Dallas Mavericks Owner: Mark Cuban Had Millions at Failed Silicon Valley Bank

Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and millionaire investor in Silicon Valley Bank, was among those affected by Friday's collapse of the bank. With millions in his pocket, Cuban is just one among many tech entrepreneurs and investors whose fortunes were decimated.

SVB's failure has had a devastating effect on businesses and employees around the globe, from winemakers in California to startups in Europe. No matter their situation, all are scrambling for ways to stay afloat while they await word on how their deposits will be handled.

1. Chef Big Shake

In May 2011, Shawn Davis (Chef Big Shake) made an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank to pitch his business idea. He hoped to receive $200,000 for 25 percent ownership in CBS Foods, a restaurant that makes shrimp burgers.

He believed that by pitching on the show, he could attract other investors who would back his shrimp burgers. Furthermore, he hoped the exposure would boost sales of his product and enable him to expand his company.

Before his appearance on the show, Chef Big Shake had sold less than $30,000. Now his restaurant chain has grown to $5 million in sales and his signature shrimp burgers have become a hit with diners everywhere.

His journey to this point is truly inspirational. At age 12, he began cooking professionally under Gio Palermo's guidance in a professional kitchen. This experience transformed him, not only because of his love of food but also fuelled his ambition to start an organization that gives back to its community.

Over his career, he has worked at numerous restaurants, such as C.J. Palermo's in Fire Island, NY where he began as a dishwasher and quickly rose through the ranks to head chef. Ultimately, he decided to open his own restaurant called Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish in Franklin.

After his appearance on the show, he received dozens of calls from potential investors who saw his company's potential. Ultimately, he secured over $500k in private investments from individuals who believed in his shrimp burgers.

Chef Big Shake's shrimp burgers eventually found their way into grocery stores nationwide, and Cuban regrets not investing in his business venture. Ultimately, though he wasn't offered an offer by the Sharks, his company became hugely successful and now sells millions of units annually.

Since his appearance on the show, Cuban has offered Big Shake advice and remains a fan of his shrimp burgers. He even provided Big Shake with his cell phone number so if ever needed for any assistance, they can contact him directly.

2. Y Combinator

Y Combinator is one of the world's most renowned and effective accelerator programs. It has supported thousands of entrepreneurs, transforming how we travel, learn, play, transport goods, move money and cure illnesses.

Established in 2005 by Paul Graham, Y Combinator has become a mainstay of Silicon Valley's startup ecosystem. To date, they have funded more than 2,000 startups and produced 100 companies worth $150 million or more.

This program is renowned for its three-month curriculum that emphasizes entrepreneurship and software technology development. They also offer startup funds and mentorship to early-stage founders.

With YC's growing program, they now offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to assist startups from conception through pre-IPO. This includes products like Startup School, Work for a Startup, cofounder matching and Continuity - which assists startups in crafting their business model and strategy.

Though YC's program is less established than some of the top-tier venture capital firms, its network effects are becoming stronger as it grows. It has organized its portfolio into cohorts and connects them through internal tools such as "Bookface."

This network of startups is known as the YC Ecosystem and it includes accelerators, venture capital firms and incubators sponsored by YC.

In the past, entrepreneurs have found great support through YC Ecosystem and it will continue to do so as it expands. Entrepreneurs can turn to it for legal guidance, equity structure issues, VC introductions and hiring needs.

In the early days, YC offered startups a $150,000 convertible note as part of its program. This provided founders with their initial round of funding.

YC now provides two rounds of seed funding for startups. These typically go to businesses that have been active for less than one year, allowing YC to get a comprehensive view of the business.

Another program, the YC Growth Program, provides additional funding for startups that are growing at a faster rate than expected. This initiative is targeted at founder-CEOs of small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

3. Overture Life

Cuban has earned a reputation for being disruptive, but he also has a heart of gold when it comes to philanthropy. He has a history of helping those in need with food, shelter and mental health services; even paying off the debts of former Dallas Mavericks players and aiding his mother during her recovery from illness.

He's a serial entrepreneur who has amassed millions of dollars throughout his career. He owns multiple businesses and runs the NBA's Dallas Mavericks franchise. Additionally, he hosts a reality show called Shark Tank which airs on ABC.

In 2017, Cuban invested in Overture Life, a company that develops femtech automation technology for desktop embryology labs. Their flagship product is NaturaLife, which can perform non-invasive genetic embryo testing, egg freezing and embryo vitrification according to established best practices.

Launched in November 2019, this device automates manual processes that occur throughout the fertility process to eliminate disparities between clinics and lower costs for artificial insemination. At present, around 60 multidisciplinary specialists work at this startup across software development, microfluidics, robotics and embryology.

Recently, the company raised $15 million in a Series B round led by Octopus Ventures and GV, increasing its fundraising total to $37 million. This round also saw additional investments from existing investors Khosla Ventures and Felicis Ventures.

One of Cuban's biggest projects is Cost Plus Drugs, which offers generic medications at a fraction of the price hospitals and pharmaceutical companies charge. With this business model, he hopes to become America's largest low-cost pharmacy provider.

Pharmacy services, unlike other health care services, are notoriously opaque and involve many middlemen. Cost Plus eliminates these middlemen by paying manufacturers only enough to cover their expenses - meaning drugs can be provided at a fixed markup of 15% plus shipping and fees.

In September, news spread that Cuban had helped Delonte West - a former Mavericks player who was panhandling at a gas station in Dallas - enroll in treatment for addiction. The story quickly went viral and inspired an outpouring of support from North Texans.

4. Co:Create

If you're a fan of Shark Tank or have ever watched an episode, Mark Cuban is likely familiar to you. As owner of the Dallas Mavericks and judge on the popular show, his presence is part of what defines modern culture today.

The billionaire owns entertainment properties such as movie distributor Magnolia Pictures and HD Net. He reportedly had millions at the failed Silicon Valley bank Voyager Digital, which was hit with a lawsuit alleging misleading customers into investing $5 billion into the business.

His successful investments have enabled him to amass a fortune, but Cuban's ultimate aim is to transform the world. In addition to running his businesses, he has invested in several social media companies and charities such as Y Combinator - a nonprofit organization.

He's an advocate of co-creation, the concept that companies should create and market products with consumer input - often leading them to innovative ideas of their own.

Cuban has found co-creation to be an invaluable tool in making informed decisions about his assets and businesses. He's also used it to gain a better grasp on his target demographic and learn how to effectively sell to them.

At a time when the 0.01% is becoming less optimistic about philanthropy, Cuban has found his own path to leaving an impactful legacy. He recently co-founded a drug company that could revolutionize the $365 billion prescription drug market.

He sought to eliminate the middleman, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who negotiate with drug makers on behalf of insurance companies and employers. PBMs are often accused of raising drug prices in order to maximize their own profits.

Cuban believes his new company, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs, can solve this issue. He sees it as a business he can run and wants to ensure its success.

To achieve this goal, he needed to be involved in the day-to-day. Therefore, he reached out to Dr. Alex Oshmyansky - a doctor with an innovative idea: eliminate the middleman and sell drugs directly to patients.

Cuban responded promptly and invested some money in the startup. Now he serves on the board and helps Oshmyansky develop the product. Cuban has been an enthusiastic supporter of the company's mission, and Oshmyansky says his involvement has given him a sense of belonging to the team.