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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Money & Work • Investor

Robert Herjavec

Robert Herjavec is a Croatian-born Canadian entrepreneur, investor, television personality, and cybersecurity executive.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Robert Herjavec is a Croatian-born Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and television personality best known for his role on *Shark Tank* and his cybersecurity ventures.

What it is

Herjavec built a career in cybersecurity, founding BRAK Systems (sold to AT&T Canada for $30.2 million in 2000) and later the Herjavec Group, now Cyderes. He became a household name as a long-time investor on ABC's *Shark Tank* and also appeared on Canada's *Dragon's Den*.

Why it matters

Herjavec represents a successful Canadian tech entrepreneur who crossed over into mainstream media, influencing both business and popular culture. His story highlights the path from immigrant roots to building major companies and shaping investment trends.

Key details

Born in Varaždin, Croatia (then Yugoslavia) in 1962, he moved to Canada as a child. He is married to Kym Johnson Herjavec and is described by ABC as a leading cybersecurity expert and executive producer on *Shark Tank*.

In short

  • Founded BRAK Systems and the Herjavec Group (now Cyderes).
  • Regular investor on *Shark Tank* since 2009.
  • Also appeared on Canada's *Dragon's Den*.
  • Croatian-born Canadian citizen.
Canadian angle

Herjavec is closely associated with Canadian business and media: he moved to Canada as a child, founded Canadian technology firms, and became a familiar face on *Dragon’s Den* and *Shark Tank* for Canadian audiences.[1][4][12]

Quick questions

Who is Robert Herjavec?
A Croatian-born Canadian entrepreneur, investor, cybersecurity executive, and TV personality best known for *Shark Tank*.
What companies did Robert Herjavec found?
BRAK Systems and The Herjavec Group (now Cyderes).
Was Robert Herjavec on Dragon's Den?
Yes, he appeared on the Canadian version of the show.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Herjavec
    Supports: Founding of BRAK Systems, sale to AT&T Canada, founding of The Herjavec Group.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Robert-Herjavec
    Supports: Herjavec as entrepreneur and investor; long-time panelist on Shark Tank.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2891294/bio/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, spouse, and family details.
  4. ABC — https://abc.com/cast/22f00795-4263-4ed3-b279-e0b8852dc864
    Supports: Shark Tank role, cybersecurity profile, founding of Herjavec Group, international Shark/Dragon appearances.
  5. Robert Herjavec official website — https://robertherjavec.com/about/
    Supports: Self-description as entrepreneur, investor, speaker, CEO of Cyderes, and involvement with Shark Tank and Dragons' Den.
  6. Investopedia — https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/101615/how-shark-tanks-robert-herjavec-made-his-money.asp
    Supports: Immigration to Canada, business career overview, Canadian citizenship, and wealth context.