Shark Tank, a popular American reality television competition series for aspiring entrepreneurs, is on the hunt for Season 7 contestants. And they want North Dakotans.

On April 1, Laurie Morse-Del, Marketing and Technology Coordinator at the Center for Technology & Business, wrote to us saying they had received “a surprise call, and it’s no April Fools joke.”

She reported that Shark Tank had reached out to inform her of their search for North Dakotan entrepreneurs for their upcoming seventh season.

“They haven’t had a lot of applicants from North Dakota,” Morse-Del said. “We would love to see North Dakota represented.”

Here’s what they wrote in the press release:

“The producers of the ABC reality series “Shark Tank” are on a nationwide search to discover the next successful (and possibly wealthy) entrepreneurs, inventors, businesspersons, creators and innovators. In each episode, budding entrepreneurs are given the unprecedented chance to make their businesses grow immediately.

Whether you just have a fantastic idea, are a startup, or already operating successfully and looking to expand, if you feel you have a lucrative business or product and could use financial backing, Shark Tank is just the show for you! Casting is seeking entrepreneurs who can pitch their breakthrough business concepts, products, properties and services to moguls in hopes of landing investment funds.

If selected, five self-made, brilliant but tough investors (the Sharks) could be willing to part with their own hard-earned cash to give you the funding you need to jump start your venture. But the Sharks aren’t just out to invest; they too have a goal — to own a piece.

Your business or product should be top-notch and something the Sharks will really want to sink their teeth into. It might even spark a bidding war between them. Who knows? You could be the fortunate entrepreneur who gets the Sharks to reveal their true level of interest and to bid up the price of your investment!”

What is Shark Tank?

The premise of Shark Tank is to take aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world, and give them the chance to present to a panel of “shark” investors. The “sharks” ask critical questions about your business (kinda like 1 Million Cups!). If they approve, they may invest a hefty amount in exchange for equity. If they do not, the entrepreneur leaves empty-handed.

The show has seen wild success, having premiered in 2009 and hitting 6 million viewers per episode in 2012 – making it the most watched program on Friday nights for the 18-49 year old demographic. The premier for Season 6, which aired in September 2014, hit 7.45 million viewers. Casting for Season 7 ends in June, taping starts in July.

How to apply

If you are interested in presenting for Shark Tank, go here!

And if you are applying, please let us at Emerging Prairie know as well! We’d love to support you in this exciting adventure. #NorthDakotaRepresent

Photos courtesy of LinkedIn and Shark Tank.