A Columbus entrepreneur is taking her homegrown business to a national stage.
Megan Pando, founder of Makers Social, will appear on ABC’s Shark Tank on Jan. 14, pitching her interactive makerspace and bar to the show’s panel of celebrity investors. The episode is scheduled to air from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Pando launched Makers Social in 2020, just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic upended small businesses across the country, according to a press release. The Columbus-based concept combines hands-on DIY projects, including jewelry-making, leatherwork and woodworking, with craft cocktails and a social atmosphere, turning a night out into a creative experience.
“I started this business just a month before the pandemic hit, making the launch of Makers Social one of the most challenging experiences of my life,” Pando said in a press release. “Receiving the invitation to appear on Shark Tank was a surreal and deeply gratifying moment. I’m proud to represent Columbus on a national platform.”
Pando moved to Columbus in 2014 with the goal of building businesses rooted in creativity and community.
Shortly after arriving, she opened Studio 614, a paint-and-sip studio in Clintonville. That venture helped shape the vision for Makers Social, which expanded on the idea of guided creative experiences by offering a broader range of projects and a full bar.
Makers Social positions itself as a place where people can gather, learn new skills and connect. This unique approach has gained traction as locals seek more interactive entertainment options. Pando’s appearance on Shark Tank also highlights Columbus’ growing reputation as a launchpad for creative, community-driven businesses.
Pando’s episode will show whether the Sharks see the same potential in Makers Social that customers in Columbus have embraced.
Makers Social is based in Columbus at 461 W Rich St. and operates as an interactive makerspace and bar.
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus ‘maker’ and entrepreneur set to appear on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’
Reporting by Amani Bayo, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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