Shark Tank panel kick off: ‘For Christ’s sakes, it’s my money’

THERE’S no love lost between tech guru Steve Baxter and his fellow Shark Tank sharks — grab the popcorn because this gets heated.

ONE shark in particular bares his teeth in this week’s episode of Shark Tank, with tech start-up guru Steve Baxter firing up at the rest of the panel in heated exchanges throughout the show.

In an explosive episode that will also see the highest investment in Shark Tank history, Baxter wins no friends among the panel as hopeful contestants make pitches that could change their lives forever.

Steve Baxter doesn’t make any friends in tonight’s episode.

Entrepreneur Heather, the owner of a hand-churned butter business, makes her pitch and outlines her vision to make her humble enterprise grow. Her modest goals do little to impress Baxter, who describes her pitch as “gutless.”

But when fellow shark and RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson offers Heather her deal, Baxter can’t resist another dig: “That’s not a bad deal ... except it comes from Naomi,” he tells her.

As another contestant makes his pitch later in the episode, Baxter reserves even harsher criticism for fellow Shark and veterinary expert Dr Glen Richards.

If looks could kill.

“If you are after some cat food … you ask Glen,” Baxter tells the contestant.

“So if you want to take a business that sells pigs ears and have it sell a lot more pigs ears, then Glen’s your bloke.”

As the sharks fire up, squabbling among themselves, Baxter snaps: “I am speaking! I am speaking! For Christ’s sakes, it’s my money and I’m here to talk to the bloke.”

Watch the full, fight-filled Shark Tank episode tonight, 8:45pm on Ten.