Inside Tim Draper’s ‘Meet the Drapers’ Pitch Show Experience
▼ Summary
– Six entrepreneurs pitched their businesses on the rooftop of MCM studios in Manhattan for the eighth season of Tim Draper’s “Meet the Drapers” show.
– April Wachtel, founder of Cheeky Cocktails, participated after being invited by a producer and described the experience as a whirlwind with huge exposure for startups.
– The show travels to various U.S. cities to highlight local talent and features a judging panel including Tim Draper, his sister Polly Draper, Andy Tang, and Rosie Rios.
– Founders like Sujana Chandrasekhar and Hilary Taylor praised the show for its broad audience reach, storytelling focus, and help in simplifying complex pitches for mainstream viewers.
– Draper is expanding his media empire with DraperTV, digital twins of himself, and Draper University, aiming to showcase future innovations and entrepreneurial stories.
The air was still atop the MCM studios building in Manhattan last week as six determined entrepreneurs took the stage to present their business ideas. Among them stood April Wachtel, making her case for Cheeky Cocktails to a panel that included billionaire venture capitalist Tim Draper. Television cameras circled her during the pitch, broadcasting the moment live for Draper’s popular business competition series “Meet the Drapers,” now entering its eighth season. Past winners have included leadership platform Balloon and food brand It’s Skinny.
Wachtel later described the experience as a “whirlwind,” emphasizing the incredible exposure the show offers startups like hers. Cheeky Cocktails produces a line of handcrafted cocktail mixers. After placing second in another pitch competition earlier in the month, she was contacted by a “Meet the Drapers” producer and found herself filming the show less than two days later. “There’s no substitute for hearing a founder tell their own story,” she noted. “Often, customers first buy because they connect with you personally, then they stay because they genuinely love the product.”
Last Monday, the show invited media and special guests for a behind-the-scenes look at its production process. Draper explained his goal was to pull back the curtain on how investment decisions unfold in real time. Joining him on the judging panel were his sister, actress Polly Draper, known for her role in “Hacks”; Andy Tang, a partner at Draper Associates; and Rosie Rios, former Treasurer of the United States.
“Meet the Drapers” is now featured on Draper’s recently launched television channel, DraperTV, which focuses on business and entrepreneurship content available through streaming platforms like Roku. The show previously aired on BizTV and similar networks. This season, the program is touring multiple U.S. cities, including Tuscaloosa, Austin, and Detroit, to spotlight local talent and diverse tech ecosystems.
Wachtel was among six founders featured in the New York episode. Winners from each city advance to the semifinal round, culminating in a grand finale held in San Francisco where contestants compete for a $1 million investment prize. Draper shared his vision for the show: “We wanted people everywhere to witness the dynamic between entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and understand why this relationship is so powerful for creating jobs, wealth, and economic energy worldwide.”
The program blends entrepreneurship with entertainment, a combination viewers clearly enjoy. Draper’s charismatic presence and self-deprecating humor set the tone, while investors offer sharp insights and founders share ambitious visions. Participants come from varied ethnic, gender, and professional backgrounds, representing a wide array of industries.
Sujana Chandrasekhar, founder of medtech startup KivviMed, also appeared after being recommended through the same New Jersey pitch event as Wachtel. Chandrasekhar admitted feeling unusually nervous given the show’s large audience. KivviMed is developing a medical device designed to relieve ear pain. “I stayed focused on delivering my message and answering questions as clearly as possible,” she said. The production team helped refine her pitch, provided a brief New York tour for the founders, and offered hair and makeup services that made her feel prepared and confident. “The visibility our company and mission receive is outstanding,” she added, explaining her reason for joining.
Hilary Taylor, founder of electric vehicle infrastructure startup WattsUp, expressed similar enthusiasm. She learned about “Meet the Drapers” through the Techstars Alabama Accelerator, where her company currently participates. Taylor described the show as both engaging and demanding, noting that storytelling is just as important as the business details. “You have a very short time to connect with both the judges and the audience,” she explained. “That means simplifying complex technology for mainstream viewers while still sounding credible to seasoned investors.” She appreciated how the format helps early-stage founders reach audiences outside the tech bubble. “Unlike the formal atmosphere of many venture capital pitch meetings, this one had candid, funny, even silly moments that felt authentic and surprisingly enjoyable.”
“Meet the Drapers” represents just one segment of Draper’s expanding media footprint. A third-generation investor, Draper founded Draper Associates in the 1980s, a firm that backed giants like Tesla, Skype, and Twitch. His children have also entered the venture capital arena: Jesse Draper founded Halogen Ventures, and Adam Draper launched Boost VC.
Draper’s ambitions for his tech and startup media network are substantial. DraperTV hosts several programs, including “Draper Decentralized,” covering AI and web3; the “Can’t Be Done” podcast on emerging technology; and “Talk with Tim,” where Draper shares his views on business and tech trends.
He is also experimenting with digital twin technology, AI-generated versions of himself capable of interacting with people and even conducting interviews. Draper believes digital twins will play a growing role in entertainment, media, and news, though he acknowledges humans will remain central to news creation. “I’ve created five digital twins so far,” he revealed. “One of them is even set up to interview historical figures like Karl Marx.”
Beyond television, Draper continues to operate Draper University, a program known for using unconventional techniques to train entrepreneurs for the challenges of the startup world. An earlier reality series based on the university, “Startup U,” was canceled after one season, but Draper hasn’t abandoned the concept. “We’ve done remarkable things with entrepreneurs here, producing compelling videos and powerful stories,” he said.
Draper firmly believes the innovations showcased by today’s founders will define the coming decades. On “Meet the Drapers,” audiences get an early look at emerging fields, from the future of sports betting and advancements in drug discovery to upcoming transformations in electric vehicle infrastructure. “While several networks report on current events,” Draper observed, “we’re focused on the story of the next 15 years.”
(Source: TechCrunch)