The MAJOR Shark Tank star revealed a behind-the-scenes secret about the popular show business and why the American dream isn't dead.
In an exclusive interview with The US Sun, Croatian-Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec said investors know “nothing” about those displaying their products at the expo.
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In what may come as a huge shock to fans, Herjavec also revealed that pitches could last up to an hour, with discussions being limited to seven minutes.
“I think what might shock people is that we don't know anything about them,” Herjavec said.
“People, even my friends, after 16 years, assume we have this dossier of information about the people promoting us, and we don’t.”
The Shark Tank star revealed that their names were often not mentioned.
Herjavec said investors may see up to 12 presentations in one day, and that the number of companies they see “depends on how much the other sharks are talking.”
He is a Croatian-Canadian businessman and also an investor.
He first achieved success after selling his Internet security software to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30 million.
During the exclusive on-camera interview in New York, Shark covered a wide range of topics, including politics, economics and the retail sector.
Herjavec insisted that the US economy is witnessing a “retail renaissance” despite mass closures and layoffs across the industry, predicting a major boom over the next few years.
The investor said retail companies can be successful if they sell high-quality products and provide shoppers with a destination experience.
Herjavec also threw his weight behind President-elect Donald Trump after his election victory, saying the former president would be the best person to manage the economy.
He also revealed that he still “loves” Dancing with the Stars and watches the show with wife Kim Johnson after they met as co-stars in 2015, saying he believes people often fall in love with the show because they “get so close” during it. filming.
From rags to riches
Herjavec has a fascinating life story.
His family left Croatia when he was just eight years old, arriving in Canada with just one suitcase after his father escaped from prison in a communist country.
In the classic “rags to riches” story, Herjavec started out as a newspaper delivery boy and waiter until he rose through the ranks in various business ventures and investments.
“We came from a communist country, and I didn't realize we were poor until we came to Canada originally, and life was very difficult,” Herjavec told The US Sun exclusively.
“And I think what made me special was that I refused to live that way anymore. So, if I have to work harder, that's okay.”
Herjavec said he was motivated after watching his parents work hard and sacrifice a lot, often feeling “incredible pressure” to “make something” of himself.
The American dream is not dead
He insisted that his life story is the perfect example that the American dream “is not dead” and that America “is still the greatest value-creating country in the world.”
“Nothing bothers me more than when people come to the show, or I meet them, and say, oh, it's so hard, the American dream is dead.
“The American dream is not dead…You don't have to create wealth, but you have to create a certain amount of value to take care of your family.
After selling his company to AT&T, he founded the Herjavec Group, which became one of the largest IT security services providers in Canada.
The company was rebranded as Cyderes.
Herjavec resigned from his position as CEO of the company in September this year, saying that he would like to spend more time with his family.
