The ABC Network
and producer Mark Burnett’s One Three
Media, have announced that they are starting measures to actively attract
more minority and women-owned businesses to appear on their reality show Shark Tank.
In fact, casting directors for the show will be holding an
open call on Friday, August 23,
during the Kingonomics Innovation,
Entrepreneurship & Investment Conference in Washington D.C. and it’s stated that “all conference registrants will receive
priority consideration for a chance to be a part of this casting call.“
According to an official statement by conference organizers
“The
Kingonomics conference… will bring together experts in innovation,
entrepreneurialism, crowd funding and in investment from all over the world to
train minority business owners, start-ups, investors, youth entrepreneurs and
veterans on how to access capital, invest and obtain personal and business wealth.“
Adding: “Now thousands of minority and women entrepreneurs will have the chance to
fulfill their own dreams with a chance to audition for ABC’s Shark Tank,
providing an opportunity for them to gain the much needed capital for growing
their businesses.“
The show, which averaged close to 7 million viewers this past season, features a panel of “potential
investors”, which have included people like billionaire
Mark Cuban, called “sharks”, who consider offers from “aspiring
entrepreneurs” seeking investments for their business or product. The entrepreneur or “contestant” can
make a deal on the show if a panel member is interested. However, if all of the
panel members opt out, the contestant leaves empty handed.
Of course there’s more than that to on the show…
Many deals made on the show never actually go through, due to the investors’ “vetting process” which includes product testing, and the examination of the contestants’ personal and business financials in the
days and weeks following the show.
In other words, there’s no free lunch on this show.
However, if you’re still interested, go HERE for more info.