"I love taking on giants" Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec discusses data management and expansion to the US

Robert Herjavec, the cybersecurity mogul and longtime investor on ABC's hit show Shark Tank said to The Wall Street Journal in a recent interview:

"I love taking on giants. I love the David vs. Goliath play"

The Emmy-award winner has recently pivoted from his cybersecurity roots to take on a new challenge in enterprise data management. This week, Robert Herjavec was appointed as executive director of global strategy at Zetaris, a data management company where he's also a minority investor.

The Australia-founded company, currently valued at $110 million, is positioning itself to compete with industry giants like Databricks, which boasts a valuation of $70 billion.

Known to millions as one of the shrewd investors on Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to secure funding, Robert Herjavec brings his competitive spirit and tech expertise to this new venture. After retiring last year as CEO of the cybersecurity company he founded in 2003 and sold to private equity in 2021, Herjavec is now focused on helping Zetaris expand its presence in the American market while challenging the status quo of how enterprises manage their data.

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What is Robert Herjavec’s current strategy with AI?

While many investors chase the latest AI startups, Herjavec is deliberately focusing on what he calls "the picks and shovels of the AI gold rush."

"Every wave of technology has a s*xy component that most people talk about. But I think underneath that, you have the infrastructure component that has a much longer tail," Herjavec explained in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Explaining:

"I'm an Eastern European old guy. Sexy doesn't work well for me, but longevity works well for me."

This approach mirrored his early career in cybersecurity when he focused on security infrastructure while others chased internet access and consumer applications. Herjavec sees data management as the essential foundation that will outlast the current AI hype cycle.

Zetaris distinguishes itself by offering technology that can query and analyze data wherever it resides – whether in the cloud or on-premises data centers. This flexibility addresses a critical pain point for enterprises facing the high costs of migrating massive datasets to the cloud.

Robert Herjavec isn't shy about challenging industry orthodoxy around cloud migration.

"I think the rush to the cloud is highly oversold," he stated frankly.

Declaring:

"I don't think all enterprises are going to automatically move all their data to the cloud."

This perspective forms the core of Zetaris' competitive advantage. While many data management platforms require companies to move their data from traditional warehouses to cloud-based data lakes, Zetaris developed technology that allows querying data regardless of location.

For companies wary of the expense and complexity of full cloud migration, especially as data volumes explode with AI applications, this approach offers a practical middle ground.

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Breaking into the American market and what that entails

Herjavec's role at Zetaris focuses on helping the Australian company break into the American market – a challenge he relishes.

"America is the most competitive market in the world. One thing I always loved about the American market is the brutality of it," he remarked.

Explaining:

"And there's a cultural element that you have to get your head around to compete at that level."

When asked what his "executive director of global strategy" title meant, Robert Herjavec joked:

"It's the title they give you when you're too old to actually have a job."

More seriously, he explained that his expertise lies in helping established companies scale internationally.

Vinay Samuel, Zetaris' founder and CEO, described securing Herjavec as "a dream" for the company's U.S. expansion plans. The company is preparing to raise at least $50 million in Series B funding this year.

Beyond his role at Zetaris, Robert Herjavec remains active in tech investing. Still, he takes a cautious stance on the current AI boom, believing the sector is experiencing a period of heightened speculation.

While he acknowledges that bubbles can still present opportunities, he emphasizes the importance of choosing the right areas to invest in. Looking ahead, he predicts the IPO market will reopen within the next 18 to 24 months as private equity firms seek exits for their investments.

As for Zetaris, Robert Herjavec maintains a strategic approach, recognizing that while all tech companies eventually go through an exit—whether through an IPO or acquisition—their current focus remains on building a strong and successful business rather than planning for an immediate sale.

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You can watch Shark Tank on ABC and stream it on Hulu.