Lessons I Learned from Shark Tank

Having been on CBC's Dragons' Den to pitch Rejection Therapy: <a href="http://rejectiontherapy.com" rel="nofollow">http://rejectiontherapy.com</a> this current season, I think I can add some insights.<p>James nailed the essence of it, but there's a saying that goes a battle plan never survives the first shot fired, and that's true when stepping in front of the Dragons with cameras rolling.<p>You need to be super versatile with your pitch. It's a big mistake to go in with a memorized script. Too much pressure, and the Dragons don't have to let you finish your pitch if they don't want to.<p>In my case, Robert started making comments to me and the other Dragons at about three seconds into my pitch. Kind of threw me off (but then again, Robert is the wild card).<p>Just know your product and the numbers inside and out.<p>A few other surprises during the pitch. A Dragon made an agreement with me (not for investment though) then reneged. I'll leave it at that.<p>Something that became perfectly clear early into the pitch: the Dragons aren't risk takers. Not at all. They want proof of sales (and lots of sales) or a promising intellectual property. Or maybe you have a tonne of orders you can't fulfill until you get some manufacturing capital.<p>In most cases, those who land a deal are those who could get a deal elsewhere.<p>My most valuable takeaway from the experience? People's feelings get hurt on that show. On Shark Tank, I've seen Kevin call someone pitching a line of fashion belt buckles a "lying pig". On national television.<p>I should've sworn off the show after seeing that, but I underestimated how that can irreparably harm someone. I'm more sensitive of people's feelings now, even public figures.<p>Walk a mile in a man's shoes, as the saying goes.<p>For me, it was obvious I wasn't going to get investment from the Dragons. I was like a lamb to the slaughter and I knew it.<p>Thing is, one of the cards in the Rejection Therapy Entrepreneur Edition is to "apply for Shark's Tank or Dragons' Den" and I did. It was a failed rejection attempt! I got on!<p>The experience wasn't so bad though. I got along righteously with Bruce Coxom. He totally got it. He defended the idea all the way, and even stepped out of his chair to give me his glass of water (I got the dreaded cotton mouth). Arlene was a doll. Very polite and understanding.<p>P.S. I'm in bed with a raging flu, typing this out on an iPhone with a dirty screen. If this runaway comment doesn't make a lick of sense, that's why.

I'm glad the author grasped that the show is entertainment, and actually has a few words of wisdom. But the idea behind this show is disgusting and disheartening.<p>This line bit me:<p>&#62;<i>"What do you care about the percentage?"</i><p>Only in Silicon Valley would you hear something like this. The ownership structure of your company isn't a joke or a game. It <i>does</i> matter. Why stop at 40%? Why not give up 99%? If you're out looking for financing for your company and "don't care" about how much equity you're giving up, you shouldn't be in business.

Mark Cuban posted some more details on his blog the other day (eg they have no computer access, due diligence is done later which is why some deals don't go through.)<p><a href="http://blogmaverick.com/2012/02/17/your-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-sharktank/" rel="nofollow">http://blogmaverick.com/2012/02/17/your-quick-and-dirty-guid...</a>

I watched a few episodes of Shark Tank and thought to myself "I can't imagine all of those deals actually go through." I'm really glad altucher actually researched some of the deals that fell through, and reported it for us to see. It's really important to be reminded not to treat money like it's real until it literally shows up in your bank account. I've known people to get into big trouble by failing to observe that principle.

&#62; You just presented your product for 15 minutes on a nationally broadcasted TV show that will be re-aired at least two or three times and sell a ton of shows on itunes. That sort of advertising would cost about a million dollars or more.<p>Reality shows are about losing; game shows are about winning. But some people go into these shows with a completely different mindset: this is an interview and demo for the world, not for the on-show judges.<p>Top Chef players demonstrate how well they can run kitchens and work with people they didn't ask to hire and don't actually like.<p>Amazing Race players are usually demonstrating how well they can communicate and work effectively under severe stress in foreign countries. (If you're looking for a new overseas salesperson, look through a season of Amazing Race. You'll see what it takes to make them crack.)<p>Survivor players are either demonstrating team-leadership or diplomacy (defined as saying "nice doggy!" while picking up a rock). Choose carefully, there...

I particularly enjoyed the little comment on modern society: "Money doesn’t buy happiness but it certainly solves your money problems".

If you like Shark Tank, check out BBC's Dragon's Den (which the format is based on, and in turn, the BBC's format is based on a Japanese show of the same name).<p>The BBC version seems a lot less "Hollywood", and admittedly a lot fewer deals are made. However the interaction tends to be a little more business orientated and the conclusions more valuable.

I find it interesting that Barbara Corcoran had no money, was working as a waitress and used her boyfriends real estate license to start her business. I've witnessed many entrepreneurs start companies. There are many examples of people building huge businesses with nothing. I believe a show like this could help a contestant but for tv they want the most entertaining stories. I am excited that YCombinator takes a more serious and calculated way to figure out who they accept. I hope to meet some of you on these boards. Blake

I started watching this show a while back, at the beginning it was really interesting and I got really invested in the entreprenaurs fate, but the more episodes you watch, the line between real business and reality show kept on becoming more blury, until eventually you couldn't see any business but a murkey form of reality tv show.

Everyone has talked about the lessons in here and some of the other things to take away from this, but I haven't seen anyone talk about the fact that your teaching your children to open their eyes.<p>I think this is great, and I wish more people would teach critical thinking to their children.

Per the HN guidelines, I'd suggest you rename the title to "Lessons I Learned from Shark Tank"

I've been a huge fan of this show since I caught about 2 episodes of the Canadian version years ago. I was glad to see Shark Tanke come to america. On the wikipedia page you can find that the show has been licensed around the world and varies in name by country (e.g.: Tigers Den, Shark Den, Shark Tank, Dragons Den, etc.) and originated in Japan.<p>The thing is, I can't find any way to watch the BBC or the Canadian versions online.<p>I can VPN to most countries so its not the geographic restrictions so much as it doesn't seem there's a HULU in every country.<p>Any suggestions for how or more importantly where to watch the UK or Canadian versions of this show? Maybe Australian even? Or singapore? Hong Kong? (just listing all the english speaking countries that might have produced it.)