Founder of Dig World · Keynote Speaker · Shark Tank Deal Recipient

Dream Bigger.
Lead Braver.
Find Joy in the Valley.

From 248 investor rejections to a Shark Tank deal to multiple theme parks across the country — Jacob Robinson challenges audiences to choose imagination over fear and build something meaningful with their one life.

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248Investor no's

1 DealShark Tank

BookedAcross the US

ABCShark Tank

Watch

Podcast, Speaker Intro & Full Keynote

Podcast Appearance01

Jacob Robinson — Podcast Interview

Hear Jacob share the unfiltered story behind Dig World, 248 rejections, and the mindset that keeps him going.

Speaker Intro02

Jacob Robinson — Speaking Reel

Two minutes. The full picture. See why event planners keep calling Jacob back.

Full Keynote03

Jacob Robinson — Live Keynote

Watch a complete keynote performance and experience firsthand the energy, story, and transformation Jacob brings to every stage.

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The Story

A Dream Born
in the Valley

In 2017, Jacob's son Pierce contracted bacterial meningitis and became permanently disabled. Life changed overnight. The path forward was unclear, the weight enormous — and yet Jacob and his family made a choice that would define everything that followed.

Instead of shrinking back, they chose to dream bigger. Pierce loves heavy equipment — bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks. So Jacob decided to build a place where kids, and kids at heart, could experience that joy firsthand. That dream became Dig World, a one-of-a-kind construction-themed amusement park.

The road to opening wasn't easy. Jacob heard “no” 248 times. Investors passed. Doors closed. But he kept showing up. Then came the call from ABC's Shark Tank — and Jacob walked onto that stage and walked off with a deal.

But the real victory wasn't the deal. It was daring to dream again when the valley felt deepest. That story is what Jacob brings to every stage, every room, and every audience he speaks to.

“The valley isn't the end of the story… instead it can be where the dream starts.”
— Jacob Robinson

Ready to bring this story to your stage?

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Jacob Robinson speaking on stage in front of an audience

Keynote Themes

What Jacob Brings
to Your Stage

Groups Jacob Loves Speaking To

Leadership·Faith·Healthcare·Entrepreneurs·Sales·Students·Executives

Finding Joy in the Valley

A keynote on resilience, purpose, and choosing joy under pressure

What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan? Jacob shares the raw, real story of his family's valley moment — and how it became the catalyst for their greatest breakthrough. This talk reshapes how audiences see adversity.

Key Takeaways

How to reframe hardship as a doorway, not a dead end
The difference between surviving and choosing to truly live
Practical tools for finding meaning when the path disappears
Why your story — even the painful parts — is your greatest asset

Operate from Imagination, Not Memory

A keynote on entrepreneurial thinking and breaking past-based limits

Most people build their future using the blueprints of their past. Jacob challenges that. Drawing on 248 investor rejections and an unconventional path to Shark Tank, he shows audiences how to step into a future that hasn't existed yet.

Key Takeaways

Why memory-based thinking keeps you stuck — and how to escape it
The mindset shift that turned 248 rejections into a Shark Tank deal
How to pitch, persuade, and persist when nobody believes in your vision
Building a culture that invents rather than inherits

Walk With Elephants

A keynote on courage, presence, and the life you're not living yet

Elephants don't hurry — they move with intention, presence, and power. Jacob uses this metaphor to challenge audiences to stop rushing past their own lives and start walking with the kind of deliberate courage that changes everything. Find big people doing big things — and then walk with them.

Key Takeaways

How to stop sleepwalking through your own story
The cost of playing it safe — and why courage is always worth it
The art of networking
What it looks like to bet on yourself before anyone else does

Jacob customizes every talk to your audience, industry, and event goals. All keynotes are available as half-day or full-day workshops.

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Jacob Robinson — entrepreneur and speaker

100k+Lives Impacted

MultipleTheme Parks Across the Country

Meet Jacob

From the Valley to
the Shark Tank Stage

Jacob Robinson is an entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Dig World — a construction-themed amusement park that gives kids and families a hands-on experience operating real heavy equipment. What started as a father's love letter to his son became one of the most unique family entertainment concepts in the country.

After his son Pierce was permanently disabled by bacterial meningitis in 2017, Jacob channeled his grief into action. He envisioned a place where children of all abilities could climb into an excavator, move earth, and feel the power of building something. With nothing but an idea and relentless determination, he set out to make it real.

He pitched Dig World to 248 investors and heard “no” every single time. He kept going. When the producers of ABC's Shark Tank came calling, Jacob walked onto the most high-pressure stage in business — and walked off with a deal. The exposure that followed accelerated Dig World's growth and cemented Jacob's reputation as someone who turns adversity into opportunity.

Today, Jacob brings that same energy to keynote stages across the country. He speaks to leaders, entrepreneurs, youth organizations, and corporations who need more than a motivational speaker — they need someone who has truly lived the message he delivers.

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Dig World — Jacob Robinson's construction-themed amusement park

Dig World — Where Imagination Meets Heavy Equipment

Recognition & Reach

Brands I've Worked With

Featured on ABC's Shark Tank — walked in with a dream, walked out with a deal.

What They're Saying

Audiences Don't Forget
a Jacob Robinson Talk

You could feel his passion and purpose in every moment he spoke. Our group walked away inspired and ready to think bigger.

Event Host

He brings the audience from tears to laughter as he shares his leadership journey — including presenting on Shark Tank.

Event Host

Every time I've invited him to speak — whether to teams, leaders, or organizations — he delivers far beyond expectations.

Event Host

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Ready to Inspire
Your Audience?

Jacob brings the kind of story that changes how people think — about their circumstances, their capacity, and their future. Let's find the right fit for your event.

Reach out directly

jacob@digworldnation.com

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Corporate Keynotes·Leadership Conferences·Youth Events·Faith Communities·Sales Kick-offs·Workshops