Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Is Judging a Brigham and Women’s Hospital Event

Kevin O’Leary on the set of Shark Tank. Photo provided by ABC.

When he’s not telling hopeful entrepreneurs, “You’re dead to me!” after the contestants say no to a proposed deal on the set of ABC’s Shark Tank, Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, is traveling the world doing speaking engagements, making deals with his lucky pen, and spending time with his family. But, when he comes to Boston, he gets to stay in his favorite of house of them all, a brownstone on Marlborough Street in the Back Bay.

O’Leary will get to eat at his favorite restaurant (Grill 23) and conduct business meetings at his favorite table at the Taj next week when he’s in town to host Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s (BWH) Shark Tank event Wednesday, June 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eight finalists—all scientists at BWH—will each have five minutes to pitch their research ideas to O’Leary and a team of other “Sharks” comprised of O’Leary; co-host Christine Seidman, director of the Brigham Research Institute; other members of BWH research leadership; business leaders; venture capitalists; and investors.

The judges will select up to four winners, who will each receive $50,000 to advance their innovative research projects. The event is open to the BWH community as well as the public, and the audience will also have a chance to vote to see how their selections compare with the judges’.

The ideas that will be pitched will cover everything from “high-tech poop” to Alzheimer’s-resistant brains. The eight finalists were selected from a large group of applicants and have already gone through two rounds of “rigorous scientific review” by BWH faculty. The finalists will be presenting for five minutes each, followed by a five minute Q&A with the judges. Only “Sharks” can ask questions during this time; the audience will not be allowed to do so.

The event is co-sponsored by the Brigham Research Institute and Brigham Innovation Hub of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. You can sign up to attend here.