Here’s the genuine experience of presenting on billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper’s ‘Meet the Drapers’ pitch competition.

Last week, with barely any wind on the MCM studios building’s roof in Manhattan, six entrepreneurs stood on a stage to present their companies.

April Wachtel eventually had her turn. She stood up and presented her company, Cheeky Cocktails, to a judging panel that included Tim Draper, the billionaire venture capitalist. As she pitched, men with TV cameras moved around her, capturing the live moment for Draper’s “Shark Tank”-esque business competition program, “Meet the Drapers.” 

The program is heading into its eighth season, with former winners such as the leadership platform Balloon and the food business It’s Skinny. 

Wachtel told TechCrunch after the show that the experience was a “whirlwind” and that the exposure is significant for startups like hers. Cheeky Cocktails provides a range of handcrafted cocktail mixers. She found out about the show after placing second in another pitch competition earlier in the month. A “Meet the Drapers” producer contacted her and asked if she was available to film, and less than 48 hours later, she was pitching on the show. 

She stated, “There’s nothing like hearing a founder share their own story. Ultimately, people might buy from you because they like you and then stay because they love the product.”

The show gave chosen media and guests a behind-the-scenes peek at its production last Monday. Draper informed TechCrunch that he wanted to show how investments are made. 

His judging panel featured his sister, Polly Draper, an actress currently known for her role in “Hacks.” Andy Tang, a partner at Draper Associates, and Rosie Rios, who was the Treasurer of the United States from 2009 to 2016, were also on the panel. 

The program is among many on Draper’s recently launched television channel, DraperTV, which offers business and entrepreneurship programming that can be streamed on services like Roku. The program previously aired on channels such as BizTV. 

This season of the program will visit various U.S. cities, including Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Austin, and Detroit, to tap into local talent and showcase various tech ecosystems. 

Wachtel was among six founders on the New York episode; the winners advance to the semifinal round against the winners from other cities, followed by the grand finale in San Francisco, where they will compete for the $1 million prize. 

Draper stated, “The concept was for people worldwide to witness the interaction between entrepreneurship and venture capital and to understand why it is so beneficial for creating jobs, wealth, energy, and consumer activity worldwide.” 

The program included all the entrepreneurship and entertainment elements that viewers enjoy. Draper has a strong personality and knows when to make fun of himself. The investors provided clear insights, and the founders presented ambitious visions. Everyone came from various ethnic and gender backgrounds and had different careers in a wide array of industries. 

Sujana Chandrasekhar, the founder of the medtech company KivviMed, participated in the same New Jersey pitch competition as Wachtel and was also encouraged to audition for “Meet the Drapers.” Chandrasekhar stated that she felt more nervous than usual while pitching on “Meet the Drapers,” especially given the show’s large audience. KivviMed is developing a medical device to help ease ear pain.

Draper noted that the show has a significant viewership, particularly in India, Brazil, and Taiwan. According to data provided by the show, DraperTV, which launched last summer, reaches over 350 million households globally.

Chandrasekhar informed TechCrunch, “I was able to stay focused, communicate what I needed to, and answer questions as well as possible.” She added that the show’s staff also helped her prepare. They assisted her in refining her pitch, took the founders on a short walking tour of New York, and provided hair and makeup, which she said made her feel special. 

Regarding her choice to participate, she added, “The exposure that our company and vision receives is amazing.”

Hilary Taylor, the founder of WattsUp, agreed. WattsUp is a startup that developed electric vehicle infrastructure. Taylor learned about the show through the Techstars Alabama Accelerator program, in which her company is currently involved. 

She described the show as engaging and challenging, noting that it was as much about storytelling as it was about business. 

She continued, “You must connect with viewers and judges in a very short period, simplifying complex technology for a mainstream audience while maintaining credibility with investors,” adding that the show helps early-stage founders connect with people outside of the tech industry. 

She stated, “Unlike the formal atmosphere of many VC pitch rooms, this one had honest, funny, and even silly moments that made it feel human and surprisingly fun.” 

“Meet the Drapers” is just one component of a larger media empire that Draper is building. Draper himself is a third-generation investor (following his well-known father and grandfather) and founded Draper Associates in the 1980s, a venture firm that has supported some of the biggest names in technology, including Tesla, Skype, and Twitch. His children have also joined the family venture capital business, including Jesse Draper, founder of Halogen Ventures, and Adam Draper, founder of Boost VC. 

Draper clearly has grand ambitions for his media empire, which focuses on technology and startups. DraperTV features programs like “Draper Decentralized,” which covers AI and web3; the “Can’t Be Done” podcast, which discusses emerging technology; and “Talk with Tim,” where Draper shares his thoughts on business and technology. 

He is also developing digital twins: AI versions of himself that can interact with people and even conduct interviews. He believes that digital twins will play a more significant role in entertainment, media, and news, although he added that humans will still be essential in news development. 

He said, “I’ve created five digital twins. I have my digital twin interviewing someone like Karl Marx.” 

In addition to his TV network, Draper continues to run Draper University, a program that has sometimes used unconventional methods to educate entrepreneurs on how to thrive in the startup environment. For example, one of his early ventures into reality TV was a show based on Draper University called “Startup U,” which was quickly canceled after only one season. However, Draper stated that he still likes the concept and has not ruled out making another, similar attempt.

He stated, “We’ve accomplished some remarkable things with entrepreneurs, which has resulted in some excellent videos and storytelling.” 

Draper believes that the innovation these founders are creating will be of utmost importance in the years to come and that showcasing this talent now provides a way for people to explore the future. On “Meet the Drapers,” this included a preview of how people envision the future of sports betting, how founders are aiming to improve drug discovery, and how electric vehicle infrastructure is about to undergo a transformation. 

Draper continued, “There are a few networks that are thinking about the future. They are all telling the story of what is happening right now. We want to tell the story of what will happen 15 years from now.”