by Thinus Ferreira
The reality entrepreneur-search show Shark Tank South Africa is returning to South African television for a second season in 2021 with the South Africa billionaire Quinton van der Burgh who will be one of the testy Sharks, after the Beryl Group that has acquired the format licensing rights for a localised version.
The first season of Shark Tank SA was produced by Rapid Blue for M-Net (DStv 101) in 2016, with the second season that doesn't yet have a TV channel attached but that will be produced upfront by the pan-African investment company with a new group of sharks - established investors - looking for inventive ideas and products to invest in.
Filming of the second season of Shark Tank South Africa will start in early-2021 and will likely take place in Johannesburg, just like the first season and will include self-made multimillionaire and billionaire tycoons as the "Sharks".
Viewers who will once again see how entrepreneurs who could potentially be "the next big thing" or have an idea, invention, product or service that is innovative and ground-breaking, get the opportunity to pitch their business to the panel of Sharks who will potentially invest through equity in the business, and help the entrepreneurs navigate the business seas.
The Sharks for the second season of Shark Tank SA will be the South African billionaire Quinton van der Burgh of Quinton Van Der Burgh Investments, Dr Jasmine Pega (UN Global Award honoree and entrepreneur), Lebo Gunguluza (serial entrepreneur and chairman of the Gem group of companies) and the tech-entrepreneur Prashanthi Akaloo.
A 5th shark-investor will be announced soon.
"We have been investing in entrepreneurs for a significant amount of time. There's no doubt that Africa is the next frontier, and with that the driving force of changing the economic landscape on the continent, will be entrepreneurs," says Neverl Kambasha, Beryl Group chairman.
"The possibilities of unearthing innovation, creativity and uncovering the 'next big thing' are endless hence we deemed it necessary to further invest in entrepreneurship. We look forward to seeing potential unleashed."
