Shark Tank casting call saw over 200 businesses pitch in hopes of meeting The Sharks
SALISBURY, MD – Over 300 entrepreneurs representing 200 plus businesses descended on Salisbury Friday for the Shark Tank Season 15 casting call, hoping their small businesses could get taken to the next level with the exposure and investment that comes with being on the show.
The event featured a wide range of products and services, including a mobile petting zoo based right out of Berlin, known as the Funny Farm petting Zoo, multiple exercise companies including the M-total Fitness adjustable weight and the Holland LLC Holand Ball 360 6-in-1 workout system, and even a business built on highlighting black excellence in the form of dolls for young women; Dream Nation Dolls.
But a common theme between all the different businesses; is the desire to get their life-long passions in front of a bigger audience and transform their business’s future.
“I specialize in social-emotional learning, so I created a line of dolls to empower girls and to inspire them to love themselves selves and to focus on their beauty from the inside out,” said Dream Nation Dolls founder Eboni Bell.
“I thought it was going to be a hobby. But it’s really picked up and we are so busy to the point we’re expanding to a destination location instead of being mobile,” said Funny Farm owner Tabitha Roberts, who brought a Donkey and Zonkey, a cross breed of zebra and donkey, to Wor-Wic Community college for her pitch that took place outdoors.
“I think it went really strong and I’m just hoping I get that callback,” she said.
For others like fitness consultant Tom Holland, the day was about taking 30 years of experience at companies like Bowflex and working for himself instead, with his HB-360 exercise product.
“30 plus years in this industry, working in all aspects, from writing books to being on TV, I’ve already sold millions of dollars worth of fitness products for other companies now it’s time to sell millions of dollars for myself with one shark,” Holland said.
Each business got its chance to make that killer first impression in front of producers from the show, hoping to be the latest success story, with producers telling 47ABC that first impressions can make all the difference.
“The signs of a good pitch today are energy, and enthusiasm if they’re excited about what they’ve created,” said Supervising Casting Producer Mindy Zemrak adding “Numbers don’t matter so much, Mr. Wonderful, he’ll kind of get them down the road, but for us today, it’s just really about knowing what sets you apart from anyone else.”
Mindy Zemrak tells us she’s been part of the show since season one and it’s those stories that resonate with the sharks and audiences that she says is the heart of the show.
Entrepreneurs say they’re hoping that mix of confidence, optimism, and a killer product can get them on to the next round.
“This is a game changer, starting a business is not easy, it’s quite difficult, especially if you are an average guy, so I’ve got my patent pending and I hope they can help be bring it to market,” said M-total Fitness founder Moses Mugulusi.
“My pitch, its ‘Who wants to sell millions of dollars with me,'” Holland said.
Shark Tank Season 15 will premier this fall, with participants from this summer’s casting call making their TV Debut in January.
