'be Confident When You Ask Someone For Money': Shaq Gives His Best Advice To Student Entrepreneurs

Shaquille O'Neal is simply a engaged man. The four-time NBA champion is simply a broadcaster, a partner successful aggregate franchises, an investor, a philanthropist, and an educator. And each of those pieces recreation together successful his latest project, The Grind, a three-episode YouTube bid that features entrepreneurial students of nan online schoolhouse level Campus competing for $60,000 successful prize money.

"We wanted to springiness these kids and young adults a chance to pitch," Shaq told Entrepreneur for an upcoming conception of nan How Success Happens podcast. "We wanted to spot grit, resilience, determination, and belief, and they came up pinch immoderate awesome ideas. It was awesome to see."

Related: Shaquille O'Neal Used an Unconventional Strategy to Start His Chicken Restaurant — Here's Why It Worked

The show was filmed astatine Campus investor Joe Lonsdale's location successful Austin, and Shaq was joined by judges Jennifer Hyman (CEO of Rent nan Runway) and Poppy Thorpe (Snapchat committee member) to thief make nan ample money decision.

While nan reside of nan show is astir nurturing caller ideas and encouraging talent, it was not each lovey-dovey. The students were put done a competitory admissions process to get connected nan show, and passim nan three-part series, they went done intensive workshops and rigorous proscription judge sessions.

Shaq routinely advised competitors to calm their nerves erstwhile it came clip to inquire for funding. " I was speaking from experience," Shaq explains. "When you recreation into somebody's world and want to get their money, you personification to beryllium confident. You gotta speak to nan experts and cognize nan ins and outs of your business. I do my owed diligence truthful I tin really understand what I'm asking for. You don't want to spell into a gathering pinch Jeff Bezos and conscionable inquire for a 100 cardinal dollars. You want Jeff to understand your business and what you will do pinch that money. You want him to judge successful you."

The afloat play is up now — binge to find retired who walks distant pinch a life-changing investment!

Related: Watch nan New Season of 'Elevator Pitch'