: $2.5 million for 5 percent equity based on a $50 million valuation. The savvy sharks balked at the bid, expressing concerns about the high-octane growth rate of Project Pollo, the paltry stake on offer, and what struck them as an inflated value.

Kevin O’Leary immediately took issue with Project Pollo’s $50 million valuation. However, the multi-millionaire conceded that the products were the most delicious vegan fried chicken he had ever tasted.

Bradbury explained that a combination of bootstrapping and a $1.75 million round of funding from a prior investor helped the company earn $3 million in sales from eight locations in its eight existing locations. He explained that he signed 10-year leases for Project Pollo’s locations as a sweetheart deal during the coronavirus pandemic.

Real estate mogul and venture capitalist Barbara Corcoran took issue with the branding. In her opinion, the name Project Pollo suggested that its products were made of poultry and could diminish customer trust.

The Sharks looked troubled when they expressed concern over Project Pollo’s rapid expansion, with guest Shark Kevin Hart wondering how Bradbury secured real estate deals and properly onboard a team so quickly. Bradbury fired back, “I thrive in chaos.”

Did Project Pollo get a deal on Shark Tank?

The fast and furious nature of Project Pollo rubbed the Sharks the wrong way. A combination of its fast and furious growth and the astronomical investment Bradbury was requesting caused a domino effect. Kevin O’Leary was the first to bow out because the current profits failed to justify Bradbury’s valuation. Billionaire Mark Cuban did not think Project Pollo was a sufficiently healthy alternative and followed suit. Kevin Hart was alarmed by the topsy-turvy nature of the venture and declined Bradbury’s offer. Corcoran was the next to exit, pointing out the similarities between Project Pollo and Tom and Chee. Lori Greiner, the Queen of QVC, compared Project Pollo to a “cyclone” and became the final Shark to turn down Bradbury’s offer.

Post-Shark Tank Developments

Bradbury was not discouraged by the outcome of his appearance on Shark Tank. He achieved his goal of taking his business nationwide, opening five new Project Pollo locations, and acquiring two more food trucks.

Bradbury took to Instagram to share some of the challenges Project Pollo faced, specifically how inflation impacted its ability to stay true to its unique selling point of quality vegan poultry at affordable prices. He itted that the company was ill-prepared to operate at the national level.

Project Pollo explored partnerships with Uber Eats, Grub Hub, and DoorDash. It also made deals with supermarkets to sell frozen versions of its breaded patties. However, none of the underlying issues in the business were addressed and solved. Project Pollo sold its leases and closed in early 2023.

Lessons from Project Pollo

Sadly, Barbara Corcoran’s critique turned out to be spot on. Its fast growth and lack of infrastructure made it unsustainable in the long run. There is a reason why Shark Tank is considered one of The 10 Best Reality TV Shows of All Time. Its rapid expansion compromised its business strategy, which became increasingly disorganized and haphazard.

An introspective Bradbury regretted the lack of research and strategy in location selection for Project Pollo. Another pitfall for the business was its failure to focus on team development. He shared the following review of the experience with the Antonio Express-News:

“We made a lot of mistakes. We did things a little too fast in the beginning. Instead of focusing on speed, we should have focused on quality. That means not only in of product but in of team as well.”

In February 2023, Bradbury launched a new brand called Side Chicks, which serves poultry versions of Project Pollo dishes.

Summary

Ultimately, a messy market entry, overambitious scaling, inefficient operations, a lack of understanding of its target demographics, and failure to develop its human resources brought about the downfall of Project Pollo even though its product was superb.

Project Pollo’s story might have ended very differently had its charismatic CEO placed more value on the expertise and experience having a Shark on board would have brought to the enterprise. However, Brandbury’s overconfidence in his vision and unwillingness to take in the constructive criticism he received from the Sharks doomed America’s first vegan chicken fast-food chain.

However, the trajectory of Project Pollo is a teaching moment for all aspiring entrepreneurs. It’s an example of the invaluable lessons that have kept audiences spellbound by Shark Tank for over a decade. Don’t miss our Top 10 Episodes of Shark Tank for more insights.

Season 15 of The Shark Tank will air on Sept. 29, 2023, at 8:00pm ET/PT.

An exhilarating new season of Shark Tank is approaching! The allure of watching intrepid entrepreneurs pitch innovations to a of seasoned venture capitalists never fails to entertain and motivate the millions of viewers who have been tuning in since its 2009 debut. The reality TV phenomenon has produced an eye-popping 300 episodes so far. It is one of our picks for The 10 Best Reality TV Shows of All Time.

