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Daymond John

Daymond John

Daymond John is the founder and CEO of FUBU, a Shark Tank investor, and entrepreneur who co-hosted the 2024 How I Built This Advice Line episode to advise early-stage founders.

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Daymond John's Bio

Daymond John is a globally recognized entrepreneur, investor, and media personality best known as a mainstay investor on ABC's hit show Shark Tank. He is the founder of FUBU, the pioneering streetwear brand that reshaped global fashion, and a best-selling author, speaker, and advocate for small business owners and underrepresented founders. His work spans venture capital, brand consulting, and philanthropic efforts aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Born and raised in Hollis, Queens, New York, John launched his first business venture as a teenager, selling custom-sewn hats and clothing to local friends and community members. In 1992, he co-founded FUBU with a $40,000 seed investment, operating out of his small apartment and selling products door-to-door, at local flea markets, and out of the trunk of his car to build initial demand for the brand's hip-hop inspired apparel.

The FUBU founding story is defined by relentless grassroots hustle: John and his co-founders identified a glaring gap in the fashion market for streetwear that authentically represented the Black and hip-hop communities, and spent years building the brand through personal connections and community-focused marketing. Their big break came when they secured a $300,000 order from Macy's, which catapulted FUBU to national prominence and grew the brand into a $6 billion global enterprise over the next decade.

Today, John continues to invest in early-stage companies on Shark Tank, where…

Career Timeline

  • 1992Co-Founder of FUBU

    Co-founded the streetwear brand FUBU (For Us By Us) from his mother's home in Queens, New York, growing the brand from small-batch hat sales to a globally recognized apparel label with over $6 billion in cumulative retail sales.

  • 2009Core Investor on *Shark Tank* at ABC

    Joined the main cast of ABC's hit entrepreneurial reality series *Shark Tank* as a core investor, evaluating early-stage business pitches, providing capital and strategic mentorship to hundreds of small business owners and startups across 12+ seasons of the show.

  • 2015Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship

    Appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, tasked with promoting entrepreneurial culture and supporting small business growth across the United States and internationally.

  • 2016Bestselling Author of *The Power of Broke*

    Released his debut business book *The Power of Broke*, which outlines how limited financial resources can drive entrepreneurial innovation and success; the book debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Episodes

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