CowPots Shark Tank | Season 16
Amanda Freund pitches CowPots on “Shark Tank,” featuring a special ‘cow’ guest. (Image Credit: @cowpotsgirl)
Do you think peat pots are the ultimate solution for biodegradable planting containers? You might be mistaken. In Season 16 of “Shark Tank,” CowPots’ co-owner introduces an innovative alternative: 100% biodegradable pots made from composted cow manure.
Amanda Freund, co-owner and manager of CowPots, is a dairy farmer. CowPots is one of her family’s three businesses, which have been featured in Forbes. The pots are crafted from manure produced on their farm, promoting a sustainable process.
Will the sharks be interested in growing some money in their biodegradable pots?
About CowPots
| Category | Details |
| Founder | Matthew Freund |
| Product Type | Biodegradable plant pots |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Self-funded |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 |
| Equity Offered | 10% |
What Happened on the Shark Tank Episode?
During her pitch, Amanda explains that while manure has traditionally been used as fertilizer to help grow crops, dairy farms often produce an excess. She humorously notes the abundance of manure, prompting Shark Mark Cuban to joke, “I could top that!” eliciting laughter from the room.
- Amanda introduces a unique element to her pitch by bringing along an inflatable cow. She explains that CowPots are crafted from digested and composted manure combined with recycled newspaper and cardboard. She asserts that CowPots are “the only American-made renewable and recyclable container that is 100% biodegradable.”
- The production cost for a pack of 12 CowPots is $1.30, and they are sold to distributors at $2.60. The company primarily operates through distribution and direct-to-business sales. Retailers purchase them for $6.15. Amanda highlights that while peat pots are a leading biodegradable option, peat is harvested from bogs that require approximately 100 years to regenerate..
- CowPots has achieved lifetime sales of $3.5 million, with annual revenues between $300,000 and $400,000. They project a profit margin of 40% for the current year.
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What Makes CowPots Unique?
Using biodegradable pots over plastic ones is a responsible choice. However, there are many other biodegradable pots, so what makes CowPots so special? The farmer-invented pots do wonders.
- These pots improve the root health of the plant that grows in them.
- The roots of the plant can penetrate through the walls of the pot, allowing air pruning.
- Since, the root health is better, plants grow to be healthy too.
- When you want to transplant the plant, you can just put the pot in the soil itself.
- These 100% biodegradable pots break down in the soil with the passage of a single growing season.
- They are a great replacement for the pots that leave behind plastic waste or the less durable ones made from recycled paper.
- They have 15 different styles of plantable pots. They are completely waste-free.
- CowPots are made from renewable composted manure in Connecticut and don’t need shipping like the coconut fiber ones.
Did CowPots Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Daniel tells Amanda that she is an impressive entrepreneur, but these aren’t the areas where he thinks he could add value. So he tells her he won’t make an offer.
Mark says what Amanda has accomplished is great, but she needs to break through the ceilings of expectations when it comes to sales. For that reason, he goes out.
Lori and Barbara say that the field of business does not align with them, therefore they won’t be making partners with her. However, they are impressed with the entrepreneur.
Kevin makes an offer of $200k for 25% of the company. The entrepreneur counters for 20%, but Kevin denies it. He offers money in exchange for 22.5%. After a little negotiation, they make a deal for 20% equity for $200k.
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What Happened to CowPots After Shark Tank?
The Shark Tank Blog keeps track of the businesses that appear on Shark Tank. We provide updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs and the company, as well as anything that happened after the show. Shark Tank has posted about CowPots on social media. Now, the business is getting noticed by many people online.
According to Google Trends, CowPots is increasingly being searched ever since their episode went live.
Where Can You Buy It?
CowPots are plant pots made from manure! They’re good for the environment and help plants grow strong. You can plant the whole pot, so your plants don’t get shocked when you move them. Buy them online from their official website. You can get them from platforms like Amazon, green house megastore, or arbico-organics.
Follow them on Instagram or Facebook for more gardening tips.
Quick Summary
- Co-owner Amanda Freund comes on Shark Tank with her family business, CowPots, seeking investment.
- CowPots are made from renewable, composted manure, and they are 100% biodegradable.
- The entrepreneur makes a deal with Shark Kevin for $200K in exchange for 20% equity.
