Entrepreneurs Pitch Business Ideas to Investors During Utah Filming of 'Meet the Drapers'

Five entrepreneurs, four with University of Utah ties, competed for a $1 million investment on the 'Shark Tank'-style show.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:52pm

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A group of hopeful entrepreneurs, including four with ties to the University of Utah, took turns pitching their business ideas in front of venture capitalists and an audience during a live recording of 'Meet the Drapers' on the University of Utah campus on Friday. The 'Shark Tank'-style show, created by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, featured entrepreneurs competing for investments, with the winner receiving a $1 million investment.

Why it matters

The event highlights the thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Utah, which Draper has been actively involved in supporting through initiatives like the annual Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. The exposure and potential investment from 'Meet the Drapers' could be life-changing for the participating startups, helping them scale their businesses and make a greater impact.

The details

The five entrepreneurs who pitched their ideas were Kristina Schiffman, founder of UV Sense; Victor Gill, CEO and co-founder of Trace Air Quality; Elizabeth Jeffrey, founder and CEO of Breath of Life; Josh Litwack, founder and CEO of Quantizr; and Val Emanuel, co-founder and CEO of Rif Care. After the pitches, deliberation, and Q&A, Rif Care was chosen as the winner, meaning Emanuel and Rif Care will move on to compete in the semifinals, with the potential to receive the $1 million investment in the finale.

  • The live recording of 'Meet the Drapers' took place on Friday, March 21, 2026 at the University of Utah campus.
  • Rif Care was announced as the winner, advancing to the semifinals.

The players

Tim Draper

Silicon Valley venture capitalist who created the 'Meet the Drapers' show.

Kristina Schiffman

An undergraduate at the University of Utah who founded UV Sense, a wearable device that helps people track their real-time UV exposure.

Val Emanuel

Co-founder and CEO of Rif Care, an innovative period care brand making premium and accessible menstrual products with upcycled hemp fiber.

Wasatch Global Investors

A Salt Lake City-based investment firm that Draper helped launch, which was the state's first venture fund.

Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

An annual statewide student business competition sponsored by Draper that sees teams from universities across Utah compete for $75,000 in prizes and awards.

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What they’re saying

“The main cause of skin cancer is sunburn. We're intervening before a sunburn occurs.”

— Kristina Schiffman, Founder, UV Sense

“One million (dollars) would be life-changing for us. I always think about how many more women we could help. If we raise $600,000, and we'd be able to help 20,000 women, I think we can help 100,00 women with a million dollars and then from there, help a million women.”

— Val Emanuel, Co-founder and CEO, Rif Care

“I am a big fan of Utah. Entrepreneurship here is just thriving. I'm definitely glad that 'Meet the Drapers' America came to Salt Lake.”

— Tim Draper

What’s next

If Rif Care advances through the semifinals, it will compete in the finale, where the winning pitch will receive a $1 million investment.

The takeaway

The 'Meet the Drapers' event in Utah showcases the state's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and the potential for local startups to gain national exposure and access to significant investment opportunities, which could help them scale and make a greater impact.