Malta Enterprise renews commitment to start-ups through Shark Tank partnership

Malta Enterprise through the Start in Malta initiative has renewed its commitment to empower start-ups in Malta by partnering up with Shark Tank Malta for a second consecutive year as main sponsors. As the country’s economic development agency, Malta Enterprise is tasked with attracting new foreign direct investment as well as facilitating the growth of existing operations.

Last year, the critically acclaimed entrepreneurial-themed reality show that has served as a platform for entrepreneurship all around the globe landed in Malta. Shark Tank has proved to be a great platform which provides entrepreneurs with the opportunity to get funding from a number of investors.

The Malta Enterprise team has stepped in to provide its expertise and support to all of the participants in the preparations before pitching their ideas to the sharks. All of this has been done in line with our commitment towards start-ups and towards building a better ecosystem for start-ups who choose to make Malta their home.

“We aim to support start-ups from the beginning of their journey throughout all of the highs and lows that they have to encounter. We do this both through helping the participants getting ready for their pitches as well as helping them understand what we have to offer them through our schemes which can help businesses achieve their goals.” Explained Malta Enterprise CEO, Kurt Farrugia.

Aired on TVM, the second season of the business-themed show aims to find local business ideas with the passion to be great and connect them to the ‘sharks’, people with funds and who can be seen as having made it in the business world.

Shark Tank season 1 saw investments of over 1.2 million euros with a total of 37 deals being struck between the 5 sharks.

The sharks for the second season have been announced to be as follows: Mark Bajada, Alexander Fenech and Christabelle Borg, who were also sharks during the first season of the show, as well as introduced a new shark to the mix: Chris Vassallo. Additionally, this year, Shark Tank Malta will be inviting guest ‘sharks’ throughout the season, including Steve Mercieca, Angelo Dalli and Dino Fino who will all bring their area of expertise to the show.

Shark Tank is based on the Japanese ‘Dragon’s Den’ format, created by Nippon Television Corporation Network. This series is produced by greatt Company Limited in association with Sony Pictures Television.