Shark Tank Season 19

ABC is accepting applications for Shark Tank Season 19, set to premiere fall 2026 after a successful Season 17 (recapped in our industry post). The Sharks for the new season have not been fully announced; Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, and Barbara Corcoran are returning.

Applications are accepted year-round. The 2026 in-person open calls (Vegas/CES, Morongo, Philadelphia) have concluded, but online applications remain open continuously.

Requirements

• Must have a business, product, prototype, or service to pitch
• Must be willing to give up equity in exchange for investment (the show does not do straight loans)
• US-based businesses are preferred, though international applicants with US operations are sometimes considered
• Must be available for filming in Los Angeles for a 1-2 day window if selected
• Cannot have an active investment from another televised investment show

What ABC is looking for

The casting team has historically prioritized three things, roughly in this order:

1. A pitch that demos well on camera. Products that can be physically shown, tasted, demonstrated, or worn perform better than service businesses on screen.
2. A founder who’s televisable. The 90-second pitch is auditioning the founder as much as the business. Energy, story, clarity of why-this-product-now.
3. Real underlying business fundamentals. Sales numbers, unit economics, and a credible ask. The casting team has gotten significantly more rigorous on this since the early seasons.

How to apply

The full application is at abc.com/shows/shark-tank/open-call. It includes an extensive written submission (business plan, financials, founder story) plus a 1-minute video pitch.

Tips

The biggest mistake applicants make is over-engineering the financials and under-engineering the founder story. The Sharks invest in people they want to work with, on businesses they understand in 90 seconds. Your video should make a stranger want to know more about you, not just about your unit economics.

If you’re an established business owner specifically thinking about Shark Tank as a brand-building exercise — read our piece on the post-Cuban season before applying. The show is not optimal for everyone.