'Shark Tank' star in Detroit Thursday for biz pitches

Daymond John of the TV show "Shark Tank" will be in Detroit on Thursday to help judge the Miller Lite Tap the Future competition for entrepreneurs.

Five teams have reached the semi-finals and will compete for $20,000 and the chance to continue to the national finals, where $200,000 is the prize.

None of the five are from Michigan.

Also on the panel of business experts hearing the pitches are Jill Ford, the city of Detroit's head of innovation and entrepreneurship for the City of Detroit, and Ben Lamson and Su Sanni, co-owners of the crowdfunding platform for nonprofits WeDidIt.

John, best known as the founder and president of the clothing brand FUBU, was in Detroit in May for the Michigan Minority Procurement Conference and Opportunity Fair. He's been on the ABC show since 2009.

In a 'Shark Tank' twist Thursday, entrepreneurs ask star questions.

See coverage of past Shark Tank-style shows in Detroit

The public is invited to attend the Miller Lite Tap the Future pitch sessions; the event begins at 7 p.m. at the Garden Theater. Attendees must be 21 or older and RSVP at www.MLTapTheFuture.com.

The judges also will hear business pitches form three randomly selected audience members who'll get free advice and $500.

"Businesses are built on dreams and we want to celebrate the people chasing theirs," the Miller Lite Tap the Future Web site reads.

Other semi-finals are being held in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia and the winners from those cities, along with Detroit's will face off for the grand prize in September, according to contest organizers.

The semi-finalists competing this week are:

ManScore, Downers Grove, Ill. -- a mobile app for men

Therapals, Sidney, Ohio -- a free social network and activity center for children with special needs

Jail Education Solutions, Chicago -- a learning program for inmates

Candle With a Cause, Columbus -- custom candles for not-for-profits to use as fundraisers and awareness boosters

Miracle Novelty/The Munchkin Stand, Menomonee Falls, Wis. -- step-ladders for children

Contact Zlati Meyer: 313-223-4439 or zmeyer@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @ZlatiMeyer