# Fireside Chat, Q&A and "Stern Tank" with Mark Cuban

NYU Stern’s [Entertainment, Media and Techology (EMT) program](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/interdisciplinary-initiatives/entertainment-media-and-technology-program) and [W. R. Berkley Innovation Labs](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers/innovation-labs/entrepreneurship) hosted entrepreneur, investor and ABC “Shark Tank” judge [Mark Cuban](http://markcubancompanies.com/) for a fireside chat with Professor [Greg Coleman](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/greg-coleman), a Q&A with the Stern community and a first-ever “Stern Tank,” featuring three NYU startups.

![Left to right: Professor Greg Coleman, Mark Cuban, Professor Cynthia Franklin, Dean Raghu Sundaram](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-1.jpg)
*Left to right: Professor [Greg Coleman](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/greg-coleman), Mark Cuban, Professor [Cynthia Franklin](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/cynthia-franklin), Dean [Raghu Sundaram](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/leadership/nyu-stern-dean-raghu-sundaram)*

Following a welcome by NYU Stern Dean [Raghu Sundaram](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/leadership/nyu-stern-dean-raghu-sundaram), remarks by Professor Coleman and an introduction by MBA student and teaching fellow Sarah Kim, Professor Coleman amd Cuban covered a number of topics, ranging from the sale of Cuban’s first venture, MicroSolutions, what he looks for in prospective investments and how to identify and create business opportunities.

![Professor Greg Coleman and Mark Cuban in Paulson Auditorium](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-2.jpg)
*Professor [Greg Coleman](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/greg-coleman) and Mark Cuban in Paulson Auditorium*

Cuban emphasized that the way entrepreneurs are perceived today is changing, underscoring the importance of a social component in new entrepreneurial ventures in addition to treating employees well. He shared that his strength lies in paying attention to and learning as much as possible about new technologies and applying them in ways that others have not yet attempted. Looking to the future, he pointed to AI as a force potentially more influential than the Internet.

![Entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-3.jpg)
*Entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban*

After an introduction by Professor [Cynthia Franklin](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/cynthia-franklin), director of entrepreneurship at the W. R. Berkley Innovation Labs, three NYU startups presented their businesses to Cuban for his feedback: Josh Sakhai (BS ’18) of [Ephemeral](https://www.ephemeraltattoos.com/), Kobi Wu (MBA ’15) of [VisuWall](https://visuwall.com/) and Christopher Mitchell (NYU Courant PhD ’15) of [Geopipe](https://geopi.pe/). Cuban talked through each venture’s business model and shared his recommendations.

![Josh Sakhai (BS ‘18) of Ephemeral, a company developing tattoos that disappear over time](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-4.jpg)
*Josh Sakhai (BS ‘18) of Ephemeral, a company developing tattoos that disappear over time*

![Kobi Wu (EMBA ‘15) of VisuWall, a platform that allows landlords to offer empty storefronts to advertisers](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-5.jpg)
*Kobi Wu (EMBA ‘15) of VisuWall, a platform that allows landlords to offer empty storefronts to advertisers*

![Christopher Mitchell (NYU Courant PhD ‘15) of Geopipe, a company creating digital models of the real world built by algorithms](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-6.jpg)
*Christopher Mitchell (NYU Courant PhD ‘15) of Geopipe, a company creating digital models of the real world built by algorithms*

![Mark Cuban](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/images/EMT-_-1.29.19-_-Pitch-Possible---Mark-Cuban-Event-_-Article-7.jpg)

See a selection of social media posts from the event below: > "The path of least resistance is always the best way because you can iterate, you can learn..." Insights from [@mcuban](https://twitter.com/mcuban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) during tonight's Stern Tank! [\#nyuinnovation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nyuinnovation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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> — Ideas Never Sleep (@nyuinnovation) [January 29, 2019](https://twitter.com/nyuinnovation/status/1090391772772163584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Amazing to hear insights from [@mcuban](https://twitter.com/mcuban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) tonight with Prof [@GregBuzzFeed](https://twitter.com/GregBuzzFeed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) at [@NYUStern](https://twitter.com/NYUStern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). I am going to use this advice: each person brings a unique skill set and find what you love to do. Perfection is the enemy of profitability. [\#NYUStern](https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYUStern?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [\#DigitalMediaInnovation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalMediaInnovation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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> — Rachel Levy (@PreyingMantis02) [January 30, 2019](https://twitter.com/PreyingMantis02/status/1090458251513262081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Prof Cynthia Franklin, director of entrepreneurship at [@nyuinnovation](https://twitter.com/nyuinnovation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) kicks off "Stern Tank" [\#DigitalMediaInnovation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalMediaInnovation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/a6EDLlOS6c](https://t.co/a6EDLlOS6c)
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> — NYU Stern (@NYUStern) [January 29, 2019](https://twitter.com/NYUStern/status/1090386115721347072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> "One line to remember: perfection is the enemy of profitability." We'll keep that one, [@mcuban](https://twitter.com/mcuban?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)! ✔️ [\#nyuinnovation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nyuinnovation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Ideas Never Sleep (@nyuinnovation) [January 29, 2019](https://twitter.com/nyuinnovation/status/1090388020816171014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPdGyunBxy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading)
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> [View this post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPdGyunBxy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading)
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> [Last class, amazing class, thanks @mcuban for coming to speak @nyustern tonight.....very lucky class (and the other 700 people that attended)!](https://www.instagram.com/p/BtPdGyunBxy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading)
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> A post shared by [ greg c](https://www.instagram.com/gregbuzzfeed/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading) (@gregbuzzfeed) on Jan 29, 2019 at 6:11pm PST

Business and Policy Leader Events

— 1/29/2019

![](/sites/default/files/styles/480w/public/assets/images/kmc-flags-close.jpg?itok=JVd0fApq)## Learn more

- [Entertainment, Media and Technology (EMT) program](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/interdisciplinary-initiatives/entertainment-media-and-technology-program)
- [W. R. Berkley Innovation Labs](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers/innovation-labs/entrepreneurship)