What to expect from season four of Shark Tank Australia

Are there any common themes this season?

Naomi: The businesses are bigger. In the first episode, everybody is worth six figures and they’ve got material traction. When you’ve got bigger businesses, we fight over them more, we want them in our portfolio and we can see opportunities for them. There is variety, but there is lots of food, lots of eco businesses and there are also a lot of “for a cause”, purposeful businesses. People are also better prepared this season.

What’s one thing you learnt about another Shark?

Naomi: I really fell in love with Steve. Maybe that’s why we’ve always had the tension, I just love and adore him so much – or not! Steve and I still don’t see eye to eye when it comes to starting businesses. But maybe I’ve got a secret crush on him.

What’s the piece of business advice you find yourself dishing out the most?

Naomi: I want people to live in their customer's shoes, and they often don't. They need to think about what job did you hire this product to do, which is different to what problem you are solving. Because what job you hired it to do implies there is a commercial transaction, versus “I just fixed a problem”.  That’s what I was asking over and over again. It’s always about customers.

Was there anything that surprised you this season?  

Naomi: Steve walks off in one episode. He really walked off, he was really angry. We often do battle it out and we’re not calm all the time but I’ve never seen him get out of his chair before. So that was interesting, and a surprise for the entrepreneurs as well.