Tim Draper Partners with TikTok for New Season of "Meet the Drapers"

Venture capitalist Tim Draper’s international pitch competition, “Meet the Drapers,” is teaming up with TikTok as it gears up for its seventh season. This new partnership will let entrepreneurs pitch their startups through TikTok's short-form videos. Viewers will have the chance to vote for their favorite pitches via a landing page on the app, culminating in a livestreamed pitch review on TikTok. The top four finalists from this process will then face off on the show in front of judges, with the chance to win a $1 million investment from Tim Draper.

For TikTok, this collaboration is a strategic move to enhance its image as a supporter of small businesses amid ongoing discussions about its status in the U.S. market. It also allows TikTok to showcase its educational tools and resources. On the flip side, “Meet the Drapers” stands to gain increased visibility through TikTok’s massive user base.

Unlike shows like “Shark Tank” that have brought pitch competitions into the mainstream, “Meet the Drapers” has a sharper focus on tech entrepreneurship. Draper himself emphasizes the show’s aim to find transformative innovations rather than more niche or incremental products. “We’re not interested in something like a new gum scraper or bikini company,” Draper says. “We’re looking for groundbreaking ideas that will change the world in the next decade.”

The TikTok episodes will likely spotlight consumer technology, aligning with the platform’s audience and its technological focus. This marks the first time “Meet the Drapers” has collaborated with TikTok. Previously, the show has been available on various platforms, including its own website and YouTube, where it attracts an average of half a million views per episode. The show has a global reach, with filming locations including Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Denmark, Taiwan, and Silicon Valley, reflecting Draper’s belief that great entrepreneurs can come from anywhere.

Draper views the show as a way to promote entrepreneurship worldwide, spreading the message in a viral manner. The eighth season, which will feature the TikTok partnership, is set to follow the seventh season, which has already been filmed. Guest judges for the TikTok episodes have yet to be announced.

Entrepreneurs interested in being featured will need to submit 30- to 60-second videos showcasing their business ideas on TikTok by September 7. Finalists will be selected and participate in a live streamed pitch review from September 25-27, with the winner announced on September 30.

In addition to the $1 million grand prize, Draper often allocates additional funds for participants, with second place receiving $500,000 and third place $250,000. Historically, Draper sets aside around $2 to $3 million annually for investments. Last year’s investments included a half-million dollars for the runner-up and $250,000 for other notable participants. Past winners include Boxabl, Vivoo, CancerFree Biotech, and other innovative startups.

Draper has made approximately 35 to 40 investments through the show to date. His investment portfolio also includes high-profile companies like Baidu, Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, SpaceX, and many others.