The Premiere Date of Shark Tank Season 15

Season 15 of the Emmy Award-winning ABC reality TV show will kick off on September 29, 2023, at 8:00 PM ET/PT. It is the second time since the series moved from CNBC to ABC that the show will premiere in September instead of October.

ABC announced the highly anticipated new series of the show in May. The network has not revealed details about the episodes, and they have not released a trailer. Nevertheless, Shark Tank will probably follow the successful format it has used throughout previous seasons. 

Shark Tank is accessible in households with standard cable subscriptions or antennas for local channels. Alternatively, the show is streaming on Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV. Tune in to ABC.com to watch all seasons, including the elusive Season 13.

What is Shark Tank?

Shark Tank is an iconic, adrenaline-charged arena where ambitious entrepreneurs face off with some of the most legendary venture capitalists in the industry — the Sharks. Business proposals and financial blueprints are presented and teased apart or savaged by the Sharks as the dream-chasing entrepreneurs try to sell their vision in exchange for a reasonable amount of equity.

The show is a beguiling dance of influence, strategy, and occasionally raw ion. Shark Tank presentations feature each entrepreneur’s backstory. Sometimes, stories of drive and transcendence are enough to sell their dreams to the Sharks, who value perseverance and a solutions-oriented mindset as much as savvy business acumen.

Perhaps the juiciest part of each episode is the high-stakes negotiations, where the entrepreneurs must know their own value or risk exploitation by the Sharks who wheel and deal, alone and tly, to get a cut of the most promising innovations.

Returning Shark Tank Investors

Season 15 of Shark Tank will see its popular of business moguls returns to seek new enterprises to add to their investment portfolio. Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, and Robert Herjavec will circumvent the smoke and mirrors of each persuasive pitch to dissect the financial reality and potential for growth of each business proposal.

Seasoned venture capitalists have the power to make millionaires of the entrepreneurs who present them with solid opportunities. Shark Tank is a masterclass in the art of business deals, with its investments having generated a mouthwatering $8 billion in retail sales thus far.

Confirmed Guest Sharks for Season 15

According to Deadline, Season 15 boasts an all-star lineup of guest sharks, including film and television producer Jason Blum, CEO and founder of Blumhouse Productions, and Mark Rubin, founder and executive chair of Fanatics, a leading provider of sports merchandise. Another guest investor is Candace Nelson, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, Pizzana, and CN2 Ventures, who also served as a judge on “Cupcake Wars” and “Sugar Rush.”

Two guest sharks from previous seasons will return: Emma Grede, CEO and co-founder of Good America and founding partner at Skims, and Daniel Lubetzky, the billionaire founder and CEO of KIND Snacks.

They the ranks of previous guest sharks that include British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, reality TV star and Skinngirl CEO Bethany Frankel, actor turned A-Grade Investments co-founder Ashton Kutcher, Goop founder and CEO Gwyneth Paltrow, and technology entrepreneur Nirav Tolia.

With the network remaining tight-lipped about ahead on Season 15, chances are the show may have yet another surprise guest or two up its sleeve!

What Is New in Season 15 of Shark Tank

Shark Tank never fails to present an array of fascinating products, and Season 15 promises to deliver. Episode One will feature a special wine cultivated for pizza lovers, a calorie-conscious chocolate, a herbal soap formulated to relieve eczema, and a medical eye patch for kids.

According to Shark Tank Success, other businesses set to appear in episodes include Green Thumb Organics, makers of sustainable gardening tools. TasteBud, a pioneering food app, garnered over 50,000 s just four weeks after its launch. Another candidate is FitLife360, a health platform that uses AI to create customized home workouts for s.

The sharks may also invest in Artistic Expressions, an online forum showcasing talented artists, and Pet Parade, a purveyor of exceptional accessories for our four-legged companions.

The previous season of Shark Tank saw a total investment of $22.4 million in 92 deals. It will be exciting to see if Season 15 sures these numbers!

A Brief History of Shark Tank

Shark Tank is a business reality TV show inspired by Tigers of Money, a business reality TV show created by Nippon Television Network Corp in 2001. 

Mark Burnett is the producer of the American iteration of MGM Television in partnership with Sony Pictures Television. Shark Tank is similar to Dragons Den, the British version of the series that aired in 2005.

