PHILADELPHIA, PA — The spotlight is returning to Fishtown as casting producers from Shark Tank head back to Rivers Philadelphia for one of the nation’s few open auditions, offering local entrepreneurs a rare chance to pitch their ideas for a spot on national television.
In collaboration with WPVI-TV/6abc, the open casting call will be held Wednesday, March 18, at The Event Center at Rivers Philadelphia. Contestants can begin lining up at 8 a.m., with numbered wristbands distributed from 9 to 11 a.m. Pitches are expected to start around 10 a.m.
The Philadelphia stop will be the only East Coast open casting call for Season 18 of the Emmy-winning ABC series and one of just a handful nationwide. Applications will be available both on-site and online at ABC.com. Entrepreneurs selected by casting producers could ultimately appear on Season 18, which is expected to air later this year.
Producers are returning after a record turnout last spring, when more than 900 people attended the Philadelphia casting call and over 460 pitches were heard. Participants traveled from across the region and as far away as France, and several businesses that pitched in Philly went on to land deals during the show’s current season.
“We were blown away by last year’s turnout and the quality of the entrepreneurs that presented to us,” said Mindy Zemrak, supervising casting producer of “Shark Tank,” who has worked on the show since its debut in 2009. She said bringing the open call back to Philadelphia was an easy decision.
Last year’s event proved to be a launchpad for multiple businesses. Forte3D of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, which produces classical string instruments using 3D printing, secured a deal with Lori Greiner, while Warrior Kid Medic of San Antonio partnered with Daymond John. Other companies that first pitched in Philadelphia, including Bon AppéSweet of Maryland and New Jersey-based QB54, also appeared on the show.
Philadelphia’s connection to “Shark Tank” runs deep. Past success stories tied to the region include Scrub Daddy, one of the show’s most successful products, and Reading-based Bro Glo, which appeared in a recent season.
Scott Lokke, general manager of Rivers Philadelphia, said hosting the casting team again highlights the city’s entrepreneurial depth and the life-changing potential of national exposure and investment.
All participants will have the opportunity to deliver a one-minute pitch to a member of the casting team. To preserve the integrity of on-camera pitches, the Sharks themselves do not attend casting calls, and only individuals auditioning are permitted inside the event.
“Shark Tank,” which won its fifth Emmy Award in 2024 for Outstanding Structured Reality Program, currently airs locally on WPVI-TV/6abc on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern. Past seasons are available for streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for U.S. subscribers.
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