Robert Herjavec
Shark on ABC's Shark Tank & Founder of Herjavec Group
Discussion
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
I’m Robert Herjavec – most of you may know me as a Shark on Shark Tank, but in my latest book I’m showing you that “You Don’t Have To Be A Shark” to create your own success. I’m looking forward to talking with you about entrepreneurship, your start up goals, what motivates you and even the latest in cybersecurity trends! Excited to get started so ask me anything!
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Chris Sacca
@sacca · Chairman, Lowercase Capital
Hey Robert! If you personally had to stand where the entrepreneurs do and pitch a new business to the other Sharks, how do you think you would do? Who would give you the hardest time? Which Shark(s) would end up investing in you?
Theoharis Dimarhos
@theo_dimarhos · Marketing+Biz Dev at AngelouEconomics
@sacca And what would the company be about!
Filip Johansen
@filip_johansen · Sweden's youngest entrepreneur
@sacca I really want you to answer that same question!
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@sacca first off thank you for recommending I check this out - very cool experience. really appreciate all the questions and comments. If I was in the 'pitchers" shoes on Shark Tank I'd like to think I could sell myself and my company enough to get a deal. i am a stickler for numbers so I know that I could stand up to the tough questions. every shark is different. but OBVIOUSLY they would invest in me. except for Barbara. my business would make too much sense. so she wouldn't go for it.
sam greemwood
@sammer2001
@robertherjavec @sacca Do you have a favorite guest shark on the show and is it
Dilyar Askar
@dilyaraskar · Canadian Entrepreneur pioneering;
@robertherjavec @sacca If we were to take you back to the time when you were launching your cyber security firm and you had the opportunity to be on Dragon's Den, I'm sure they wouldn't have invested in you, despite your knowledge, passions, experience, vision and your product's quality. Merely maybe because they were not ready themselves or did not understand the future for it. It happens too often, and entrepreneurs get let down when this happens. It's important to emphasize that it's good to learn from successful investors and entrepreneurs, but they should never defy what you and your product stands for.
Austin Teague
@austin_teague · Full-Stack Marketer and Entrepreneur
What have been some of the most exciting companies you've invested in?
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@austin_teague i'm all in for the companies I invest in. Hard to pick just one - The Natural Grip, Tipsy Elves, Drain Strain, Keen Home, Nuts N More, Hamboards, Happy Feet, Mensch on a Bench, LollaCup, Hungry Harvest - man I'm going to get in trouble for the ones I didn't mention -- love the ventures that are part of our group.
Laurie DesAutels
@lauriedesautels · Marketing
What are the top three attributes that you look for when deciding to invest or partner with someone and why?
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@lauriedesautels first - you have to get my attention. it's your job to engage us when you walk into the tank and if you can make me listen, I'm interested! then you've got to know your numbers and you have to have drive. I want a resilient entrepreneur that's going to push me, as much as they are wanting my advice/guidance.
Dilyar Askar
@dilyaraskar · Canadian Entrepreneur pioneering;
@robertherjavec @lauriedesautels I also believe that the investors should catch on to your fueling ambition and passion for your business right away, understanding you and your business as much as yourself. It's hard to convey yourself effectively, but if prepared and executed well, the Sharks will take the bait :) IMO....
Hey @robertherjavec thanks for joining us! Do you have a favorite guest shark on the show and is it @Sacca? 🤔
Dilyar Askar
@dilyaraskar · Canadian Entrepreneur pioneering;
@nivo0o0 @robertherjavec @sacca The arguements between him and Mark Cuban was superb, it's always great to see sharks fight for wanting to help someone's dream become a reality. Competition is healthy :p .
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
Chris Sacca
@sacca · Chairman, Lowercase Capital
@robertherjavec @nivo0o0 I'm back next season! You guys can't get rid of me!
Rustin Rassoli
@rustinrassoli · 16 Year Old Founder & CEO, Greetale
Hey Robert! I'm a huge Shark Tank fan, and thank you for doing this!
What is your advice to young entrepreneurs under the age of 18?
Amrith Shanbhag
@ambonium · making ideas happen at feathrd
@rustinrassoli Exactly what i wanted to ask :O :D
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@rustinrassoli thank you! happy to -- my advice is to stick with it. to be an entrepreneur you have to be a bit nuts, a lot driven, and extremely paranoid. You have to have a comfort with failure, and you have to be resilient. know in yourself if you can cut it, and if you can maintain your vision through the challenges.
Sven van der Zee
@svenvd_zee · Haven't found the next big thing yet
Mr Herjavec, do you have any tips on how to get the first investment in a company and how to know when you in need of one?
Amrith Shanbhag
@ambonium · making ideas happen at feathrd
@svenvd_zee we share the same age and the same question _/\_
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@svenvd_zee you have to ask! it's tricky because I advocate for maintaining as much control over your business as you can. be careful not to get out there offering equity to anyone who will give you an investment.
Sven van der Zee
@svenvd_zee · Haven't found the next big thing yet
@robertherjavec so basically you have to ask first and don't offer equity immediately when asking?
Sam Couch
@samuelcouch · Engineer // People Person
As a celebrity, what tools do you use to protect your online privacy?
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@samuelcouch celebrity or not, you have to have certain safeguards - the most basic of which is a variety of complex passwords. DO NOT hvae pass123. do not have your pets name. do not use the same password everywhere. come on.
Sam Couch
@samuelcouch · Engineer // People Person
@robertherjavec as a follow up, do you use a password manager? My personal favorite is 1Password.
Adam Kimball
@activeemploy · Someone please make a good to-do app.
@sammer2001 @samuelcouch Try stashword. security to protect your accounts, and easy use-- not my product. https://www.stashword.com/
Sebastian Alberione
@s_alberione
M Herjavec, if you "had to" start a new tech business from scratch in 2016...what would it be ?
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@s_alberione thanks for kicking this thing off - happy to be here!! have to say I'd stick with my same industry. Cybersecurity is the hottest space today and I'd still be focused on cyber products and services. Very proud of the team @herjavecgroup
Dilyar Askar
@dilyaraskar · Canadian Entrepreneur pioneering;
@robertherjavec @s_alberione @herjavecgroup Agreed 100%, as tech, internet and AI becomes more prominent, the cyber security industry will continue to boom. Smart man, protect us from Watson >.< !
Gabe
@gabrielpetrolio
Hi, Robert! 👋😄 Big fan! I've got two, if you would: Are the customers always right? And what's the fine line between "learning with your customers" and "people don’t know what they want until you show it to them"? Thanks! 🙏
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Robert Herjavec
@robertherjavec · Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
@gabrielpetrolio thank you!! customer isn't always right. sometimes they don't know what they don't know - just like you. as the provider you need to adapt to the market but you want to be advising your customers and become trusted resource for them. you have to be credible. that being said -- make sure you HAVE a customer. before you jump into a business, test the market and know that someone would buy what you're selling.
Gabe
@gabrielpetrolio
@robertherjavec "make sure you have a customer" - that's indeed what really matters! Great answer! Thank you! 🙏