Since its 2009 premiere, the show has received numerous accolades. It won the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Shark Tank won the Critics Choice Award for Best Structured Reality Series in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Conclusion

Shark Tank is as educational as it is entertaining. Season after season, it teaches viewers to see beyond articulate narratives and focus on verifiable facts instead of financial acrobatics. It highlights the importance of knowing your worth when you walk into a room and reminds viewers that if a dream is to become a business, it must be profitable. Building a vision takes determination, innovation, and grit. Watching Shark Tank can inspire and awaken ingenuity in viewers with an entrepreneurial bent. It’s easy to see why watching the show has become an American tradition. 

Best known as one of the “sharks” on Shark Tank, Mark Cuban is continually open with the public about his business endeavors. In addition to being a television personality, he owns the Dallas Mavericks and is co-owner of 2929 Entertainment. In contrast to his entrepreneurial initiatives, Cuban has revealed little about his personal life over the years, including information about his wife, Tiffany Stewart.  

So, let’s dive into what we know about Cuban’s wife. 

The couple met at the gym

In a 2000 interview with Forbes, Cuban offered very little information on his relationship with Stewart. However, he did share that the couple met at a Dallas gym. At the time of the article, Stewart was just 28 years old and worked in advertising. 

Over a decade her senior and three years into their relationship, Cuban refused to discuss marriage. “That’s a no-win question for me,” he said to the interviewer.

She chose to spend modestly

Despite dating a billionaire, Stewart didn’t spend money on frivolous items. According to PEOPLE, she told The New York Times in 2000 that she considered herself and Cuban to be middle class. Cuban purchased a mansion for the couple, which Stewart called “impractical.” At the time, she drove around in a Honda.

Stewart and Cuban married in 2002

The couple’s modesty continued into their marriage. Cuban and Stewart tied the knot in Barbados in 2002. My Plainview reported that just 20 people attended the nuptials, which got moved to Barbados after a storm threatened to hit their original location in Jamaica. Their wedding planner, Russell Holloway, described the ceremony saying:

“It was a very traditional, very elegant, beautiful wedding and reception.”

Cuban’s proposal involved fast food

If you thought their wedding couldn’t be less pretentious, what until you hear about Cuban’s proposal! He recently shared a small detail about their special moment in an interview with sports broadcaster Rachel Nichols. After a Mavericks game, Nichols asked Cuban if he proposed to his wife in front of a “fairy tale castle,” as NBA player Luka Dončić did in July 2023. 

Cuban laughed and responded with: 

“Hell no. I was like, let’s go to Whataburger.”

.@Rachel__Nichols : "What do you get Luka as a wedding present">Parade in July 2023, she’s involved with several organizations, including Hoops’ n Hopes and the Mays Foundation.

]]> https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/tv/who-s-mark-cubans-wife-tiffany-stewart/feed/ 0 1583793 https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/tv/did-shark-tank-ever-invest-in-cbd-gummies-the-online-scam-exposed/ https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/tv/did-shark-tank-ever-invest-in-cbd-gummies-the-online-scam-exposed/#respond Tue, 08 Aug 2023 22:07:54 +0000 https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/?p=1556379

The show often gives businesses a boost even when they don't secure funding, and scammers have taken notice.]]>

Despite still being illegal in a number of states, cannabis is a big business in the U.S. After all, the country is basically founded on the premise that making money is more important than anything else, and there are plenty of ways to rake in the cash using marijuana-based products, even those that don’t get you stereotypically high — like CBD sweets and products. However, even with this caveat, some businesses are still afraid to go all-in on the green thanks to its delicate legal status (it’s still a crime to possess weed on a federal level), so it’s pretty surprising to hear that the investment reality show Shark Tank might have funded a company that was set to produce CBD gummies.

While this rumor has been circulating the web for a while, the categorical truth is that nobody on Shark Tank has ever invested in CBD gummies. But where did this claim come from? And why did a business try to claim that they were on the famous ABC show, when it’s so easy to debunk? Read on to find out more.

What is Shark Tank?

Shark Tank is a business reality television show that ran its first episode on ABC in 2009. The show is a part of the international Dragon’s Den franchise, which began in Japan with the series Money Tigers, and follows wannabe businessmen and women as they pitch their ideas to wealthy investors, or “sharks,” who then decide whether or not to invest in their companies.

