The highly anticipated premiere of the globally renowned business reality show “Shark Tank Bangladesh” is scheduled to take place on April 26th. The episodes will be available for streaming every Friday at 10 PM on Bongo and will also be broadcast on Deepto TV. This announcement was made yesterday through a press conference held at the Holiday Inn in Dhaka.
The esteemed panel of judges, known as Sharks, were present at the event along with the honorable partners of Shark Tank Bangladesh. Among the notable attendees were Mr. Kazi Mahboob Hassan, CEO of rVentures PLC, Mr. Sami Ahmed, MD & CEO of Startup Bangladesh, Mr. Fahim Mashroor, Managing Director of Bdjobs, Mrs. Navin Ahmed, the Founder and Managing Partner, Gala Makeover Studio and Salon, Mr. Nazim Farhan Chowdhury, Managing Director of Adcomm Holding Group, Mrs. Sausan Khan Moyeen, CEO and Founder of Enchanted Events & Prints, Mr. Golam Murshed, Managing Director of Maestro Solutions Limited, and Mr. Samuel Brietzfield, CEO of bGlobal. Also in attendance were Mr. Ahad Mohammad Bhai, CEO of Bongo, and COO Mr. Fayaz Taher, along with all the partners of Shark Tank Bangladesh.
Shark Tank Bangladesh Season 1 was thoroughly discussed during this day-long event. The show offers aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors, known as “Sharks”. When the Sharks identified promising businesses, they didn’t just nod in approval; they asked many questions about the business to understand the opportunity and the character of the entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs were required to convince five Sharks to invest in them, whether it involved a new product prototype, an existing product/service, or plans for business expansion.
Since its inception in Japan in 2001 as “Money Tigers” on Nippon TV, the format has garnered global success. Adapted on every continent under various titles, including “Dragon’s Den” and “Lion’s Den”, Shark Tank has seen highly successful entrepreneurs, referred to as Dragons, Lions, or Sharks, collectively invest nearly $1 billion. This investment has facilitated significant growth for numerous companies. Entrepreneurs entering the Shark ecosystem have witnessed remarkable growth, generating billions of dollars in sales post-deals and show appearances.
After a meticulous selection process involving over 2000 companies, the much-awaited show will be aired simultaneously on Bongo and Deepto TV every Friday, starting April 26th at 10 PM.
In this regard, Mr. Ahad Mohammad Bhai, CEO of Bongo, expressed his excitement, stating, “Shark Tank has been my favorite show for more than a decade. Bangladesh is an entrepreneur-oriented and resourceful country, and as a proud Bangladeshi, I believe this show offers a valuable platform for entertainment and socioeconomic advancement. We are immensely proud and excited for the world to see what Bangladesh offers.”
Shamim Uz Zaman, Head of Marketing and Communications, Robi Axiata Ltd. said “To our aspiring entrepreneurs, I urge you to embrace the mantra of belief embodied in Robi’s tagline, “Believe, you can.” Your unwavering faith in your ideas coupled with relentless determination will undoubtedly pave the way for your success.”
Hasan A. Arif, Head Of Portfolio Investment, Startup Bangladesh said “Shark Tank Bangladesh can be a transformative platform for the local startup ecosystem, providing not just financial support but also creating an environment that nurtures business innovation and growth.”
Jayati Singh, Chief Marketing Officer of Tally Solutions expressed his enthusiasm stating, “Tally is delighted to partner with Shark Tank Bangladesh and we are eager to witness the phenomenal business pitches and inspirational entrepreneurial journeys. At Tally, we have always been focused on supporting SMEs and celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship. This collaboration is yet another testament to our long-standing commitment to Bangladesh entrepreneurs and the startup community.”
Nazeem A. Choudhury, Deputy Managing Director- Consumer Banking Division of Prime Bank said “We are excited to be a part of this journey with Shark Tank. With innovation at the core of our banking system, at Prime Bank, we have always believed in enabling and empowering entrepreneurs and helping them realize their dreams and potential.”
Shark Tank Bangladesh has Robi as the “Title Sponsor”, Startup Bangladesh as “Powered by Sponsor”, Prime Bank as “Banking Partner”, Tally Solutions as “Co-Sponsor”, Olympic Foodie Instant Noodles as “Snacks Partner”, Sunquick as “Beverage Partner”, Yellow by Beximco as “Wardrobe Partner”, Kloth Studio as “Style Partner”, Miniso as “Gift Partner”, Holiday Inn as “Hospitality Partner”, Euro Vigil Security Service as “Security Partner”, Raw Exposure as “Photography Partner”, Live2web as “Backstory Partner”, Chows as “Restaurant Partner” and Concito as “PR Partner”. The production of the program was supported by Red Dot Communications.