Rob Merlino: Blogger, Writer, Entrepreneur & Foodie

Wild Squirrel Nut Butter was created in a college apartment by University of Oregon room mates and self-professed “accidental entrepreneurs” Keeley Tillotson and Erika Welsh. They bring Wild Squirrel Nut Butter, their line of quirky flavored, gourmet peanut butter into the Shark Tank on Friday, May 11. The pair “invented” their peanut butter on a […]

TriMi Tank jumped into the Shark Tank last Friday night. Entrepreneurs Lindsay Johnson and Nikki Bilski, two Pittsburgh hockey moms, didn’t get funding, but they are the most recent example of a Shark Tank success story. I spoke with Lindsay Johnson, she’s the one on the left, today to find out more about TriMi Tank and […]

Debbie Brooks is now a household name in my house. I must confess, I don’t follow the designer handbag scene personally, but my daughters were BLOWN AWAY that I spoke with Debbie! I asked some of the more fashionable Little League moms I know about Debbie, and when they found out I “met” her, they […]

Nardo’s Natural is a line of organic skin care products funded on the Shark Tank by Barbara Corcoran in season three. The four Mastronardo brothers started making their all natural products in their kitchen and have turned it into a booming business. I visited their offices to speak with Kyle (he’s the one on the […]

Nardo’s Natural is a line of organic skin care products funded on the Shark Tank by Barbara Corcoran in season three. The four Mastronardo brothers started making their all natural products in their kitchen and have turned it into a booming business. I visited their offices to speak with Kyle (he’s the one on the […]

How do I get on Shark Tank? It’s a question I get asked a lot. There are many small business people, inventors, and entrepreneurs who ask me this question either in person, on the phone, or via email. Even though I have never applied to be on the show (think the Sharks would fund this […]

Write a book next week! Ever wanted to learn how to write a book? The Sharks know the value of having a book and how it can build instant credibility and drive sales, leads and publicity for your business or brand. So why don’t you do it as well? In this free webinar you will […]

Shark Tank has a brand new show Friday, May 4! The Sharks in this episode of  Shark Tank are Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary. Four new entrepreneurs jump into the Shark infested waters to pitch their businesses to the wealthy investor panel. AirBedz is a heavy-duty air mattress that is designed […]

THIS IS A PICTURE OF JIM PITTMAN AirBedz is a heavy duty air mattress that fits into a pick up truck bed.  In the Shark Tank, Mark Cuban told entrepreneur James Pittman he needs to “get up off his ass and sell.” We also found tents that fit on the bed of your pick up […]

Show No Towels made Shark Tank history when Lori Greiner wrote entrepreneur Shelly Ehler a check on the spot when the show originally aired. Friday night, May 4, “Show No Shelly” returns to the Shark Tank as a featured entrepreneur in a follow up segment. Shelly was the first Shark Tank entrepreneur I interviewed for […]

Villy Customs allows consumers to custom design a bicycle online. Biking enthusiast and serial entrepreneur Fleetwood Hicks brings his custom bike business into the Shark Tank Friday, May 4. Villy Customs morphed out of Fleetwood Hicks’ brick and mortar bike shop in Dallas. He originally sold stock bikes, but over the years, he began adding […]

Boot Illusions is the brainchild of Queenie Davis and Andrew Goodrum. The pair brings their innovative shoe accessories that can turn any shoe into a boot into the Shark Tank this Friday night, May 4.  Will the Sharks bite on the Rochester, NY based business and their interchangeable footwear? As with any apparel related business, the obvious […]

SkyRide may be the single coolest business to enter the Shark Tank this season, or any season for that matter. Inventor Scott Olsen is no stranger to entrepreneurship, he invented Rollerblades! In fact, Roller Blade wheels are integrated into the SkyRide’s design. Olsen claims SkyRide is “developing the next breakthrough for the future of sustainable […]

Nardo’s Natural is a line of organic skin care products funded on the Shark Tank by Barbara Corcoran in season three. The four Mastronardo brothers started making their all natural products in their kitchen and have turned it into a booming business. I visited their offices to speak with Kyle (he’s the one on the right), […]

Nardo’s Natural, the organic skin care line produced by the four Mastronardo brothers in Clearwater, Florida was funded by Barbara Corcoran on the Shark Tank earlier this season. I spent half a day with Kyle, Danny and KJ Mastronardo. We went for hot dogs and I talked at length with Kyle on a variety of subjects. In […]

Mark Sullivan Generator. In the weeks before his segment aired on Shark Tank, I couldn’t find out a darn thing about him or his invention. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Once Mark Sullivan appeared on Shark Tank, he became easier to find. In what had to be one of the oddest segments […]

Debbie Brooks Handbags are yet another fashion related business entering the Shark Tank on Friday night. The eponymously named business has been selling custom made handbags for ten years. Debbie Brooks was schooled in art at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York and worked as a designer for Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Universal Studios […]

Nailpak nail polish is a product sold by Duality Cosmetics. Entrepreneur and mother of six girls, Barbara Lampugnale brings her patented NailPak nail polish , an all-in-one manicure system, complete with polish, pads, remover and file to the Shark Tank in hopes of expanding what appears to be a vibrant online business. My girls love this […]

Lollacup enters the Shark Tank this Friday. It is a spill proof, BPA free, toddler’s sippy cup, proudly made in the USA by entrepreneur Hanna Lim. Lim invented Lollacup to allow toddlers to transition from bottles to cups; she didn’t like the alternatives on the market, so she invented her own. Lollacup is for “the discerning […]

Trimi Tank is another clothing/accessories product to enter the Shark Tank seeking funding. The sharks may be in for a real fight: Trimi Tank is run by 2 Pittsburg hockey moms, Nikki Bilski and Lindsay Johnson. If these two gals are like the hockey moms I know, the sharks don’t stand a chance! Both mothers of […]