BizFeed: Shark Tank Host Coming to Philly for Pitch Contest
Daymond John (Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com)
1. Daymond John Coming to Philly
The News: Daymond John from ABC’s Shark Tank is coming to Philly for what else? A pitch contest where five entrepreneurs have a chance at winning $20,000.
The FUBU founder will participate in Miller Lite Tap the Future held on July 16 at World Café Live. The winning team gets a chance at $200,000. Unlike Shark Tank, Miller Lite doesn’t take an equity stake in the winning companies.
Joining John on the panel is Chris Cera, founder and CEO of Philly-based Arcweb, and Ben Lamson and Su Sanni, co-owners of WeDidIt. The companies pitching are:
- Empire of Kingz (Washington, DC)
- Nightingale Apps LLC (Boston, MA)
- Perfect Produce PGH (North Huntingdon, PA)
- SolBid Inc. (Boston, MA)
- Girls Auto Clinic (Montchanin, DE)
Although the contestants aren’t local, three lucky attendees will be randomly selected to pitch their business on the spot — and the winner gets $500. RSVP here.
“Having done my fair share of business pitching and evaluating the pitches of others, I’ve gathered a lot of expertise in this area that I always like passing along to the emerging entrepreneurs in this competition,” said John. “The Miller Lite Tap the Future program is a great learning experience for the contestants where they practice the art of pitching to an investor, networking and putting together a solid business plan.
Why It Matters: Philly is suddenly becoming a hotbed for pitch contests. This weekend, Shark Tank is holding an open casting call at the national NAACP conference. Plus, smaller organizations have been getting into the act for years. Just last month, PACT (an affiliate of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce) gave out a total of $80,000 to four companies.
2. Bolaris Shuts Down Personal Weatherman Service
The News: Weatherman John Bolaris has shut down his personal weatherman service through website weathersavior.com, according to the Daily News. Interestingly, Bolaris thinks the $500 per month service still has some merit, and he plans to relaunch on November 1.
He offered the Daily News this odd quote: “I’ve been fighting a very negative tide for years . . . the last few years have been hell, but the tide is changing. Bottom line: I’m a dad who needs to take care of my daughter and be the best provider possible. After all, I am her superhero.”
Why It Matters: Apparently, even rich people can look up the weather on their own and don’t need their own professional weatherman.
3. Apple Building a Record Number of iPhones
The News: Apple is upping the ante on the iPhone. The Wall Street Journal reports that the tech giant “is asking suppliers to manufacture between 85 million and 90 million units combined of two new iPhone models with 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays by Dec. 31, according to people familiar with the matter. The screen sizes are the same as in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.”
That’s significantly more than the 70 million to 80 million it produced last year.
Why It Matters: Apple knows where its bread is buttered these days. The company is betting big that people will not hang on to their iPhone 4s and 5s for much longer, and that it can convince new customers that the upgraded iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are worth the money.
