Photography courtesy of Shark Tank
Sofi Seck doesn’t typically watch television, but she will make an exception for ABC’s Shark Tank, in which budding entrepreneurs get a shot at pitching their ideas to some of the country’s best business minds. “I’m a huge fan of the show,” says the 35-year-old owner of Expedition Subsahara. This Friday, October 14, the Senegal native who grew up in Florissant will appear on an episode of Season 14 and present her collection of vibrant, handcrafted home decor. We recently caught up with Seck about the upcoming TV show appearance.
How did you get involved with Shark Tank? I just got a random email one day. I thought it might be spam or somebody trying to get in our inbox. It ended up being a producer of Shark Tank, and he had a bunch of questions about the business.
It sounds like a dream come true. You know when something super exciting happens, and you remember everything about it?
Are you presenting a specific product? We presented the entire business. The premise of the show is you go on and give them a pitch for your business… So that's what I did, and it was one of the most intense experiences of my life.
Did you go to L.A. or New York? I went to L.A. Everybody was so kind and gentle. Since I don’t normally present myself in that kind of way, they helped me through it, and it was such a great experience. But once you're out there, it's you and the sharks, and it's a business meeting. You’re selling them on the business and all of these numbers and hopefully selling them on a vision of what you’re going to build.
Where do you want to see the business in five years? We design and create home decor that is 90 percent from Senegal, West Africa. They're woven baskets, hampers, placemats. The ultimate goal is to be able to branch out into other parts of the home…to bridge not only weaving but all sorts of African craftsmanship. The goal is to really expand in a way that is major.
Were you nervous before the taping? I was so nervous. And here’s the thing: Although I’ve been in St. Louis for the majority of my life, when I am nervous, my English goes away and my brain automatically clicks to my native language. You’re walking out there and you see them sitting there and staring at you. It's just like you see on TV.
Seck's episode of Shark Tank airs Friday, October 14, at 7 p.m. on ABC.
