Five Sharks and Dig World founder Jacob on Shark Tank- image credit_ @sharktankabc
Probably everyone has looked at a construction site and thought to themselves, “Man, I wanna do that—it looks so cool!” It actually is cool, but not everyone can start lifting a bulldozer, or can they?
Jacob Robinson, co-founder of Dig World, has created a park where people can enjoy the experience of operating construction equipment. Jacob is from Katy, Texas, and he founded Dig World out of his son’s love for construction vehicles.
Will the Sharks also relate to the spirit of Dig World and offer an investment, or is Jacob going to return home empty-handed?
About Dig World
| Category | Details |
| Founder | Jacob Robinson |
| Product Type | Theme Park |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Self-funded |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 |
| Equity Offered | 10% |
What Happened on the Shark Tank Episode?
Jacob starts his pitch on Shark Tank Season 16 igniting a fun and nostalgic feeling from childhood. He takes sharks back to the memories of their childhood, when they used to get–like everyone else— very excited seeing construction work.
Robert reminds Mark that he has done a deal with a similar business, Extreme Sandbox. Jacob explains that it has a different model. Extreme Sandbox is only for adults, with equipment typically designed for a one-time experience.
When Jacob said that anyone over 32 inches can do everything in Dig World, Robert sarcastically added, “So Daymond can’t go?”
- The Sharks asked Jacob how long visitors can stay in the park, to which he replied that the experience lasts two hours for $24.99.
- Robert asked how much money it takes to set up a park. Jacob explained that it costs about $2.5 million to open a park with all the necessary equipment.
- They are not leasing the equipment but buying it so they can modify it for safety.
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What Makes Dig World Unique?
Dig World is a fun theme park with an amazing range of construction machines. It gives you hands-on experience while ensuring your safety. This is the time to live your childhood dream and get your hands on those construction truck wheels!
It is currently in Katy, Texas, but the founders plan to expand the venture nationwide.
- A safe opportunity to experience real construction work for everybody, it’s family-friendly.
- The theme park is a great way to spark your kid’s curiosity. They can operate machines on their own.
- There is a huge list of options to dig, drive, and explore.
- There are food and beverage options available as well.
- The best part is that everything comes with added safety measures.
- The ticket price is $24.99 per person.
Did Dig World Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
The Sharks asked Jacob about his business plan and background. He explained that he is a serial entrepreneur with nine years of experience in this field. He started working on this idea in 2019, but raising funds wasn’t easy.
- The Sharks asked about his sales. Jacob told them that last year they did $1.2 million, and this year they are on track to do a bit over $1.5 million.
- Daymond said that although he loves the idea, it will be a little tricky to find a suitable location for the park, so he is out.
- Robert says he loves fun ideas like this one, but his concern is how many franchisees it would take to raise $2.5 million today.
- The Sharks didn’t like the fact that they wouldn’t get any equity in Dig World One, only a share in the franchise.
- Robert offers $200K for a 10% stake in Dig World One and 10% of corporate franchisees.
Jacob finds the deal perfect and quickly says yes to Robert’s proposal.
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What Happened to Dig World After Shark Tank?
After their appearance on Shark Tank, and after Shark Tank’s social media post about Dig World, the business has witnessed a surge of new followers. And with this growing attention, they will surely see a boost in sales—and who knows, they might just go national as they aim to!
Google Trends data shows a sharp spike in searches for Dig World after its Shark Tank appearance, reaching a peak interest score of 100 shortly after the episode aired.
Where Can You Buy It?
You can buy tickets online through their website or purchase them on-site.
Quick Summary
- A construction site theme park, Dig World, is for everyone who finds machines and trucks intriguing.
- There are excavators to pick up dirt or different kinds of objects, and you can drive skid steers and UTVs.
- Jacob secures a deal with Robert.
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