Deadline Nears to Compete in YBI’s 2023 Shark Tank

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Entrepreneurs have less than a month left to apply to earn a spot in the Youngstown Business Incubator’s Shark Tank event in October, where they could win a share of at least $30,000 in prize awards.

YBI has announced the prize total has the potential to increase if certain fundraising goals are met.

Slated for Oct. 19, the YBI Shark Tank will offer a group of entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their ideas to the YBI celebrity sharks and investors in front of a live audience at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman and gain exposure for their businesses.

In 2022, more than 70 regional startup entrepreneurs and innovators applied, with only five selected to present their pitches before the celebrity sharks, local and regional angel investors, venture capitalists, potential investors and more than 600 guests.

The deadline to apply for the 2023 event is Aug. 1.

YBI Shark Tank, the largest fundraiser of the year for YBI, allows the incubator to continue serving entrepreneurs, the business community and others. Throughout 2022, YBI served over 500 clients through its programs and initiatives: Evolve Technology Entrepreneurship, Additive Manufacturing, International-YBI, Minority Business Assistance Center, Women in Entrepreneurship, Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth Xperience.

Pictured at top: Lenny Fisher, left, CEO and owner of Handel’s Ice Cream and title sponsor for this year’s YBI Shark Tank, poses with five of the sharks. From left are Ellie Platt, John Masternick, Martha Bushey, Danny Catullo and Herb Washington. Not pictured is Chris Davis.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.