Daymond John shares entrepreneur advice at Fanatics Fest
Shark Tank original cast member Daymond John told Fox News Digital at Fanatics Fest that founders must build businesses around genuine passion rather than money alone. John, 57, said entrepreneurs who chase ventures purely for profit "will be screwed" and urged people to love what they do enough to do it for free. He cited his own path, founding FUBU in 1992 with childhood friends in his mother's Queens home, as evidence that love of craft outweighs trend-chasing. John joined the original Shark Tank lineup in 2009 alongside Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec and Kevin Harrington, and has invested in brands including Bombas and Bubba's-Q Boneless Ribs, prioritizing the founder over the pitch.
Shark Tank India unveils Season 6 #DontBeATota campaign
Shark Tank India launched its "#DontBeATota" campaign ahead of Season 6, mocking founders who lean on startup jargon such as "valuation," "burn rate" and "EBITDA" instead of substance. The campaign uses a parrot mascot named "Tota" to embody the misconception that sounding like an entrepreneur equals being one. Conceptualized by The Script Room, the effort is co-powered by Lahori Zeera and L'Oréal Paris, with White Gold and Lal Sweets on board as partners. Shark judge Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt, said the show is seeking founders with real conviction, not buzzwords. Registrations for Season 6 are open via Sony LIV.
Robert Herjavec invests in Larry Emdur's Ben Buckler whisky
Australian television personality Larry Emdur's whisky label The Ben Buckler is preparing to expand into the United States after securing investment from Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec, a deal that values the company at roughly $10 million. Emdur, who has worked across Australian networks Nine, Seven and Ten, founded the Bondi-headland-named whisky brand two years ago. The transaction marks one of the more concrete cross-border business moves tied to a Shark Tank personality and a celebrity-founded consumer spirits brand.
Shark Week 2026 runs in parallel
Separately, Discovery Channel's Shark Week 2026 opened on July 26, with adventure tour operator Emily Morrison — "Shark Lady Emily" — debuting in "My Strange Shark Addiction" on July 31 showing off a Guinness World Record collection of 108 shark tattoos reportedly costing around $20,000 and 300 hours in the chair. While unrelated to the ABC investment reality format, the parallel "shark" branding underlines the broader cultural footprint of shark-themed reality television.
What's next
Founders can continue registering for Shark Tank India Season 6 auditions on Sony LIV, while The Ben Buckler's U.S. rollout and Shark Week 2026's remaining slate — including "My Strange Shark Addiction" on July 31 — offer the next verifiable checkpoints tied to the Shark Tank universe.
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