When Mike Gutow came on Shark Tank to make a deal for his company, Legacy Shave, his heartwarming story made the judges cry, and he scored big. Based on the Japanese format Dragon's Den, Shark Tank is an Emmy-winning reality series in which aspiring inventors pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful entrepreneurs called the Sharks. These Sharks include Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, and Robert Herjavec, and they're not afraid to pull any punches if they don't like a product or business plan.

But what makes Shark Tank compelling are the contestants who go on the show to make their dreams come true. Many of these ambitious business owners come from humble backgrounds and have put lots of work and money into their products but need the help of the Sharks to take them to the next level. Over 16 seasons, hundreds of contestants have made deals,...