Shark Tank's Herjavec Bets Big on AI's 'Third Wave' with Lovelytics

ARLINGTON, Va. – February 26, 2026 – In a significant move that bridges celebrity investment acumen with the complex world of enterprise technology, Robert Herjavec, the renowned technology entrepreneur and star of ABC's Shark Tank, has made a strategic investment in Lovelytics. The AI-focused data and analytics consulting firm also announced that Herjavec will join its Board of Directors, signaling a deep partnership aimed at accelerating the company's already impressive growth.

The investment positions Herjavec to work closely with Lovelytics CEO Scott Love, lending his considerable experience to shape the firm's go-to-market strategy, elevate its brand, and navigate its next phase of expansion. For Lovelytics, a firm that has distinguished itself as the market-leading services partner for the data and AI platform Databricks, the partnership is a powerful endorsement from one of technology's most visible and successful figures.

The 'Third Wave' and the Data Bottleneck

Herjavec's rationale for the investment centers on a concept he calls the "third wave of AI." This perspective moves beyond the initial hype and subsequent application development to focus on the most critical, and often most challenging, layer: infrastructure.

"We are currently in the third wave of AI. The first was the hype, the second was the applications, but the third, and most important, is the infrastructure wave," Herjavec stated. "I've seen thousands of companies struggle with the same bottleneck: they have the data, but they can't get it ready for AI."

This observation cuts to the core of a challenge paralyzing countless organizations. Industry analysis supports this view, showing that while the global AI consulting market is projected to surge past $50 billion by the early 2030s, many enterprises are hitting a wall. They possess vast, fragmented data stores but lack the foundational architecture to clean, organize, and prepare that data for sophisticated AI models. This data-readiness gap is the primary friction point preventing businesses from translating AI potential into tangible business value.

Herjavec's investment is a direct bet on the company he believes is best equipped to solve this problem. "I joined the Lovelytics board and invested because they are the best at using the Databricks platform to remove that friction, turning data into something any business user can actually use to win," he explained, adding with his signature confidence, "And, after all, from 20+ years on Shark Tank - I know a good investment when I see one!"

A Standout Player in a Crowded Field

Herjavec's choice of Lovelytics is far from arbitrary. The firm has carved out a dominant position within the highly competitive Databricks partner ecosystem, which includes global consulting giants like Accenture and Deloitte as well as a host of specialized boutiques. Lovelytics has consistently differentiated itself through deep expertise and proven results.

The company's momentum is undeniable. It nearly doubled its sales year-over-year in 2025 and has been recognized as a Databricks Partner of the Year for four consecutive years across various categories. In a significant show of confidence in 2023, Databricks' own investment arm, Databricks Ventures, made Lovelytics its first-ever investment in a consulting implementation partner, a powerful validation of its strategic alignment and execution capabilities.

This rapid ascent includes a dramatic expansion from just 50 employees to over 340 in three years, bolstered by strategic moves like the January 2025 acquisition of Datalytics. That acquisition expanded its footprint into Latin America and Europe, creating a global pure-play Databricks powerhouse serving enterprise clients in sectors from energy and retail to healthcare and manufacturing.

Beyond Capital: The Herjavec Playbook

The partnership promises more than just a capital injection. Herjavec brings a well-honed playbook for scaling technology service businesses, forged through his experience building Herjavec Group from a startup into one of North America's largest cybersecurity firms. This hands-on operational expertise is precisely what Lovelytics sought in a strategic partner.

"Robert isn't just an investor. He's someone who has built and scaled technology businesses and understands what it takes to go from where we are to where we're going," said CEO Scott Love. He highlighted Herjavec's track record and his focus on people as key assets. "Beyond his incredible operational track record with growing a services firm, Robert brings an employee-first mentality, and will help us continue to invest in our team and continue to make Lovelytics a destination employer for the best AI and Databricks talent in the market."

Herjavec's role on the board will involve direct collaboration on brand positioning and market strategy, helping Lovelytics articulate its value proposition to a broader audience of C-suite executives who are increasingly tasked with delivering on their organizations' AI ambitions.

Accelerating AI with Proprietary Solutions

At the heart of Lovelytics' success is its ability to translate complex data architecture into accelerated business outcomes. The company achieves this not only through top-tier consulting talent but also through a suite of proprietary tools and solution accelerators, known as "Brickbuilders."

These accelerators are designed to solve specific, high-impact industry problems on the Databricks platform. For example, its 'Gridlytics AI' solution helps utility companies integrate siloed systems for real-time grid management, while another accelerator provides a structured, tool-assisted pathway for enterprises migrating from Snowflake to Databricks—a common and complex technical challenge.

These repeatable solutions for industries like healthcare, gaming, and professional sports allow clients to bypass months of foundational development and move directly to production AI. This focus on tangible, accelerated value directly addresses the infrastructure bottleneck Herjavec identified, solidifying the company's reputation as an indispensable partner for enterprises serious about leveraging their data to win.

With the backing of a seasoned technology mogul and a clear leadership position in a critical market segment, Lovelytics is poised to not only ride the 'third wave' of AI but to become one of the key forces shaping its direction for enterprises worldwide.