Business & Money • Investor

Robert Herjavec

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

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Robert Herjavec is a Croatian-born Canadian entrepreneur, investor, television personality, and cybersecurity executive. He is best known for founding technology companies, including BRAK Systems and the Herjavec Group, and for appearing as an investor on *Shark Tank* and *Dragon’s Den*.

Early life

Herjavec was born in Varaždin in 1962, when the city was part of SFR Yugoslavia, and later moved to Canada. Biographical profiles describe him as Croatian-Canadian.

Business career

He built his reputation in cybersecurity and technology, first through BRAK Systems and later through the Herjavec Group. Sources describe the company as a major Canadian cybersecurity firm and note that it was later renamed Cyderes.

Television career

Herjavec became widely known to television audiences through *Shark Tank*, where he has been a long-time investor and executive producer. He also appeared on *Dragon’s Den* in Canada and other international versions of the franchise.

Public profile

He is also marketed as a speaker and business figure, with profiles emphasizing entrepreneurship, investing, and cybersecurity. Public biographical sources also identify him as a media personality.

Key facts

Herjavec founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian Internet security software integrator, and sold it to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30.2 million.
He founded The Herjavec Group in 2003; the company later became known as Cyderes.
He has been a regular investor on ABC’s *Shark Tank* since the show’s debut in 2009.
He has also appeared on the Canadian version of *Dragon’s Den*.
ABC describes him as a leading cybersecurity expert and executive producer on *Shark Tank*.

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Canadian context

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]

Frequently asked questions

Who is Robert Herjavec?

He is a Croatian-born Canadian entrepreneur, investor, cybersecurity executive, and television personality best known for *Shark Tank*.

What companies did Robert Herjavec found?

He founded BRAK Systems and later The Herjavec Group, which is now known as Cyderes.

Why is Robert Herjavec famous?

He is known both for building cybersecurity businesses and for serving as an investor on *Shark Tank*.

Was Robert Herjavec on Dragon’s Den?

Yes. ABC and his own biography state that he appeared on the Canadian version, *Dragon’s Den*.

Where was Robert Herjavec born?

He was born in Varaždin, which was then part of SFR Yugoslavia and is now in Croatia.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Herjavec
Supports: Founding of BRAK Systems, sale to AT&T Canada, founding of The Herjavec Group.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/money/Robert-Herjavec
Supports: Herjavec as entrepreneur and investor; long-time panelist on Shark Tank.
IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2891294/bio/
Supports: Birth date, birthplace, spouse, and family details.
ABC — https://abc.com/cast/22f00795-4263-4ed3-b279-e0b8852dc864
Supports: Shark Tank role, cybersecurity profile, founding of Herjavec Group, international Shark/Dragon appearances.
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.
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.