Although many deals appear to go through on the show, a fair few actually never end up happening thanks to due diligence by the investors. However, investors genuinely use their own cash, and many entrepreneurs get a massive boost in sales simply by appearing on the show thanks to the additional publicity, so it’s still a great bet to try and get on if you have a business idea. This explains why scammers might try and make unsuspecting customers believe that their product has the show’s seal of approval.

Who are the sharks on Shark Tank?

The original five sharks were business executive Kevin Harrington, FUBU founder Daymon John, real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, Croatian-American investor and television personality Robert Herjavec, and Canadian business brain Kevin O’Leary. After the first two seasons Harrington left and was replaced by film producer and money man Mark Cuban, and a season later inventor Lori Greiner was also added to the .

Throughout the various seasons there have also been guest sharks, including Giants owner Steve Tisch, former baseball star Alex Rodriguez, and famous adherent to pseudoscience Gwyneth Paltrow.

What CBD gummy manufacturer pretended to be on Shark Tank, and is it a scam?

A company that calls itself Keoni CBD Gummies has recently been claiming that all six sharks invested in its company in a historic, multi-million dollar deal. Its viral ment takes the form of a news article, and also ropes in businesswomen and sisters Donna and Rosy Khalife, who previously did appear on the show, claiming that the pair were the ones who secured the record-breaking funding.

The ad has several pieces of misleading information in it, including the following claim:

“Apparently the Khalife sisters have invented a new Keoni CBD Gummies formula that can stop Nicotine Cravings instantly & for good.”

The website on which the fake article appears is called Entertainment Today Inside News, but there is no other news on there, entertainment or otherwise. Any attempts to get off the article and explore other parts of the website just lead to more sales pages for the gummies.

O’Leary isn’t specifically mentioned in the ment, but altered photos of him holding up large packs of CBD gummies are displayed prominently in it. He hasn’t released a statement, but given how amateur the scam’s entire operation appears to be, and his reputation, he probably doesn’t need to. The Khalife sisters, however, have had to hit back, releasing a statement that confirms they are not d with Keoni, nor Wellness Brands – the company that seems to own the CBD company.

Asked for comment by USA Today, Rosy Khalife confirmed they didn’t know anything about the product, as well as pointing out they had never pitched CBD gummies on the show. They added:

“We get dozens of messages a week about these gummies and want people to know the truth. It’s frustrating that this scam has been going on for months.”

The Khalife siblings pitched to investors on the show all the way back in 2014, trying to secure funding for their product Surprise Ride. It is a subscription service that supplies kids with non-screen, tactile educational tools to help them to improve their learning abilities inside and outside the classroom. Although they failed to secure funding while on the main show, they appeared two years later on the spin-off series Beyond the Tank, at which point O’Leary offered to fund them. Unlike the fake ment, this was in fact a moment of real Shark Tank history, as it was the first time one of the show’s investors had gotten back in touch with a former contestant and offered them the funding they required. The sisters are still running the business as co-founders, as per the company’s website.

O’Leary isn’t the only one displayed in the commercial. He’s flanked by two women, also holding up bags of the gummies. The original picture of the trio didn’t contain any images of the CBD product, and was taken outside of a store that sells paint and wine. The image appears to have originated on social media, having been posted by Wine & Design, the paint-and-sip store in question.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, either. Lots of companies claim to have been on Shark Tank in an attempt to boost sales, and in March there was a seemingly identical article about a different brand of CBD gummies making a similar claim. As a result, ABC has a section on their website that’s dedicated to confirming which companies have actually appeared on the show.

]]> https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/tv/did-shark-tank-ever-invest-in-cbd-gummies-the-online-scam-exposed/feed/ 0 1556379 https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/videos/a-shark-tank-entrepreneur-and-jiu-jitsu-black-belt-aims-to-change-a-young-boys-life-after-seeing-viral-video/ https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/videos/a-shark-tank-entrepreneur-and-jiu-jitsu-black-belt-aims-to-change-a-young-boys-life-after-seeing-viral-video/#respond Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:13:07 +0000 https://wegotthiscovered.play1002.com/?p=1532078 The video highlighting Shayden's story has been viewed over 67M times in less than a week.]]>

There’s nothing as special in this life as having a friend, nothing can bring a smile to your face faster than knowing you’ve got someone on your team, acknowledging that someone has your back. In the same breath, there’s nothing more heartwrenching than feeling like you’re going through life without one, and the idea of going through life without friends has been the talk of social media through the last week after the vulnerability of a kid who was brave enough to ring a doorbell.

