Event Overview

Thank you for serving as a Shark for our Shark Tank Student Showcase.

Students will present business ideas they have developed throughout the school year.
Your role is to evaluate how well they present and communicate their idea, not whether you would personally invest in the product.

Your Role as a Shark

You are evaluating:

• • • Clarity of thinking
    • Strength of communication
    • Confidence under pressure

You are NOT evaluating:

• • • Whether the product is realistic
    • Whether the business would succeed in the real world
    • Personal preference or taste

The goal is to reward Clear, well-thought-out, well-communicated ideas

What Students Are Asking For

Each student is asking for one thing: Your vote that their business is a strong investment.

There is no real money involved.

Your “investment vote” represents:

• • • Confidence in the presenter
    • Confidence in their thinking
    • Confidence in their communication

What to Expect During the Event

Call Time

Please arrive by: 6:30pm

The Springs Church 5500 S. Southwood Rd 65804
When you pull into the parking lot, continue straight, as you get to the back of the building turn left go up the hill. Enter the glass doors under the blue awing.

We’ll have a quick overview + instructions: 5–10 minutes

There will already be a lot going on in the building the Showcase begins at 6 but the Shark Tank event will begin at 6:45p.

Presentation Format

Each of the 10 students will:

• • • Present (60-90 Seconds)
    • Answer 1-2 questions *See question ideas below
    • Stay for any comments or advice
    • Sharks will identify individually if they think it is a good investment.

Ideally 5 minutes per student is the goal.

Judging Criteria

Use the rubric provided & score each category honestly

Avoid scoring based on:

• • • “I like this idea”
    • “I would buy this”
    • “This wouldn’t work in real life”

You will score each student based on:

1. Clarity

• • • Was the idea easy to understand?
    • Could they clearly explain the problem and solution?

2. Problem & Solution

• • • Did they identify a real problem?
    • Did their solution make sense?

3. Market Understanding

• • • Did they clearly define who their customer is?
    • Did they explain why someone would buy?

4. Communication & Delivery

• • • Confidence
    • Eye contact
    • Clear speaking
    • No rambling or confusion

5. Preparation & Thoughtfulness

• • • Did it feel well thought out?
    • Could they answer questions clearly?

Important Reminder

Many ideas are still developing. That’s expected.

👉 You are not judging the business…
👉 You are judging how well the student presents and thinks.

Tone & Environment

We want this to feel:

• • • Professional
    • Encouraging
    • Challenging (but not discouraging)

Push them—but don’t crush them.

Final Thought for Sharks

These students have worked hard to:

• • • Think clearly
    • Communicate effectively
    • Present with confidence

Your role is to recognize and reward those skills.

Q&A Expectations

After each presentation:

Judges may ask up to 2 total questions (combined)

Choose questions that help reveal how the student thinks and acts

Keep questions short, direct, and relevant

The goal is to evaluate:

• How students think about their idea
• Whether they can take action
• How they respond under pressure

👉 This is not about detailed business accuracy
👉 This is about ownership and next steps

What NOT to Ask

• Detailed cost breakdowns
• Manufacturing logistics
• Advanced financial projections

Most students have not developed these areas, and that is expected.

What TO Ask

Focus on action, ownership, and real-world thinking

Action-Oriented Questions

• • • “If I gave you $1,000 today, what would you do first?”
    • “What is your very next step after this presentation?”
    • “What would you do tomorrow to move this forward?”

Ownership Questions

• • • “Why are YOU the right person to do this?”
    • “How serious are you about actually pursuing this?”
    • “What would make you quit this idea?”

Reality Check Questions

• • • “What’s the hardest part of making this real?”
    • “What’s the biggest risk in your idea?”
    • “What would you need help with first?”

Clarity Under Pressure

• • • “Say your idea again in one sentence.”
    • “What problem matters most here?”

• Push them to think
• Don’t trap them
• Don’t overcomplicate

👉 The best questions are simple—and force a real answer.