With Mark Cuban Out, 'Shark Tank' Should Dump the Other Sharks — Here Are 9 People Who Should Take Over Following Season 16, Mark Cuban left "Shark Tank." Maybe it's also time for the other sharks to swim along.
By John Rampton Edited by Mark Klekas
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
In case you missed it, Mark Cuban will be leaving "Shark Tank" after the 16th season. Cuban's departure is a shakeup for the show, but it got me thinking that maybe it's also time for the other sharks to swim along.
This isn't a knock against the other sharks by any means. Every Shark brings their own skill set, personality and investment style. As such, the loss of all of them would leave a glaring void. On the other hand, always having the same team can potentially limit entrepreneurs' opportunities and hinder diversity.
So, what makes for a successful "Shark Tank" investor? As far as I am concerned, they should have the following qualities:
- Possesses experience as a successful entrepreneur
- Demonstrates expertise in their field
- Excels in investment and negotiation
- Exhibits charismatic television personality traits that engage viewers
- Shows passion for supporting and mentoring entrepreneurs
Having said that, here are my suggestions for the people who should take over "Shark Tank."
Related: 'It's Time': Mark Cuban Is Leaving 'Shark Tank'
9. Blake Mycoskie
In addition to being the founder of TOMS Shoes, Mycoskie is known for his innovative "One for One" business model. In case you're unfamiliar, that means that for every pair of shoes sold, a new pair is given to a person in need. With this revolutionary approach, Mycoskie gained immense recognition and helped TOMS become a global brand.
His buy one, give one model has now been applied to eyewear and coffee. Furthermore, he is an investor in Urban Golf Performance, as well as the Athletic Brewing Company.
What's more, he has previously appeared as a guest shark and competed in the "Amazing Race," proving he's also a versatile and engaging personality tailor-made for the entertainment world.
8. Bethenny Frankel
Another guest shark alum is Bethenny Frankel, who appeared in seasons 9 and 10. "The Real Housewives of New York City" gave her a head start, but Skinnygirl Cocktails led to her real success. CNBC reports that she later sold the company to Beam Global for an estimated $100 million.
One of Frankel's biggest advantages is already having Cuban's approval as a shark. He told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that he loves Bethenny because she's smart and intense. Despite battling it out sometimes, he respects the way she conducts business.
A business mind and a love for good TV make her a perfect candidate for "Shark Tank." Plus, she isn't afraid of confrontation.
7. Aman Gupta
In addition to being a breakout star of "Shark Tank India," Aman Gupta also founded boAT, a wearables company that has gained rapid traction. He began his entrepreneurial career as the founder and CEO of Advanced Telemedia Pvt Ltd, which launched global brands such as Beats Audio, Sennheiser and Telex in the Indian market. Over the last few years, he has invested in Shiprocket, WickedGud, Anveshan and 10Club.
As with the enthusiastic Cuban, he's known for his positive attitude and eagerness to hear pitches. However, he did state that he has plans to leave "Shark Tank India.
6. Kevin Hart
In addition to his numerous television and film credits, including a notable appearance on "Shark Tank" during its 13th season, Kevin Hart is also a venture capitalist who founded Hartbeat Ventures, which invests in a variety of media, lifestyle, and technology companies.
Looking ahead, Hart aspires to inspire more individuals from the Black community to engage and excel in the entrepreneurial realm. In a CNBC interview, he explained, "When you talk about us as Black men, we don't get the world of business and money taught to us," Hart added. "It's something that has to be figured out. It's not in our public school systems. It's not in our neighborhoods. Financial education just isn't given to us."
Hart's commitment to fostering financial empowerment within marginalized communities adds a distinctive dimension to his involvement in ventures like "Shark Tank."
5. Chris Sacca
Chris Sacca is one of the wealthiest investors to have appeared on Shark Tank and is known for his signature cowboy shirts. As the owner of Lowercase Capital, Sacca has invested in startups such as Kickstarter, Twitter and Instagram at an early stage.
Previously, Chris served as Google's Head of Special Initiatives. He was also a key player in the company's business development and M&A activities. As of 2021, he has returned to investing after announcing his retirement in 2017.
Related: 10 Things To Learn From Chris Sacca
4. Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba, an actress turned entrepreneur, founded The Honest Company in 2011 to produce nontoxic home goods. In addition to diapers and baby wipes, the company now sells over 100 products through its e-commerce subscription service. However, you can also find their products in stores like Target.
Related: The First Time Jessica Alba Pitched Her Now-Unicorn Startup, It Failed. Here's How She Pivoted
By 2022, the company was valued at $550 million. Alba knows what she's doing, and she would also bring some serious star power to the show.
3. Sara Blakely
In order to start Spanx, Sarah Blakely used $5,000 from savings. She spent a year creating the first prototype, which she tested with family and friends. When she started the company, she was still selling fax machines out of her apartment.
A meeting with the Neiman Marcus Group gave her a big break. When Blakely changed into Spanx in front of Neiman Marcus' buyer, she proved the product's benefits. The following year, Blakely sent Spanx to the Oprah Winfrey Show, where they eventually made Oprah's Favorite Things list. The company has generated $400 million in revenue since then.
To speak to her TV personality, Blakely was a contestant on "The Rebel Billionaire," as well as a judge on "American Inventor." She was also a guest investor on several episodes in seasons 9 and 10 of "Shark Tank."
2. Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson started a magazine called "Student" at the age of 16. Branson eventually started Virgin Records after opening a successful record store. Soon, Virgin Records signed The Rolling Stones, UB40, The Sex Pistols and Steve Winwood. Branson sold the label to Thorn EMI for $1 billion in 1992, making it one of the most successful labels in the world.
In addition to Virgin America, Virgin Mobile, and Virgin Orbit, Branson's business success would continue. Today, Virgin Group owns over 400 companies, and he's worth around $3 billion.
Further, Branson is an eccentric billionaire who also was a guest shark.
1. Sophia Amoruso
Aspiring entrepreneurs can take inspiration from Amoruso's journey to becoming a self-made millionaire. A few years after founding Nasty Gal, a fashion retailer for women, it was named one of the fastest-growing companies in Inc. Magazine in 2012. She was also named one of Forbes' richest self-made women in 2016. In 2023, she was included in Marie Claire's Power List.
Amoruso also founded Girlboss Media, invests at Trust Fund, and offers mentoring through Business Class, despite her company going bankrupt. In the face of growth challenges, her no-nonsense attitude and direct advice could prove invaluable to startups. Plus, she has appeared on shows like "Project Runway."
Related: These are the 6 Most Important Takeaways From 'Shark Tank' Investors
