Nicki Minaj Joins as Judge on $1M ‘Shark Tank-Like’ Competition.
The Trump administration is set to host its own Shark Tank-style competition later this month, with rapper Nicki Minaj among others with Superman actor Dean Cain to host.
Nicki will serve as a judge of the small-business competition. The event, called Million Dollar Pitch Competition, will be held on 18 September in Washington DC. Five American entrepreneurs compete for a share of a $1 million prize pool.
Five finalists have already advanced to the competition: defense technology company Compotech, Inc., based in Brewer, Maine; metalworking machinery manufacturer Winton Machine of Suwanee, Georgia; plastic mold manufacturer Plas-Tech Tooling in Garner, Iowa; pressure vessel manufacturer Red River in Gillette, Wyoming; and San Diego-based machinery manufacturer VetPowered LLC.
The participants were evaluated across several categories, including their ability to strengthen American competitiveness, economic impact, quality job creation, overall business fundamentals and readiness to execute.
Every finalist is reportedly guaranteed a cash prize. The winner will receive $400,000, while second and third ranks will take home $250,000 (Rs 2.37 crore) and $150,000 (Rs 1.42 crore), respectively. Fourth-place will receive $125,000 (Rs 1.18 crore), and the fifth-place finalist will get $75,000 (over Rs 71 lakh).
Million Dollar Pitch Competition also bears similarities to Trump’s early-2000s hit reality show The Apprentice.
Minaj has become one of the president’s most vocal allies in the music industry and has been hosted by Trump at the White House several times. She helped the president to launch the administration’s “Trump Accounts” earlier this year.
The competition is part of the Freedom 250 celebrations marking America’s birthday. The White House-aligned group was also behind the Great American State Fair, marked by several controversies, including cancelations from musicians and weather-related closures, and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.
According to the agency, the $1 million cash prize is being funded by Clover Network, Inc, a payments processing platform.
