In April we told you that Kenya will soon have its own edition of “Shark Tank” show starting September 2016 called Lion’s Den. Shark Tank was a spin-off of the insanely popular Dragon’s Den show that airs in the United Kingdom. The local version of the show is a partnership between KCB, Quite Bright Films Kenya (QBF), Sony Pictures Television (SPT) – the makers of Shark Tank and Dragons’ Den – and Nation Media Group.
Lion’s Den will air every Monday and will see budding entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of five multi-millionaires who will evaluate them for the possibility of being funded. Just like in the international versions, the entrepreneurs will put their own money into these companies. The TV show is part of the Kshs. 50 Billion KCB Group 2Jiajiri Programme expected to benefit at least 500,000 youths in a period of 5 years.
KCB has today unveiled the names of the Panel investors, who are aptly called Simbas. These include Kris Senanu, Wandia Gichuru, Myke Rabar, Darshan Chandaria and Olive Gachara.
Kris Senanu is the former deputy CEO Access Kenya and the recently appointed Managing Director for Telkom Kenya’s Enterprise Division. In addition to that, he runs BlackRock Capital Investments, an investment company that focuses on the entertainment industry. It owns nightclubs including Tribeka and Sky Lounge as well as investment in Mama Ashanti, a West African themed restaurant. He is also serves as Chairperson Kenic, in addition to sitting on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (GEMS) board.
Wandia Gichuru is the managing director Vivo Active Wear that has 7 stores in Kenya. Before venturing into the fashion industry, she worked for 15 years as an international development adviser for the United Nations, UK Government and the World Bank. Also in the Den is Olive Gachara entrepreneur in the fashion and publishing industry. At 30, Olive runs Couture Africa Magazine in addition to an image consultancy Image with Olive, that counts different multinationals such as CFC Stanbic, Barclays and KPMG. She begun investing at the tender age of 18 when she founded a modeling agency, KINKEY Modeling.
Darshan Chandaria, the CEO Chandaria Industries is the other entrepreneur in the Den. At 29, he the youngest member of the Young President Organization. He is also an investor in several businesses including Mobius Motors as well as a supporter of various NGOs. The final investor in the Den is Myke Rabar, the CEO of HomeBoyz. Homeboyz started as an entertainment business but it has since branched into software development, public relations with 12 companies under its wing. Myke received a Head of State Commendation and serves as the Vision 2030 committee as well as the Kenya Rugby Football Union.
