BOCA RATON – The judges of the hit show “Shark Tank” took to a different stage Wednesday afternoon: one at Florida Atlantic University, where they listened to four business presentations, with one lucky contestant getting a bite and ultimately a $250,000 deal.

Sharks Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John and Robert Herjavec headlined the show’s first iteration, “CrocTank,” as part of the 20th annual NobleCon, a two-day conference for emerging growth stocks. This is the second year in a row that Noble Capital Markets’ NobleCon has been hosted by FAU.

The sharks came with their entrepreneurial expertise and initially talked about their background and how they got onto the successful TV show. They then discussed topics ranging from the November election results to cybersecurity threats.

“Every successful entrepreneur does either two things,” said John, who founded FUBU Apparel in the 1990s. “You either solve the problem or make someone happy. When you make someone happy, you solve the problem or vice versa.”

When asked about his views on diversity and entrepreneurship, John highlighted the challenges women and people of color face when it comes to funding.

“Ultimately, I think it starts with the lack of financial intelligence in our schools,” he said. “It really has nothing to do with color. Our country is moving away from the 80-year-old school system that taught us how to build ships, go to war, and be great employees. But now, if you look at this data, a child of six, seven, or eight years old is not being taught the basics of financial intelligence.

O’Leary, known as “Mr. Wonderful,” well-known venture capitalist, explained to the crowd how the nickname came about.

“I’m the only shark who tells the truth,” he said. “Everyone is worried about everyone’s feelings. I don’t care.”

And Herjavec, the cyber-tech giant, spoke about the need for cybersecurity vigilance. His personal safety tips? Don’t click on suspicious emails and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities.

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Then followed the business pitches from four participants who were selected from FAU’s Adams Center for Entrepreneurship, the Tech Runway and FAU’s Research Park:

• “Capturecrete”, a mechanism to capture carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into concrete.

• “Epipaws,” an epigenetic testing kit that helps customers determine their pet’s biological age and extend its longevity.

• “Hemotag”, a company based in the FAU research park, produces external devices for measuring blood flow in the hearts of heart attack patients.

• “Auto TQ”, a unique tourniquet to prevent blood loss.

Dr. Andria Beal, the founder of Epipaws, was the only presenter who was able to close a deal. Beal, a scientist and researcher who works at FAU’s research park, asked for $250,000 for 5% of her company in her pitch. O’Leary agreed, but by 20%.

“I’ll cover the $250,000,” he said. “I want 20% and I have no flexibility.”

Beal told the Sharks that she has a team of nine people at her company who all work part-time. She is the only full-time employee.

Beal negotiated stubbornly. The crowd behind her also began to join in, some shouting for her to “take it.”

“Everyone gets their moment,” O’Leary told her. “This is your moment.”

After a few minutes of back and forth, Beal agreed.

“Okay, Mr. Wonderful, let’s do this,” she said.

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Jasmine Fernández is a journalist who covers Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Support our work. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on the Palm Beach Post: Shark Tank comes to Florida Atlantic University and Epipaws gets a deal