Want to understand the US economy? Watch Shark Tank
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Ms Sarah Paiji Yoo is one of the founders of Blueland, which makes sustainable cleaning products.
PHOTOS: NETFLIX, NYTIMES
NEW YORK - One day in late June, a panel of investors entertained business ideas from around the US. A kitschy Advent calendar. A fancy mini-fridge for drinks. A flashlight that emits beams from multiple angles. A machine that grows mushrooms. Bendable cups. Pet plants (for you, not your cat).
This was the Los Angeles set of Shark Tank, the ABC show that for 15 years has turned business negotiation into entertainment. Aspiring entrepreneurs use hustle, gross margins and cringeworthy pitches to get money from the so-called Sharks in exchange for a stake in their companies.