Shark Tank

Suppose this is no surprise to any of y’all, but one of my favorite TV shows is this one because it features a variety of successful entrepreneurs on the panel and guests throwing out good ideas and looking for both advice and financial backing. I love the fact that despite all that is going on in this world, Americans never stop trying to invent the next best thing.

Last night was a true show-stopper, however, because Virgin Group’s Richard Branson was substituting and made an enormous impression upon me.

Scenario: Young girl from Korea with a MBA from Stanford had started a new app that produced $2.5 million in sales during the first two years and she had money in the bank. She claimed to be looking for $500k with a 5% stake. She was all of 23 years old!

Mark Cuban did an incredibly rude thing by standing up, calling her a “gold-digger” and accusing her of using the show to promote her business as in a “free commercial.” He then proceeded to accuse her of taking time away from other applicants for the show with “three kids and a mortgage who really needed the money.” He actually made her cry.

Branson, in the meantime, supported her 100%, looked at Cuban and said, “So what if she is using this platform to advertise her business? That is what good entrepreneurs do.”

He then opened a bottle of water and threw it in Cuban’s face!!! Mon Dieu; I was afraid of a fistfight but Cuban backed down, the girl got her deal and possibly the best exposure possible which was obviously her original intent.

Good for her! Good for Branson! Let’s just say I’ll never root for the Dallas Mavericks…