Join us for an incredible Shark Tank Networking Event. This unique gathering brings together a panel of successful entrepreneurs who have appeared on the renowned television show Shark Tank. These industry leaders will share their firsthand experiences, offering invaluable insights into the art of pitching and what this type of opportunity can mean for other businesses. Learn tips for effectively preparing for any business showcase, trade show, or investor presentation.
This event is FREE to residents of West Side communities. To register, email dana@thehatcherychicago.org
About the Moderator:
Rachel Gillman Rischall founded Three PR in 2017. Rachel is a hyper-curious and engaged communicator, Rachel has an innate passion for finding, crafting and sharing compelling stories. A proficient local and national media relations expert — with extensive freelance writing experience — Rachel is well-versed in collaborating with journalists and driving press coverage. Rachel manages relationships with clients across industries, including hospitality, packaged goods and food technology. She leads PR programs, drives strategic media relations, manages events and provides internal communications counsel. Rachel is a highly connected PR professional with 20 years of agency and client-side experience, ranging from startup concepts to global brands.
About the Panelists:
Loree Sandler, Founder of Let them Eat Candles in 2012. Loree, a Chicago-area architect and mom was disappointed by the look and functionality of generic, mass-produced wax candles, Sandler enrolled in classes at Chicago’s French Pastry School and The Chocolate Academy, designed custom chocolate molds and packaging, and launched a product both familiar and entirely new.
Featured on the Food Network’s Chopped Sweets, on Good Morning America, in BuzzFeed, and The Washington Post, Martha Stewart referred to Let Them Eat Candles as “unique and creative.” In March of 2024, Sandler (and her partner/husband, Bob Michelson), hugged and shook hands for a deal with Lori Greiner on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Michael Pan launched Pan’s Mushroom Jerky (Pan’s) in 2018. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is a plant-based snack made of shiitake mushrooms with a delicious umami taste and satisfying meaty texture, all inspired by his family’s recipe.
After discovering a recipe that had been in his family for decades, Michael knew that his family had something special, and he needed to share it with the rest of the world. Michael’s enthusiasm for developing this product never waned. For months he developed, tested and iterated on his family recipe from his home kitchen. Today, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is available in over 3,000 stores in the United States such as Kroger, Whole Foods, and Natural Grocers. They also sell direct-to-consumer via Pan’s e-commerce platform, Amazon, and other online platforms. Pan’s appeared on Shark Tank in late 2020 and secured a deal with Mark Cuban.
Ashley Thompson, Co-Founder and CEO of MUSH, ready-to-eat oats, made with clean ingredients. Ashley co-founded MUSH in 2015 with the conviction that easy, delicious, and nutritious food can elevate the world in powerful ways. She began her career as a trading analyst, and like many others in finance, started each day with a run. Realizing that nutritious food was hard to access, even on Wall Street, her discovery journey began. Today MUSH is the leading brand in its category, powered by a small but mighty team of passionate individuals who love to help others feel, think, and do better.
