Shark Tank, ABC (US) - Season 1 Episode 1-2

The first ten episodes of the critically-acclaimed Shark Tank gave budding entrepreneurs representing 45 different companies or products the chance to make their dreams come true. Their job was to convince five self-made, multi-millionaires (who we know and love as the Sharks) to part with their hard-earned money. American version of this TV show: Dragons' Den

Who are the Sharks you ask? They are:
- Real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran
- Infomercial industry pioneer Kevin Harrington
- Technology innovator Robert Herjavec
- Fashion icon Daymond John
- Financial expert Kevin O'Leary


The Sharks made 20 deals with investments totaling over $4 million. Using their expertise and contacts along with their own money, the Sharks teamed up with enthusiastic entrepreneurs and turned their businesses and products into household names.

But the Sharks don't just give their money away. Entrepreneurs are asked to give up a percentage of their companies' equity. It can be a bit of a feeding frenzy if more than one Shark wants to sink his or her teeth into a top-notch idea. We just love it when Robert and Kevin O. get into a bidding war. Now, entrepreneurs with bad ideas or unreasonable greed often suffer the wrath of the Sharks before hearing them banish them back to dry land with a curt, "I'm out!"

There are those fortunate entrepreneurs who survive and thrive after swimming with the Sharks. Since making a deal with Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran and Kevin Harrington, Tod Wilson's company, Mr. Tod's Pie Factory, has tripled its business, opened a new retail location and sold tens of thousands of pies on QVC. With Kevin Harrington's help, Susan Knapp's gourmet food company, A Perfect Pear, increased sales by 1000%.

Barbara Corcoran's investment in Lori D. Lite's children's books publishing company, Stress Free Kids; and Allison Costa and Amy Feldman's childcare product company, Coverplay, has been lucrative. Lori's book, The Angry Octopus, has become one of Amazon's top sellers and three additional titles are now sold in Border's bookstores nationwide. Meanwhile, Coverplay's Amy and Allison are in final negotiations with a worldwide hotel chain interested in carrying their product.

Pork Barrel BBQ founders Brett Thompson and Heath Hall only had their products in three specialty stores before teaming up with Barbara Corcoran. Now, in addition to a Pork Barrel BBQ restaurant, their products line the shelves in 300 supermarkets and will soon be available at a little store you may have heard of called Costco.

Some entrepreneurs have been laboring on their ideas for years. They've invested large amounts of their own money and are sometimes pressured by friends and family to throw in the towel. Their dreams often die because they don't have the access they need to those who can help. Shark Tank has changed all that.

Some of the business ideas pitched to the Sharks in the upcoming episodes are very intriguing while others tend to be beyond bizarre (those are our favorites). Here's a little nibble of what's to come:
- A re-invention of the umbrella
- A liquid llama fertilizer
- A mail order business that sends balls with messages on them
- A portable golf ball cleaner
- And, finally, a self-proclaimed "Shoe Professor" who brings her sassy brand of mobile shoe parties to the Shark Tank.


Will the Sharks take the bait on any of these ideas? Your guess is a good as ours. The only thing we do know is that if there's money to be made, the deal will get done. So stay strong all you brave entrepreneurs because, as you already know, sharks can smell fear.