Is Father Figure Clothing Still In Business In Shark Tank?

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Is father figure clothing still in business in Shark Tank? The father apparel company Father Figure's founder and CEO, Andrew Bentley, appeared on the Shark Tank set in October 2017 at Sound Stage 25, a vast space on the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, California. He was pitching Lori Greiner, Mark Cuban, and Kevin "Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary, and a massive TV audience.

As a person who’s interested in entrepreneurship, I’ve been a fan of Shark Tank for many years. So it had always crossed my mind when I was getting ready to leave my job at Google and start my business Father Figure, a clothing a lifestyle brand to support and inspire dads, but I wasn’t planning on applying the first year.

I wanted to be a stay-at-home dad and didn’t think the company was ready. In February, I received an email from a Shark Tank executive producer who had seen my Kickstarter campaign. He thought I’d be a really good fit for the show, and I thought if I’m ever going to apply, having the backing of an executive producer is the way to go.

Is Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank?

Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank

The procedure was stringent. Every year, Shark Tank receives approximately 50,000 applications, films a few hundred, and airs approximately half of those. I didn’t think I was going to make it, and they called me and sounded disappointed and were like, “We’re sorry. ou made the show!” So my heart dropped and then immediately soared. I called my wife and then we cleared my calendar. I had three weeks to prepare.

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I worked on preparation for 10 to 12 hours a day for the next three weeks. The process of preparing provides me with solace and comfort. I had over 100 questions the Sharks could ask from past episodes and had mock panels with friends, having them role-play different Sharks, for 45 minutes to an hour. It was stressful for me sweating in front of my friends drinking wine, laughing, and grilling me. My wife played Mr. Wonderful.

I rarely get nervous when speaking in front of a group, but I did on the show. In The Tank, you can't really prepare for what happens. You’re mentally holding onto so many different things. You clearly consider the company, whether your numbers are accurate, and your understanding of the market and where you fit in it.

Is Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank?

Because you are representing your company and yourself, you are attempting to be approachable for television. Because they don't show everyone they film, you need to be good at television.

Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank

Last but not least, before you go out there, you're thinking about the investors, who have no idea who you are. Normally in a meeting like that, the parties know each other or have something they agree about.

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I wanted two black fathers to join me on set with their children. I admire both of them because one is a stay-at-home dad of four kids and the other was on paternity leave with his daughter. Both of them are loving, involved dads.

We wanted to perform a dad fashion show while we were practicing. One of the infants peed in a prototype swaddle that had just been introduced and was wrapped around one of the infants. Thankfully I had another on hand. It was funny, we were having this very serious rehearsal we had to interrupt to be dads.

I envisioned success. That’s one of the preparation strategies used in that moment, I just imagined closing a deal and entertained no alternatives. Then I didn’t close a deal. When it was over, I just felt this emptiness. Is Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank?

s Father Figure Clothing Still in Business in Shark Tank?

Now that I'm a few months away from the show's premiere, I think it might have been a good thing. Because of my personal life, I left my job to become an entrepreneur because I want and need autonomy in my professional life.

The center of my world is family. I’m at my best when I’m in tune with my family. Entering into an investor relationship with someone you don’t know really well has it’s risks. It might have worked out if I got a deal, but I there are no guarantees.

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And, at the end of the day, I got a lot of really great exposure and learned a lot. It was similar to a mini-MBA. I’m better off for going through the process.

I also got an opportunity to go on TV and talk about my love for my son and how having him changed my life while standing along two other dads of color who are nurturing their kids. There is no doubt in my mind that doing that was worthwhile.

Answered one year ago Evelyn Harper