By Jil Hogan, The Canberra Times
Photo: Network Ten
Canberra entrepreneur Mick Spencer from On The Go Sports is facing up to some of the country’s top business people on Southern Cross Ten show Shark Tank this Sunday.
The 25-year-old built the sports apparel company out of his garage in O’Connor just over four years ago. He’s now running a multimillion-dollar company that employs 13 people and is looking to go global.
On The Go Sports offers customers the ability to customise sportswear for groups or teams. More than 300,000 people 10 countries have now used the products –including Richard Branson.
“We have a very unique model because we’ve built technology that integrates the whole supply chain so our manufacturer is plugged in on it as well as any of our partners, so we’re one of the fastest providers in the world of the type of products we produce,” Mr Spencer said.
“The unique part of what we actually do is that every product we sell we get one child into sport for 12 months from a poor community of Australia through our one-for-one initiative. So we’re there to get the world into sport.”
Shark Tank gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their business to a panel of successful business people – the ‘sharks’ – who can then choose to invest in the business.
Mr Spencer decided to apply for the program last year, and made it through to filming earlier this year.
“It was quite nerve-racking because of the fact – it is reasonably real. People think it’s very made up, you have a lot of time, but you don’t. You have a strict amount of time to do your pitch, and you’re then grilled for probably one to two hours in the tank,” he said.
“You’ve got five people with a combined wealth of about $1.5 billion [in front of you]. Also then in the mix of that you’ve got probably 30 cameras and people filming the show. You’ve just gotta be confident and believe.”
Mr Spencer’s pitch is featured on the first episode of season two of the program, which airs on Sunday night at 9pm.
He’s tight-lipped on whether he successfully secures funding on the show. But either way, expect to see a lot more of the brand around with the online retailer heading into bricks and mortar stores.
There’s a retail men’s activewear range, partnered up with Jason Dundas, which is available at David Jones and The Iconic, and is about to launch in General Pants Co.
On The Go Sports has also developed a customisation station that will be rolled out in sports retailers around Australian – and eventually the world – where you can design your product and touch the fabrics.
To read official article click here: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/private-capital-canberras-mick-spencer-on-shark-tank-20160205-gmmh63.html