On Shark Tank, startups pitch their ideas to a group of investors, including Mark Cuban. The “sharks” can decide to invest (if you’re lucky) or eat you alive, as one poor DC startup experienced. A blend of real life and entertainment, the show is part of the global Dragons’ Den franchise and has been criticized for its founder-unfriendly deal terms. According to Dallas News, iLumi auditioned a year ago for the show and had a call back. In the meantime, iLumi has raised over $145,000 on Kickstarter for its smart LED lightbulbs, which change color and can be controlled by your smartphone. They’re available now for under $100. Egan and his wife/team member Lorena Egan stopped by Tech Cocktail Week in June to share their story of starting up together as a married couple. We also selected iLumi as one of the hottest startups in the country, and they pitched at our national startup showcase, Tech Cocktail Celebrate. iLumi was founded in fall 2010, and they’ve actually won a few competitions since then – including the Carnegie Mellon McGinnis Venture Competition and the Business Idea Competition at the University of Texas at Dallas. But are they ready to swim with the sharks and come out alive? Tune in on Friday.
