How to Get on Shark Tank: The Application and Casting Process

Every Shark Tank pitch starts long before the doors open. Before founders ever face the Sharks, they go through a casting process run by the show's producers. Thousands of people apply, and only a small fraction reach the Tank. This guide explains how the application process worked for the most recent casting cycle, what we could verify about it, and how to prepare. Details change from season to season, so always confirm current instructions on ABC's official Shark Tank site (abc.com/shows/shark-tank) before you apply.

Where things stand (as of October 2026)

• Season 18 began airing on ABC in fall 2026.
• Casting for Season 18 included in-person open calls earlier in 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada (January), Cabazon, California (March) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (March), according to local news coverage and casting announcements.
• Local news reports at the time said online applications for that cycle were being accepted through the end of April 2026.
• ABC's open call page currently states that all 2026 open casting calls are closed and that new dates will be announced.
• We have not seen official details about casting for a future season. Check ABC's Shark Tank apply page for the current status rather than relying on third-party sites.

Two ways to apply

1. The online application

ABC's Shark Tank site has an "apply" page that links to the show's online casting application. Applying online lets you be considered without traveling to an open call. Third-party coverage of the Season 18 cycle reported that online applications are reviewed by the same casting team that runs the open calls.

Expect to provide basic information about yourself and the business, a description of the product or service, and supporting details. Casting may later ask for more, such as a video. Follow whatever the current application asks for exactly.

2. Open casting calls

Open calls are in-person events where entrepreneurs line up and pitch briefly to members of the casting team. Based on ABC's open call instructions and event coverage for Season 18:

• Open calls are open to the general public, with no advance registration required.
• You need a completed Short Application, available to download from ABC's site beforehand (and, at some events, onsite).
• Prepare a pitch of about one minute.
• Wristbands are handed out during a set window, and waits can be long.
• Event-specific rules apply. For example, the Philadelphia open call required participants to be at least 18 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Beware of scams

ABC's apply page notes that official communication from the Shark Tank casting team comes from email addresses ending in @sharktanktv.com, and that contact from any other domain isn't from the team. Be skeptical of anyone who offers to get you on the show for a fee, sells "guaranteed" placement, or asks for payment to submit your application. We have not seen any application fee in the official materials.

What happens after you apply

The exact steps aren't fully public and can change, but many former contestants describe a multi-stage process: an initial application or open-call pitch, follow-up from producers, additional materials such as videos and documents, background and business checks, and preparation sessions before taping. Being invited to film doesn't guarantee your segment will air. Patience and responsiveness matter: casting teams work on tight schedules, and quick, complete replies help.

What casting producers tend to look for

Shark Tank is a business show and a television show. Casting has to find pitches that work on both levels. Based on the kinds of businesses that have appeared, strong candidates usually combine several of these:

• A product people instantly understand. Viewers should get it in seconds.
• A visual demo. Something that can be shown, tasted, worn or tried.
• A compelling founder story. Personal motivation, an unusual path or a mission.
• A real business. Sales, customers and numbers that can survive scrutiny.
• A clear ask. An amount and equity that make sense together.
• Variety. Producers mix industries, so a strong pitch in a less crowded category can stand out.

The range of businesses in our database is wide. Ten Thirty One Haunted Hayrides, a live horror entertainment company, closed a deal with Mark Cuban in Season 5. Combat Flip Flops, a veteran-founded footwear company manufacturing in conflict-affected regions, closed with three Sharks in Season 7. Recent seasons include Meat the Mushroom, a mushroom-based bacon alternative (Season 15 deal with Lori Greiner and Kevin O'Leary), and Stringys, no-show undergarments (Season 16 deal with Barbara Corcoran). Products that demo in seconds, like Flipstik (Season 12) and Squatty Potty (Season 6), are also a recurring theme.

How to prepare your application

1. Write a one-sentence description of what you sell and who it's for.
2. Prepare a one-minute pitch that covers the problem, the product, proof it sells and your ask. Our elevator pitch template gives you a fill-in-the-blank structure.
3. Get your numbers straight: lifetime sales, last 12 months, costs and margins. See Know Your Numbers.
4. Calculate your implied valuation with the valuation calculator.
5. Bring the product to open calls if it's portable. Seeing it in person helps.
6. Tell your story honestly. Authenticity tends to come across better than polish.
7. Be easy to reach. Use an email you check often, and watch for messages from the official domain.

Open call tips

Writing a strong application

Whether you apply online or bring a Short Application to an open call, the written answers are often the first impression a producer gets. A few principles help:

• Lead with the hook. If your product solves a problem in a surprising way, say so in the first line.
• Be concrete. "Sold 12,000 units through our website and two regional grocery chains" is far more useful than "growing fast."
• Explain why you, why now. What in your background or experience led you here?
• Keep it readable. Short sentences and plain language beat jargon.
• Be truthful. Anything you write may be checked later, and inconsistencies can end the process.

If the application asks for a video, film in good light with clear audio, show the product in action and let your personality come through. Production value matters far less than clarity and energy.

If you aren't selected

Most applicants aren't selected, and that says little about the quality of the business. Casting balances categories, stories and scheduling across an entire season. Many founders apply more than once as their business grows; a company with stronger sales and a sharper story the following year is a different candidate. In the meantime, the work you did preparing your pitch is useful for any investor, lender or retail buyer meeting.

Should you apply?

Being on Shark Tank can bring national exposure, but it also means negotiating in public, sharing numbers on television and potentially giving up equity. Before applying, ask yourself:

• Is my business ready for a possible surge in demand?
• Am I comfortable discussing my finances publicly?
• Do I want an investor partner, or mainly the exposure?
• Can I handle a no-deal outcome on national TV?

Our guides to what happens after Shark Tank and pitching like a Shark Tank winner can help you decide and prepare.

Process details in this guide reflect public information available as of October 2026 and may change. Always rely on the official ABC Shark Tank pages for current requirements.