The show "Shark Tank" has become a constant in my life. Every Friday at 8 p.m., I'm glued to my television as I watch entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of investors – "sharks" – in the hopes of landing an investment deal. The sharks are all well-respected (and rich) entrepreneurs themselves. "Shark Tank" showcases a wide range of businesses; some are innovative and cutting edge, others are gimmicky or silly.
Recently, I started paying closer attention to the type of entrepreneurs frequenting the show. They're usually young (with ages ranging from 18 to 35), ambitious and naïve – in a good way. A show based on venture capitalism isn't what many would consider "must see TV." However, we should all applaud the creators of the show for giving young entrepreneurs an outlet to showcase and scale their ideas.
Credit unions like to talk about making a difference in members' lives, but what are they really doing to serve young entrepreneurs? The determination of young adults to become the next generation of business owners is great. A recent Filene report, "Credit Unions and Young Entrepreneurs," indicates 87% of young adults have "somewhat favorable" opinions when it comes to entrepreneurship. As college costs continue to rise, many young adults will view entrepreneurship as an attractive alternative.
Continue Reading for Free
Register and gain access to:
- Breaking credit union news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Shared Accounts podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical coverage of the commercial real estate and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, GlobeSt.com and ThinkAdvisor.com
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.