Credit: NuMilk Facebook
Highlights
- Shark Tank is a showcase of high-stakes business deals and entrepreneurial dreams.
- In its history of 14 seasons, the show has featured a range of groundbreaking investments and dramatic negotiations.
- It has enticed viewers with these monumental deals that capture the excitement and unpredictability of the business world.
Set to arrive with its 16th season, Shark Tank is the latest buzzword in the reality TV industry. With every new season, viewers are intrigued to know about the list of Sharks and new deals, wondering if they could be better than ever before. But are you curious about which are Shark Tank’s biggest deals?
Well, the list is endless. In its fifteen-year history, the Sharks have encountered a variety of products belonging to diverse industries. Some have managed to grab their instant attention to the extent that they have invested hefty amounts in those businesses.
Here is a detailed list of the three biggest deals in Shark Tank history:
1. Ten Thirty One Productions
With a final offer locked at $2 million for 20% equity, Ten Thirty One Productions promptly finds its spot on the list of Shark Tank’s most significant deals.
Have a peek at its appearance on the show:
Melissa Carbone, the founder of Ten Thirty One Productions, approached the Sharks seeking an investment of $2 million for 10% of her business. She entered the tank with her group of actors and presented a small skit involving ghosts, witches, and other scary creatures.
Discussing her company further, she stated that it created, owned, and produced live attractions in the horror space. The most popular attraction was the Los Angeles Haunted HayRide, which included demonic forces, lost souls, and psychopathic fun.
Despite the spooky ambience created by this pitch, Kevin funnily stated that the scariest part was the valuation. Melissa justified this by saying that the LA Haunted HayRide earned $1.8 million in 17 nights with a $600K profit in October. The Sharks were impressed.
So who made the offer?
Melissa revealed her plans to start a NY Haunted HayRide in the coming year by setting up 10 Horror Camps on the West Coast. Kevin still wasn’t happy with the valuation and marked himself out. Robert believed that she wouldn’t accomplish her project sales figures; he was out. Next was Lori, who thought the same and opted out of investing.
Daymond made the first offer of $2 million at 40% equity. Melissa then made a counteroffer of $2 million at 20% equity; Mark was ready to take it. The deal was locked, emerging as one of the biggest ever in Shark Tank’s history.
After this, they made $2 million in sales and reached a total of 1000 cast members across venues. They also eventually expanded to New York.
However, things took a significant halt in 2016 when one of its team members was injured. A lengthy lawsuit followed, and the business was acquired by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group in 2018.
2. NuMilk
Seeking a massive $1 million investment with a 5% equity stake, NuMilk’s founders created quite the buzz on Shark Tank. The deal was finalized at a staggering $2 million for 10% equity.
NuMilk founders Joe Savino and Ari Tolwin presented the idea of ‘dairy-free milk at the push of a button.’ Mentioning that the other alternatives in the market were highly processed, they pitched their milk-making machines to the Sharks. Based on the choices provided, you can make your favorite milk by simply touching the buttons.
Emphasizing their focus on promoting plant-based diets and zero-waste lifestyles, they stated that their milk was completely organic. The almond milk was made from fresh almonds sourced from Spain, and the chocolate milk included a blend of cacao, vanilla bean, and maple.
Who was in for the deal?
The Sharks tried the samples and loved them. But Barbara said she couldn’t understand anything about their pitch and was out. Daymond gave a similar reason and didn’t make any offers. Lori felt the business wasn’t investable, so she opted out of the investment.
Kevin expressed his apprehensions regarding the capital investment but still offered a $1 million loan at an interest of 1.5% for three years, along with a 5% equity share. Mark believed Joe and Ari would make a million in sales of the countertop units, but cash was an issue.
So he offered $1 million for a 7% equity stake alongside an optional loan of $1 million for 3% interest. But if they denied taking the loan, he wouldn’t take the extra 3%. The entrepreneur-duo liked the offer and said yes to it.
The latest update about NuMilk is that its lifetime sales have surpassed $55 million, and its annual sales revenue is nearing $13 million.
3. Zipz
With a gigantic investment of $2.5 million for 10% equity, the Zipz deal is hands down the biggest deal in Shark Tank’s history.
Here’s all you need to know:
Presenting a potent solution to drinking wine on the go, entrepreneur Andrew McMurray approached the tank, pitching his company Zipz. Stressing upon the aspects of ‘packaging’ and ‘licensing,’ Andrew explained how his brand stood out amongst competitors. Knowing that Kevin is inclined towards wine-based businesses, he smartly started his pitch trying to captivate his attention.
He further highlighted the product’s key differentiators, including its durability, recyclable outer wrap (a UV protectant), and longer shelf life. Each glass costs $2.99.
Who was keen to make the offer?
Though impressed, the Sharks wanted to know how Zipz differed from Copa Di Vino. Andrew replied that it’s due to its one-year shelf life. Kevin then asked him about the patent, and he answered that he’d sold $130K in licensing fees. He further argued with him regarding the pricing of the product. While they were still talking, Mark was out.
Kevin and Andrew then started discussing COSTCO. But the other Sharks marked themselves out one after the other. Seeing this, Kevin told him that he would have to lower the price to get the deal. Andrew agreed, and the offer was sealed at $2.5 million for 10% equity, contingent upon getting into COSTCO. Along with this, Kevin asked for an option to buy another $2.5 million of equity for the same valuation.
Although the deal with Mr Wonderful closed, and he’s actively working with Zipz on the licensing part, the company left the wine business in 2016.
Conclusion
Shark Tank has witnessed many impressive deals in the history of reality TV shows. It presents an array of ingenious products and entrepreneurial spirit. As it continues to evolve with each season, entrepreneurs view it as a powerful platform that can help transform their ambitious ideas into successful realities.
References
1. Melissa Carbone, Wikipedia
Entrepreneur, auteur, raconteur. Rob Merlino is a blogger and writer who enjoys the Shark Tank TV show and Hot Dogs. A father of five who freelances in a variety of publications, Rob has a stable of websites including Shark Tank Blog, Hot Dog Stories, Rob Merlino.com and more.
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