It is that time of the year again! Sharks are back on the table, thirsty for deals. The hit business series makes the jump to Wednesday nights on ABC, with the new season kicking off September 24. The new season also brings in new faces and bids goodbye to old staple ones. Most importantly, it is the beloved billionaire Shark Mark Cuban, who won’t be returning.
With the apex Shark’s departure, we have a panel that includes a mix of the old guard and the new investors. Here is what Robert Herjavec, Rashaun L. Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and Allison Ellsworth had to say about the upcoming season.
Shark Tank Season 17 Preview
Many Sharks had their two cents to say about the upcoming season. While we have some regulars from day 1, like Robert Herjavec, we also have Allison Ellsworth, who first entered the show as a contestant and is now back as a guest Shark. Here’s what they had to say.
Robert Herjavec Reflects on Shark Tank’s Competitive Spirit
Robert Herjavec is one of the OG Sharks from back in the day. He recently elucidated on the immense popularity of Shark Tank by saying, “The business of America is business. There is no greater competitive culture than America. Hoorah. I mean, I did the Australian show… I was out [on a pitch], and the other sharks started asking questions I hadn’t thought of. I was like, ‘Damn it, I should have asked that.’ And I jumped back in.”
He went on the matter, saying, “I got the deal. And the other Sharks literally stopped and said, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so rude. Once you’re out, you can’t come back in!’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, welcome to Shark Tank, baby!’ We are so competitive.”
Rashaun Williams Compares Shark Tank to an NFL Draft
Rashaun Williams compared the event to the concept of an NFL Draft. He said, “I don’t have to go through 10,000 pitch decks to narrow it down to 10 companies. They do it for me, I get to sit next to people who are entrepreneurs and some of the best investors in the country, asking questions that I don’t get to ask. And I get to see the reaction of entrepreneurs after I invest, which I’ve never seen before.”
Rashaun continued on his analysis by adding, “And I sometimes cry and I’m emotional about it, and I mean, this is like a platform that I can take the financial literacy that I’ve been teaching for 25 years to the masses, because I love to teach, but the way my bank account is set up, I can’t afford to be a teacher, so now I get to do both.”
Allison Ellsworth’s Full-Circle Journey From Contestant to Shark
Allison Ellsworth also joins the panel this season as a guest shark. Long before Poppi became a hit, she walked into the Tank in 2018 looking for backing for her startup, which at the time went by the name “Mother Beverage.”
She shared her journey in her own words by saying, “I started in my kitchen, created something to get to retailers. Needed money, came onto Shark Tank, and it changed my life. I love that I get to be a guest shark because I think it closes that circle of now me being able to kind of give back all of my knowledge, and it really, I think, will inspire others to become entrepreneurs themselves.”
Allison further shared how she has had a positive impact by saying, “They can see a mom of three coming on the show, nine months pregnant now, sitting in that chair, it’s pretty special for me.”
Ellsworth also said that she’s looking forward to being on the same side as Kevin O’Leary, who once gave her pitch a harsh critique. She shared the incident in her own words, “He called me an apple cider vinegar Roach when I was in the tank, and I have to get him back.” Safe to say we have an enemy-to-friends arc brewing in the Tank.
Besides our beloved Mr. Wonderful, Allison also looks forward to working with Daniel Lubetzky. In her own words, she commented, “I would love to probably partner on a deal with Daniel [Lubetzky]. We probably have a lot of the same knowledge with him, with Kind Bar and me with Poppi. So there could be something really interesting about us teaming up as well.”
What to Expect from Shark Tank Season 17?
Season 17 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. New faces bring fresh perspectives, while the returning sharks keep the competition fierce. Between surprising partnerships, tough negotiations, and moments that will make you laugh, cheer, or gasp, this season promises the kind of high-stakes energy that keeps Shark Tank irresistible.
