There was barely a breeze on the roof of the MCM Studios building in Manhattan last week as six entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their businesses.
At one point, it was April Wachtel’s turn. She stood up and made the case for her company, Cheeky Cocktails, in front of a jury that included billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper. Men holding television cameras surrounded her as she threw, capturing the moment live for Draper’s “Shark Tank”-style business competition show, “Meet the Drapers.”
The show is entering its eighth season, with past winners including leadership platform Balloon and food company It’s Skinny.
After the show, Wachtel told TechCrunch that the experience had been a “whirlwind” and said the exposure was huge for startups like his. Cheeky Cocktails offers a range of handcrafted cocktail mixers. She heard about the show after finishing second in another pitch competition earlier this month. A producer from “Meet the Drapers” contacted her and asked if she was available to film, and less than two days later she was hosting the show.
“There’s no substitute for hearing a founder tell their own story,” she said. “Ultimately, people may buy from you because they like you, and then stay because they like the product.”
Last Monday, the show gave a behind-the-scenes look at its making to select media and guests. Draper told TechCrunch he wanted to offer a behind-the-scenes look at how investments are made.
Her panel of judges included her sister, Polly Draper, an actress best known today for her appearance in “Hacks.” Also present were Andy Tang, partner at Draper Associates, and Rosie Rios, who served as United States Treasurer from 2009 to 2016.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025
The show is one of several on Draper’s new television channel, DraperTV, which features business and entrepreneurship programming available through streaming services like Roku. Previously, the show aired on channels like BizTV.
This season of the show travels through various cities across the United States, such as Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Austin, and Detroit, tapping into local talent and showcasing different tech ecosystems.
Wachtel was one of six founders of the New York episode, whose winners advance to the semifinals against all other city winners, then to the grand finals in San Francisco to battle for the $1 million prize.
“The idea was for people around the world to see what the interaction between entrepreneurship and venture capital looks like, and why it’s one of the best things for creating jobs, wealth, energy and consumer activity around the world,” Draper said.
The show had all the hallmarks of entrepreneurship and entertainment that viewers love. Draper has a big personality and knows when to make fun of himself. Investors gave clear ideas and founders presented big visions. Everyone came from diverse ethnic and gender backgrounds and had diverse careers in a myriad of industries.
Sujana Chandrasekhar, founder of medical technology KivviMed, participated in the same pitch competition in New Jersey as Wachtel and also received a recommendation to audition for “Meet the Drapers.” Chandrasekhar said she was more nervous than usual when hosting “Meet the Drapers,” especially knowing the size of the show’s audience. KivviMed creates a medical device to help relieve ear pain.
I created five digital twins. I have my digital twin interviewing Karl Marx.
Draper said the show has a large audience, particularly in India, Brazil and Taiwan. DraperTV, launched last summer, reaches more than 350 million households worldwide, according to statistics provided by the show.
“I was able to stay focused and convey what I needed to convey and answer questions as best I could,” Chandrasekhar told TechCrunch. The show’s staff also helped her prepare, she said. They helped her polish her speech, took a little walking tour of New York with the founders and did her hair and makeup, which, she said, made her feel special.
“The visibility our company and our vision receive is exceptional,” she added to explain why she chose to participate.
Hilary Taylor, the founder of WattsUp, agreed. WattsUp is a startup that has created electric vehicle infrastructure. Taylor discovered the show through the Techstars Alabama Accelerator program, of which his company is currently a part.
She called the series engaging and thought-provoking, saying it was as much about storytelling as it was about business.
“You have to connect with viewers and judges in a very short window, simplifying complex technology for a mainstream audience while remaining credible in the eyes of investors,” she continued, adding that the show helps startup founders connect with those beyond the tech bubble.
“Unlike the buttoned-down vibe of many VC pitch rooms, this one had candid, funny, even goofy moments that made it human and surprisingly fun,” she said.
“Meet the Drapers” is just one part of a larger Draper media empire being built. Draper himself is a third-generation investor (after his famous father and grandfather), and in the 1980s he founded Draper Associates, a venture capital firm that has backed some of the biggest names in tech, like Tesla, Skype, and Twitch. His children also entered the family venture capital business, including Jesse Draper, founder of Halogen Ventures, and Adam Draper, founder of Boost VC.
It’s clear that Draper has big ambitions for his tech and startup-focused media empire. DraperTV offers shows like “Draper Decentralized,” about AI and web3; the “Can’t Be Done” podcast, on emerging technologies; and “Talk with Tim,” in which Draper shares his views on business and technology.
There is no substitute for hearing a founder tell their own story.
He’s also building digital twins: AI versions of himself that can interact with people and even conduct interviews. He believes digital twins will become a larger part of entertainment, media and information, although humans will still play an important role in the development of information.
“I created five digital twins,” he said. “I have my digital twin interviewing, like Karl Marx.”
Beyond his TV channel, Draper still runs Draper University, a program that has sometimes used unconventional methods to train entrepreneurs to survive in the jungle of the startup world. For example, one of his first forays into reality television was a show based at Draper University called “Startup U,” which was quickly canceled after one season. But Draper said he still likes the premise and hasn’t ruled out making another similar attempt.
“We’ve done some amazing things with entrepreneurs, and it’s resulted in some really good videos and some really good stories,” he said.
Draper believes that the innovation these founders are building will be of utmost importance in the decades to come and that showcasing such talents now is a gateway for people to explore the future. In “Meet the Drapers,” that meant a look at how people see the future of sports betting, how founders are looking to improve drug discovery, and how electric vehicle infrastructure is about to experience a shakeup.
“There are a few networks that are thinking about the future,” Draper continued. “They’re all about what’s happening now. We want the story 15 years from now.”
