Have you ever seen the show “Shark Tank”? It’s an ABC hit TV series where 5 major business moguls act as “angel investors” to give budding entrepreneurs the chance to secure business deals that could make them millionaires. This concept as an icebreaker is a great way to promote critical and creative thinking for any team.
The “Shark Tank” pitch is a high-stakes, presentation where entrepreneurs present products to investors (Sharks) for capital in exchange for equity. Successful pitches feature a clear value proposition, compelling storytelling, deep knowledge of numbers, and high confidence. There are a few key elements that team members need to focus on to deliver a clear and successful pitch. They will need to demonstrate the product and its purpose to the Sharks. They will have to work through objections and critiques while having a clear, reasonable ask of the investors.
Turning a Shark Tank pitch into an icebreaker is an effective way to promote collaboration, encourage communication, and include high-energy competition. Depending on how much time you have and where you plan to host the icebreaker, you can use one of these three formats.
1. The “Random Object” Sprint (Best for Fast Energy)
This version focuses on quick thinking and humor.
The Setup: Divide the group into teams of 2–4 people.
- The Prompt: Give each team a random household or office object (e.g., a stapler, a single sock, a coffee mug).
- The Challenge: They have 5–10 minutes to reinvent this object as a “must-have” new product. They must come up with a brand name, a target audience, and one “killer” feature.
- The Pitch: Each team has 60 seconds to sell their “innovation” to the “Sharks” (the facilitators or the rest of the group).
2. The “Workplace Solution” Pitch (Best for Corporate Teams)
Use this to address real-world challenges while keeping it light.
- The Setup: Form teams and assign a specific “pain point” relevant to your industry or office (e.g., “How to make Monday mornings better” or “Improving the breakroom experience”).
- The Challenge: Teams spend 15–20 minutes developing a solution, including a basic “business plan” (who it helps, how it works, and what it costs).
- The Negotiation: After the pitch, “Sharks” can “grill” the team with questions like, “Why do we need this much budget?” or “How does this advance our mission?”.
3. The “Improv Slide Deck” (Best for Laughs)
This version requires no preparation from the participants.
- The Setup: Prepare a few PowerPoint slides with completely random, unrelated images (e.g., a picture of a llama, followed by a graph showing rising cheese prices, followed by a blender).
- The Challenge: One person or a small team stands up to pitch a “revolutionary product.” They must incorporate whatever image appears on the screen into their pitch in real-time.
- The Goal: It forces participants to listen closely to their teammates and “think out of the box” to maintain the logic of their pitch.
Scoring & Prizes
To make it a true competition, give the “Sharks” or the audience a set amount of “fake money” to invest. The team that secures the most total investment—not just the highest single offer—is the winner. Consider small rewards like gift cards or workplace perks to raise the stakes.
At the end of this icebreaker your team will be thinking strategically and working as a team to complete future projects. The “Shark Tank” pitch is a great add on to leadership meetings or team breakout sessions. This icebreaker is also a great way to add a fun and engaging activity to a monotonous corporate retreat with limited time. Keep in mind that this icebreaker can be tailored to fit your team and help develop skills that you see fit!