04/05/2026
Please don't mention your business was on Shark Tank or Dragons Den...
UNLESS you were successfully funded (with your pants UP), a shark, or a dragon.
Shark: "you're a glorified sales person for a manufacturer - you don't have a business without the IP"
Contestant: "I'll show you otherwise"
π€¦
Brand insight for founders:
1. Just because everyone knows about a brand, it doesn't mean it's appropriate for you to be associated with it
2. Shows are built to entertain so you have no control of narrative
What are the associations people have about this show or this brand association?
You'll be in that bucket.
How did your segment go? Did you feel absolutely vulnerable when you didn't know your numbers?
Did you sponsor an event that has a snake oil reputation?
Not all publicity is good publicity - sorry.
Sometimes you have to un-PR stuff as well (which takes sooo much more resources).
Yes, sometimes the right brand move is to UNassociate.
BE SELECTIVE about the brand trust signals because they each send a message to your audience about who you are, what the business represents and plays a massive part in their trust build towards a sale.