Project Overview
Veteran Shark Tank is the premier national pitch competition for veteran entrepreneurs, founded in 2012 to support veterans starting or growing their businesses.
What began as a small regional event has grown into a marquee competition where five finalists pitch to a panel of sharks before a sold-out audience of over 200 attendees in Philadelphia during Army/Navy Football week. The winner takes home a $50,000 cash prize, while all finalists gain invaluable networking opportunities with potential customers, investors, and mentors.
This marks the third complete redesign of the site since our partnership began in 2018. For this most recent iteration, I rebuilt the website from the ground up to better serve the event’s evolving needs throughout its annual cycle.
The site operates in distinct phases aligned with the event timeline:
- Apply: Drives contestant applications and features the current year’s sharks and keynote speaker
- Tickets: Promotes ticket sales for the live event
- Sponsors: Attracts event sponsorships
- Post-Event: Celebrates the winner and updates the Alumni page showcasing contestants from every year of the competition
Key features include a robust application form where entrepreneurs can upload pitch videos and agree to competition terms, a dedicated sponsor inquiry form, and integration with a third-party ticketing platform. The hero section incorporates dynamic background video sourced from event b-roll footage, immediately immersing visitors in the energy and professionalism of the competition.
Over the last dozen years or so, Veteran Shark Tank has continued to grow and evolve, adapting even during COVID when the event shifted to a virtual livestream format. The competition has awarded over $300,000 in winnings to fund veteran-owned businesses, establishing itself as a cornerstone event for entrepreneurial veterans nationwide.
Client Testimonial
"Mike has been instrumental in helping me with 3 websites. I've been working with him for over 7 years. Mike is one of the best to listen to the vision of a customer and make recommendations where needed. He is also always available to brainstorm when needed. Highly recommend using his services."
