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Just a point about Shark Tank and similar shows: the actual meeting is a lot longer than the ~6 minutes that they show you. Some go on for hours, and they just cut to the interesting bits, so that 30 sec shot clock thing is often just theatrics, they've been discussing things for a while and know before whether they're gonna say yes.

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I learned this recently, the most interesting part of which was that the founders stand silent in front of the investors for at least a few minutes while the lighting and sounds and such are set.

I wonder, don't you think the shot clock offer is real even though they've been talking longer than we've seen?

It might be kinda real, but I think it's a lot easier to see coming and prepare for than the show implies. I've only watched the last two seasons of shark tank, but from what I remember the offer always seems to come out of left field, Mark doesn't appear interested and then he suddenly makes an offer. I don't think it's usually like that, but it makes for some great television.

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