Isaac Horton walked into the “Shark Tank” with his pitch memorized, his food ready, and a decade of hustle behind him. He walked out without a deal. His episode never made it to air. And somehow, none of that stopped what came next.
Horton, founder of Oak City Fish & Chips, appeared before the show’s panel of investors to pitch his vision of turning his Raleigh-based seafood food truck into a nationwide franchise network. The sharks liked his food. They liked his numbers. But in the end, they passed — wary of a franchise-only model without a brick-and-mortar anchor.
“Everyone’s dream in the business community is to get on ‘Shark Tank’ — to get on the big stage before experienced, seasoned entrepreneurs, billionaires, and hundred-millionaires and pitch your concept,” Horton said…