Which Shark Should You Pitch? Each Shark's Investing Style

You can't choose which Sharks sit on the panel the day you pitch, and you can't direct your pitch to only one of them. But understanding each investor's background and track record helps you anticipate their questions, highlight the parts of your business that matter to them and evaluate offers when they come. Here's a guide to the main Sharks' investing styles, based on deal counts from our database of 1,521 US pitches and each investor's widely known public reputation.

How to read the numbers: counts are on-air deals in our records, including joint deals (a deal with two Sharks counts once for each). On-air deals don't always close after due diligence, and our data records who invested, not the exact terms. The panel also changes over time, with guest Sharks rotating in, so check who's appearing in the current season.

At a glance

Want more breakdowns? See Shark Tank by the numbers.

Mark Cuban

Background: A tech entrepreneur best known outside the show for his business ventures and his long association with the Dallas Mavericks, known on the show for backing a very wide range of businesses. He has the most on-air deals in our database, with deals recorded from Season 1 through Season 16.

Style: Mark Cuban is widely known for favoring straightforward equity deals, pushing founders on whether they truly understand their business, and valuing founders who are hands-on and efficient. He's also known for skepticism toward royalty structures and for being willing to go out quickly if he doesn't see a fit.

Examples in our records: technology businesses like GrooveBook (Season 5, with Kevin O'Leary, now listed as acquired) and PolarPro (Season 7, with Robert Herjavec), alongside many food and consumer brands.

Pitch tip: Show you understand your customer and your unit economics in depth, and that you can execute without hand-holding.

Lori Greiner

Background: An inventor and longtime TV shopping personality, widely known for her success selling consumer products through television retail and for holding many patents on her own inventions.

Style: Lori Greiner is famous for quickly spotting products with mass-market appeal, especially items that demonstrate well and solve everyday problems. Her deals in our data skew heavily toward lifestyle and home products (64 of her 248), and she has the second-most on-air deals overall.

Examples in our records: Scrub Daddy (Season 4), the temperature-sensitive sponge, and Screen Mend (Season 5), among many household products.

Pitch tip: Demonstrate the product clearly, explain who buys it and why, and know your cost and price so she can judge retail potential. Patents or patent applications are worth explaining precisely.

Barbara Corcoran

Background: Built a major New York real estate firm and is known for her marketing and sales instincts.

Style: Barbara Corcoran is widely known for betting on people: hustle, resilience and sales ability often weigh as much as spreadsheets for her. Her deals in our data are frequently food businesses (40 of her 151), and she does a high share of her deals solo (101 of 151).

Examples in our records: Cousins Maine Lobster (Season 4), a food truck and restaurant business.

Pitch tip: Show your work ethic, your sales instincts and your story. Founders who are coachable and resilient tend to resonate with her style.

Kevin O'Leary

Background: A businessman and investor known on the show as "Mr. Wonderful," with a sharply financial focus.

Style: Kevin O'Leary is widely known for prioritizing cash flow and for proposing royalty deals that return his capital faster. He's often blunt about valuations he considers too high. Read royalty deals explained before pitching if you expect an offer from him.

Examples in our records: Wicked Good Cupcakes (Season 4) and numerous joint deals with other Sharks.

Pitch tip: Lead with profitability and margins, and model how fast an investor gets paid back.

Robert Herjavec

Background: Built his fortune in technology and cybersecurity.

Style: Robert Herjavec is generally seen as personable and founder-friendly, open to a broad range of businesses, and willing to partner with other Sharks. His deals in our data are spread fairly evenly across fashion, home, fitness and food.

Examples in our records: PolarPro (Season 7, with Mark Cuban).

Pitch tip: Show growth potential and a coherent story about scaling; technology-enabled businesses may get extra interest.

Daymond John

Background: Co-founder of the apparel brand FUBU, known for branding, licensing and fashion expertise.

Style: Daymond John is widely known for investing in apparel, accessories and brand-driven businesses, and for emphasizing branding and licensing strategy. Fashion and beauty is his top category in our data (33 of 127 deals).

Examples in our records: The Mission Belt (Season 4), the hole-free ratchet belt.

Pitch tip: Show what makes your brand distinctive and how it can extend into new products or licensing.

Newer and recurring Sharks

Daniel Lubetzky

Founder of KIND Snacks. In our data his deals start in Season 11, with food and beverage his top category (10 of 29), such as Fysh Foods (Season 16). Food founders should expect detailed questions about ingredients, positioning and distribution.

Kendra Scott

Founder of the jewelry and accessories company that bears her name. Her deals in our data run from Season 12 to Season 17, including Glimmer Wish (Season 17, a kids' hair and body care brand, with Lori Greiner). Brand, design and retail-experience businesses may resonate.

Rashaun Williams

A venture investor whose deals in our data begin in Season 16, often alongside another Shark (8 of his 10 deals were joint). Examples include Parrot Finance (Season 17, an investing platform, with Lori Greiner).

Guest Sharks

Guest investors appear in many seasons and have closed deals across categories. Their expertise can be very specific, from consumer beverages to technology, so research any announced guest Sharks in the current season.

Matching your business to a Shark

Don't over-target

A pitch tailored to one Shark can alienate the others, and the Shark you expect to love your product may go out first. The better approach is to pitch the business clearly to everyone, then, when offers arrive, ask each investor specifically how they would help. Our guide to negotiation lessons covers how to compare offers, and the questions Sharks always ask helps you prepare for all of them.

Investor styles described here are general reputations based on public appearances, not statements of any investor's current criteria. This isn't financial advice.