Brian Jenkins, ’93 Alumni of Wheaton Graduate School, was one of this year’s judges in Wheaton College’s 2017 Shark Tank final night of competition.
Wheaton Shark Tank is an entrepreneurial program that provides Wheaton College students with the opportunity to develop ideas that will impact the world. Student teams are connected with a world class network of mentors and advisers, who equip them for success through workshops, exciting events and business plan development tools.
The Shark Tank program takes place during November through February. In the first round, teams pitch their idea in front of a panel of judges and an audience. Teams are judged on their idea's originality and feasibility, as well as their commitment. Teams that are chosen to advance, proceed to the accelerator round and spend 3 months developing their ideas with the help of an alumni network, workshops, and business development tools. They are given access to mentors through a LinkedIn network of alumni interested in entrepreneurship. In the final night of competition, teams present their plans to a large audience, a panel of investors and judges, and other competitors. This is the culminating event of the Shark Tank competition where select teams present in front of true "sharks": investors able to grow their businesses and endeavors with a critical eye for success. Brian Jenkins, ’93 Alumni of Wheaton Graduate School, was one of this year’s judges. Cash prizes were awarded to top performing teams