PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Hundreds of ambitious entrepreneurs showed up at Rivers Casino Portsmouth on Friday hoping to get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring their innovative ideas to fruition.
Four-time Emmy Award-winning ABC show "Shark Tank" held an open casting call for its upcoming 16th season. It was the show's first-ever casting call in Virginia and the first in-person audition on the East Coast for the upcoming season.
On Friday, more than 100 people were already lined up before 8 a.m., when participants got wristbands for audition times.
"I think it goes without saying Virginians are thriving in entrepreneurship," said Shark Tank Supervising Casting Producer Mindy Zemrak. "Some entrepreneurs came as far as Tennessee, Louisiana, and Indiana."
Out of about 500 people who lined up, 280 were selected to present their business pitch to the casting team.
"It’s an 11-and-a-half-hour car ride. I ended up booking my plane ticket earlier this week," said one Shark Tank pitcher, Frank DeLuca with DDSports.
Others came from just down the road, like the owner of Chesapeake bakery Whole-Ly Rollers. Brenda Harford said she has the business the Sharks are looking for.
“I’ve already made $1.9 million since we’ve been in business, and I’m selling these rolls for $5 a pack. That’s a lot of dough!” she said.
These innovators had just one minute to pitch their ideas to the casting team. Zemrak said it’s important for them to see these entrepreneurs set themselves apart from the crowd.
"Everyone has a different story, backstory, journey, and product," she explained. "Our show is about celebrating who our entrepreneurs are and what they’ve created."
DeLuca calls this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Once you get so far with growing the brand and business, you know, you want to try to scale up to the next level. And the Sharks are who can take you there."
Zemrak said there are two more in-person open calls for the show's upcoming season, one in New York and the other in California, but entrepreneurs can always pitch their ideas online. The show will be casting until the end of July.
