Steven Bartlett joins Shark Tank as guest investor for Season 18

British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett has joined Shark Tank as a guest investor for Season 18, bringing his investment expertise from the BBC’s Dragons’ Den to the American business reality show. The 33-year-old founder and investor announced the appointment in July 2026, marking a significant expansion of his media and business influence across the Atlantic.

Bartlett will appear alongside a star-studded lineup of guest investors, including YouTube creator MrBeast, actress and producer Mindy Kaling, and NFL player J.J. Watt. The Season 18 cast also includes sister producers Erin Foster and Sara Foster, along with entrepreneur Jeffrey Housenbold, CEO of MrBeast’s Beast Industries.

A modern glass-walled television studio set with multiple camera rigs, bright studio lighting, and empty chairs arranged in a semicircle facing a central pitch area, ready for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas — tension.

Bartlett’s appointment reflects his established track record as an investor and entrepreneur. He co-founded Social Chain, a social media marketing agency, at age 21, becoming a millionaire by 23. Since joining Dragons’ Den in 2021, he became the youngest ever Dragon on the BBC show at age 28, and has invested in more than 100 companies across sectors including health, wellness, and technology.

Beyond his investment work, Bartlett hosts The Diary of a CEO, Europe’s leading podcast, which has become a major platform for business interviews and entrepreneurial insights. His media presence and investment portfolio position him as a key voice in the creator economy and startup funding landscape.

For Shark Tank Season 18, the show is also expanding its permanent cast. Jewelry entrepreneur Kendra Scott and venture capitalist Rashaun Williams, who previously served as guest Sharks, are stepping into expanded permanent roles. The season features the returning permanent Sharks—Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, and Kevin O’Leary—alongside the new guest investor lineup.

A close-up of a handshake between two business professionals across a polished wooden desk, with financial documents and a pen visible, symbolizing a deal being struck in a corporate setting — power.

Sources

ABC Press Release — announced Shark Tank Season 18 cast with Steven Bartlett and guest Sharks on July 7, 2026
USA Today — reported guest Sharks lineup including Bartlett, MrBeast, and Mindy Kaling for Season 18
Wikipedia — confirmed Bartlett’s background, Dragons’ Den role since 2021, and Shark Tank appointment in July 2026
BBC Dragons’ Den — verified Bartlett joined in Series 19 and became the youngest ever Dragon at age 28