Announcing Local Presenters and Acclaimed Judges for “Tiger-Shark Tank 2” on Tuesday, Oct 24!
Ridgefield-based entrepreneurs and business owners will pitch their ideas to a panel of corporate leaders and notable entrepreneurs on Tuesday, October 24. This year’s Tiger-Shark Tank will be at the Ridgefield Playhouse, which is partnering with the host organization, the Economic & Community Development Commission.
The event is free and open to the public but seats must be reserved at The Ridgefield Playhouse. Walks-ups are welcome on the day of the event. The
Playhouse doors and cash bar will open at 5:30 pm for pre-event networking; the presentations will begin at 6:30, with the winners announced around 8:45 pm.
The local presenting entrepreneurs will be (1) Jeff McChesney of Target Arm (www.targetarm.com), (2) Jeff Macaluso of High Octane TV (highoctanefree.tv), (3) Mike Sturges of Domotics (domoticstech.com), (4) Deborah Rundlett of The Meetinghouse and Ron Herman of Wooster Hollow (meetinghouse.life), (5) Rosie Snow Voulgaris of Pop Art Kids (popart.kids), and (6) students from a Ridgefield High School business class.
The esteemed local Judges this year are:
Jay Walker (founder of Priceline)
Jeff Bornstein (former Vice Chairman of General Electric)
Megan Searfoss (owner of Ridgefield Running Company)
Christa Carone (President of Infillion Media)
Wyatt Lipman (Corporate Counsel for Strategic Deals & Partnerships at Google)
Chris Bishop (owner and CEO of North American Motor Car, and American Metal Customs and American Metal Whiskey)
Jay Walker is CEO and Chair of ApiJect Systems, Corp., shaping its overall vision and leading its business activities. He has founded dozens of companies including Priceline (Booking.com), a leading global travel provider. He curates TEDMED, the TED conference on health and medicine, and is the world’s 10th most patented living inventor, with over 950 U.S. and international patents.
Jeff Bornstein has more than 30 years of experience in corporate and investing leadership roles, including his time as Vice Chairman and CFO at General Electric from 2013 to 2017. He currently serves as a Managing Partner at both Whipstick Ventures LLC and Generation Capital Partners.
Megan Searfoss is founder of The Ridgefield Running Co., Darien Running Co., and Run Like a Mother, and is the author of See Mom Run, Every Mother’s Guide to Getting Fit and Running Her First 5K. Ridgefield Running Co. was recognized as the Best Running Store in America in 2022. In addition to operating multiple successful businesses, Megan provides her leadership to the greater running industry, at conferences, workshops, and other events. A mother of three children with Crohn's Disease, she learned that running was her outlet that kept her focused during trying times, yet is also where her mind is most creative.
Christa Carone is a strategic and operational leader with global experience developing new economy businesses through multi-faceted, complex integrations. She is currently President of Infillion, a private portfolio company of advertising/marketing technology and identity data solutions. Previously she served as President of CSM Sport & Entertainment in North America, and worked at Group Nine Media, Fidelity Investments and Xerox Corporation.
Wyatt Lipman is Corporate Counsel at Google where he negotiates strategic partnerships and content licensing deals. A seasoned lawyer and trusted business adviser with deep experience counseling on media, technology, and intellectual property matters, Wyatt previously worked at Facebook, Sony Music Entertainment, and Arnold & Porter LLP. Dad to a 2-year old and soon-to-be newborn, Wyatt and his wife, Maria, moved to Ridgefield in 2020.
Chris Bishop is the owner and CEO of North American Motor Car, and American Metal Customs and American Metal Whiskey. Before creating North American Motor Car, Chris was the Director of Event Marketing at SoBe Beverages before creating the Blue Buffalo pet food brand with his family. He served as the Senior Vice President of Advertising and co-founder of Blue Buffalo.
The judges will vote on the best ideas and award Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce gift cards to the top three presentations. “We’re excited to support these entrepreneurs and the town by giving out $5,000 in gift cards to the winners,” said event organizer and ECDC Commissioner Sean Dowd.
As on the nationally televised Shark Tank, presenters will have 15 minutes to pitch their concept to the judges and audience. Entrepreneurs who pitch will receive real time feedback from private investors. A financial investment from judges is not part of the event.
The Ridgefield ECDC seeks to help promote a vibrant entrepreneurial community.
Email ECDC Commissioner Sean Dowd at ecdc.sean@gmail.com directly with any questions.