Rapper Nicki Minaj and actor Dean Cain are set to participate in a “Shark Tank”-style event at the White House this month, where five American entrepreneurs will vie for a portion of a $1 million prize pool.
The competition will take place in Washington, DC, on September 18, featuring a live pitch session before a celebrity panel and an audience, as stated by the Small Business Administration.
Viewers will be able to watch the event, which will be broadcast on television and streamed online, with more information on viewing options to be revealed soon, according to an SBA representative.
In addition to Minaj, private-equity mogul Grant Cardone and Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and now the chief design officer for Trump, will serve as judges for the finalists.
Dean Cain, known for portraying Superman in the 1990s series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” will host the event.
“Having notable entrepreneurs like Nicki Minaj, Grant Cardone, Joe Gebbia, and Dean Cain will certainly heighten the excitement of this landmark celebration of free enterprise as we conclude our Million Dollar Pitch Competition,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler in a statement.
She went on to mention that each participant brings a valuable real-world perspective, having built recognizable brands and businesses, along with innovative solutions.
This competition was initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year as part of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary and drew entries from across the nation.
Clover, a payment processing company, is sponsoring the $1 million cash prize pool.
All finalists will receive a monetary reward, with the top winner getting $400,000. The other places will receive $250,000, $150,000, $125,000, and $75,000, respectively.
The finalists are Compotech, Inc. from Brewer, Maine; Winton Machine from Suwanee, Georgia; Plas-Tech Tooling from Garner, Iowa; Red River from Gillette, Wyoming; and VetPowered LLC from San Diego, California.
This event echoes Trump’s earlier reality show “The Apprentice,” where business hopefuls competed for job placements and investments in their ventures. The show aired for 14 years and significantly boosted Trump’s public profile prior to his unexpected election win in 2016.
Currently, Gebbia is involved with the Trump administration while Minaj, Cardone, and Cain have expressed their support for the president publicly.
Back in January, Minaj referred to herself as Trump’s “number one fan” and committed a substantial amount of money to support his tax-advantaged investment accounts for children.
At a Black History Month event this past February, Trump praised Minaj, remarking on her beauty and appearance, specifically thanking her for her long nails.
This isn’t the first unusual event hosted by Trump at the White House since he returned to office in January 2025; in June, he held a UFC Freedom 250 event featuring mixed martial arts fighters competing on the South Lawn.
