Kevin O'Leary Calls 'Shark Tank' Ambassador of the American Dream — 'No Other Country Where People Risk Drowning Under Barbed Wire in a River to Get In'
Tue, July 28, 2026 at 5:45 PM GMT+3 6 min read
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People around the world know "Shark Tank" for its multimillion-dollar deals and high-stakes negotiations, but entrepreneur and investor Kevin O'Leary says the appeal of the show he stars on has little to do with money.
"I don't think this show is about business at all. I think it's about the pursuit of the American dream," O'Leary said in a video shared on X in July.
More Than a TV Show
O'Leary said wherever he travels—from Europe to the Middle East—people recognize "Shark Tank" because it represents something much bigger than venture capital.
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"They know it because no other country where people are risking their lives to drown under barbed wire in a river to get in to be part of the American dream," O'Leary said. "We're all ambassadors of the American Dream and that's exactly what 'Shark Tank' has become. And it's well deserved. It's a remarkable platform. We're all very proud of it."
O'Leary said that same spirit extends well beyond television, arguing that people who build businesses aren't simply chasing wealth.
"That spirit of risk taking and self made success is still what keeps America at the forefront of the global economy," O'Leary wrote. "I think all of us on 'Shark Tank' are proud to represent that."
He echoed that point in the video, saying America's entrepreneurial culture continues to set the country apart.
"That keeps America at the cutting edge," O'Leary said.
Investing Beyond the Tank
While only a handful of startups ever make it onto "Shark Tank," investors don't have to wait for a television appearance to discover emerging companies.
One example is Miso Robotics, an AI and robotics company developing automation for commercial kitchens. Its flagship product, Flippy, combines artificial intelligence, computer vision and robotics to automate repetitive cooking tasks such as frying, helping restaurants improve consistency, efficiency and worker safety. The company has also expanded into kitchen intelligence software that gives restaurant operators real-time data to improve operations.
Another is Mode Mobile, creator of EarnPhone, a platform designed to let users earn rewards through everyday smartphone activity. Rather than treating a phone solely as an expense, the company is building a mobile ecosystem that shares a portion of the value generated by device usage with consumers, offering a different approach to mobile technology.
See Also: Most Budgeting Apps Track Your Spending. This One Helps You Act On It.
O'Leary's broader message is that entrepreneurship has never been just about landing a deal or building wealth. It's about creating something from the ground up, taking risks and pursuing opportunity.
Whether those founders step into the "Shark Tank" or build their companies outside the spotlight, O'Leary believes that willingness to bet on an idea is what keeps America at the forefront of the global economy—and, as he put it, at the "cutting edge" of innovation.
Read Next: Wall Street Traders Pay Thousands For Market Data. This Platform Gives Everyday Investors Access To Advanced Tools.
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For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.
Image: Shutterstock
This article Kevin O'Leary Calls 'Shark Tank' Ambassador of the American Dream — 'No Other Country Where People Risk Drowning Under Barbed Wire in a River to Get In' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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