In a viral TikTok video, Shayden Walker approached his neighbor’s home and asked the people there if they knew of any nearby kids he could hang out with, and the reason behind his asking will bring tears to your eyes.

“I just wanted to see if you knew any kids around like 11 or 12, maybe because I need…I need some friends like really bad,” Shayden says to the man who answered the ring doorbell. After learning that there are kids of similar age nearby, Shayden reveals that those kids have turned into his bullies, and he doesn’t feel comfortable reaching out to them.

@brennanray

Its takes 2 seconds to make someones day, you never know what people are going through until you get a chance to talk to them. This young man is well mannered, kind, and brave. So tiktok can we help shayden make some friends???#fyp #bekind #nobullying #love #kindness #letschangetheworld

♬ original sound – Brennan Ray

It’s not just the fact that he’s been bullied; the defeat in his face and voice as he explains it pulls on your heartstrings. We’ve all been there; kids can be cruel, but the devastation in his presence as he opens up is enough to ignite a fire in your heart; and his pleas for a friend reached someone who is determined to help him out of his current situation and into a realm where he feels confident enough to say hello and make a new friend, without worrying about the past and the hurt he’s been caused.

Rener Gracie felt compelled to get in touch with Walker’s family after the video reached him on social media, and there’s no one better to set out to help him.

You might recognize Gracie from his stint on Shark Tank, where he showcased the QuikFlip and made a deal with Lori Greiner. Gracie also has a Kickstarter open now for his next creation, the Sleeper Hold, and we think it’s safe to say that jiu-jitsu isn’t just in his blood; it’s at the root of everything he does.

Another thing at the root of what Gracie does is helping children, especially by building confidence and skill; sometimes, that makes all the difference. It’s hard to put your best foot forward when you’re not feeling confident, especially at the age of preteen awkwardness and the stage of life when you realize that there are social circles and sometimes not everyone you meet will necessarily be your close-knit group; it can be challenging. As adults, we too can face challenges when it comes to navigating our identity within social groups, despite having fully developed brains.

At the age that Shayden is at, friends are one of — if not the most important thing, and realizing that he’s just one of many kids who walk around and feel that loneliness daily is heartbreaking. It might sound cliche, but in becoming a parent, you acknowledge that a piece of your heart walks around in the world every day, but it doesn’t take being a parent to feel hurt when a child deals with bullying and isolation.

Sharing the same video to his own TikTok, Gracie offered to send Shayden to Torrance for the bullyproof summer camp he’s hosting and send the family to Disneyland.

“He needs help. We’ll fly this kid to Torrance for the Gracie Bullyproof Summer Camp (July 31 to Aug 4); all expenses paid (+ tickets to Disneyland) if anyone can connect us to the family. BullyproofSummerCamp.com — This is what we do.”

@renergracie

He needs help. We’ll fly this kid to Torrance for the Gracie Bullyproof Summer Camp (July 31 to Aug 4) all expenses paid (+ tickets to Disneyland) if anyone can connect us to the family. BullyproofSummerCamp.com This is what we do. #selfdefense #jiujitsu #bullyproof

♬ original sound – renergracie

The camp helps kids learn the art of jiu-jitsu and how important it is to stand up for yourself. Gracie remarks that every kid will be bullied sometime in their life, which is true, and his camp helps to prepare children for what to do when that happens and have the skills to stand up for themselves if things escalate.

Gracie’s website shows some of the following highlights that happen when children advance through the week-long camp:

• “Bullies target children who don’t stand up for themselves. By giving your child the non-violent Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques to neutralize a physical attack, they will have the confidence to take a stand against bullies before the harassment spirals out of control.
• Verbal harassment is more common and oftentimes more damaging than physical harassment. To ensure your child is ready to identify and overcome these inevitable attacks, we conduct a series of specific role-playing exercises each day of the camp.”

We’ve yet to hear if the family has reached out to Gracie yet, but we have a feeling that they’ll find one another soon enough and that Walker’s story will soon have a very different message; one of overcoming loneliness, finding friends and more importantly — believing in the power of himself. His kindness and comion for others were evident as he spoke in the few moments long video, and we have a feeling he’s on his way to meeting the kind of people who appreciate all the best things about him.

Here’s hoping we get an update video soon, and in the meantime, may we all that how we treat people matters.

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