Dos Pueblos High School economics students entered the world of business with the return of DPHS’ Shark Tank on Monday.
Inspired by the ABC show of the same name, Shark Tank arose out of student interest as a way to introduce students to the challenges of starting a business.
“When we were talking about what it looks like to ask for capital and secure investors, it was the pop culture reference that came out,” DPHS economics teacher Alison Bogatz said. “We thought it would be the easiest way to get the most people involved.”
DPHS’s Shark Tank debuted in May 2025 during the Econ Fair and returned for the first time on Monday in the Elings Performing Arts Center, ahead of the Econ Fair on Dec. 19.
Each group of students starts with $30 to fund their businesses and pitch their products to a panel
(Lucas Trexler)
of teachers and staff to secure additional funding. While students cannot keep their product’s profits themselves, they can choose where the extra money is donated.
“Students aren’t allowed to individually profit, because then that becomes other structural issues,” Bogatz said. “Giving them a chance to at least utilize the funds is something that we’re moving forward with this year.”
Each group is allowed to present their products however they want, in order to emulate the real world of business.
“In a real business structure, there are people who are getting up and selling, and some people who are made for numbers,” Bogatz said. “Some people think it’s really fun, and some people think it’s really scary, but [with] both sides of the coin, there’s a community aspect and a real-world aspect.”
Student products will be sold during second period and lunch around the Greek Theater on Friday, Dec. 19.
