When Sharks Collide: Robert Herjavec Meets Abdallah Sallam

What happens when the worlds of Shark Tank US and Shark Tank Egypt finally meet?

In an exclusive for StartupScene in Cairo, we brought together Robert Herjavec, investor and longtime Shark on the hit American show Shark Tank, with Abdallah Sallam, President & CEO of Madinat Masr and one of the leading faces of Shark Tank Egypt.

Together, they sat down for a wide-ranging conversation about startups, instincts, risks, deals that got away, and what it really means to back a founder. The chemistry was instant. The stories? Unfiltered. And the insights? Worth taking notes.

From Robert’s reflections on investing in founders who “have something to prove,” to Abdallah’s take on what makes a startup scale in the MENA region, this wasn’t your average media interview. It was a genuine peer-to-peer exchange between two business minds who know what it means to put skin in the game.

They talked candidly about what sets the Egyptian ecosystem apart, how entrepreneurs in emerging markets pitch differently, and why venture capital is as much about pattern recognition as it is about gut instinct. There were laughs, eye rolls, comparisons, and shared lessons from opposite sides of the globe - filmed right here in Cairo.

This exclusive conversation marks a rare moment: the crossover of two global formats, two distinct markets, and two investors who rarely get a moment to just talk. No timers. No pitches. Just two sharks comparing notes - and giving us a front-row seat.