Highlights
- Seeking $200,000 for 10% equity, Yuki and Noah present Plufl as the first dog bed designed specifically for humans, promoting relaxation and comfort.
- Their Kickstarter campaign raised over $290,000, with strong positive feedback from beta testers, and they aim to capitalize on the growing trend of napping.
- After the show, they have expanded their product line and achieved significant sales growth, surpassing $4 million in lifetime sales by August 2024.
Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Plufl |
| Founders | Yuki Kinoshita, Noah Silverman |
| Industry | Home & Lifestyle |
| Product | Human-sized dog beds |
| Funding | Kickstarter, Shark Tank |
| Investment Ask | $200,000 |
| Equity Offered | 10% |
| Valuation | $2 million |
Yuki Kinoshita and Noah Silverman introduce the Sharks to Plufl, their human-sized dog beds for napping, in Shark Tank Episode 1405. The guys met while students at the University of British Columbia (they both graduated in 2022). They, like many other students, like to take naps throughout their day. It’s not always convenient to go back to the dorms to do so, so they’d look for comfy places to nap on campus. The problem was, there weren’t any. One day, they saw a dog sleeping blissfully on a dog bed when the idea struck them: a dog bed for humans.
They designed it to calmly lead you off to sleep. They claim the design helps with anxiety and ADHD to. The Plufls are made out of orthopedic memory foam. When napping in your Plufl, there’s a thick pillow border for you to tuck in your hands and feet. It’s lined with soft comfortable faux fur and its shape cradles you into a fetal position so you can peacefully drift off to sleep.
They got the business started with successful Kickstarter Campaign that raised $290,657 in May, 2022. As of the time they taped their segment, they hadn’t even delivered beds to any backers. When the show airs, they have products for sale on their website. The reviews from their beta testers are 100% positive and they’d like to make their product a must have for nap enthusiasts. With a Shark’s help, they just might do it.
Company Information
Video
Posts about Plufl on Shark Tank Blog
Plufl Shark Tank Recap
Yuki and Noah enter the Shark Tank seeking $200,000 for 10% of their company. They talk about craving a cozy nap. They unveil the Plufl and say it’s the first dog bed for humans while explaining the features of the product. The Sharks are chuckling. Robert comes onstage to try it out; he thinks it’s comfortable. Mark tries next and he likes it too.
When they tell the Sharks it costs $399, they’re taken aback. It costs $140 landed. They did over $280,000 on Kickstarter and another $130,000 since. So far, they have not delivered product – they just started the manufacturing process. Noah tells the Sharks how he got the inspiration for the Plufl from a napping Great Dane in a coffee shop where he worked. He googled “dog beds for humans” and found nothing. The guys partnered with a local designer to build the first prototype. People on their campus were lining up to try out the prototype.
Emma wants to know why people are buying this. Mark and Robert defend the product. They put a video on Tik Tok and it went viral causing a flood of emails. After making contact with people, they spoke to mothers of kids with sensory issues, people who’ve suffered physical trauma and people who suffer from a range of sleep issues. They expect to deliver product from late November to early December on orders taken from March and April (2022). The reason they haven’t delivered is because they take two months to make and two months to ship. They want a Shark to help them reduce their lead time.
Did Plufl Get A Deal?
Kevin thinks the idea is crazy and that’s why he likes it. He offers $200,000 for 30%. Lori talks about her and Mark’s investment in Hug Sleep. Mark says he uses his every night. Lori says Hug Sleep has $15 million in sales in 2 years. Noah says Hug Sleep inspired them. The guys have filed for patent protection and they’ve filed for trademarks for “Plufl” and “the dog bed for humans.”
Lori walks over to Mark and they start talking. Robert doesn’t see it, it’s not for him – he’s out. Noah explains they have orthopedic memory foam pads. Emma doesn’t understand who’s buying it, she’s out. Mark says he and Lori want to make an offer because it’s a great compliment to Hug Sleep. He and Lori offer $200,000 for 20% – 10% each. They counter with $200,000 for 15%. Mark says no. After a brief conference, they take Mark and Lori’s deal.
Plufl Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. In December, 2022, just a few months after their original air date, the deal with Mark and Lori did not closed. They’ve sold over 3000 units, but they’re on a pre-order basis for January 2023 due to high demand. The guys also moved to a fulfillment facility in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. When the pre-orders arrive, the guys are going to rent a U-Haul and hand deliver them!
Fast forward to August, 2023 – 10 months after the original air date – and the guys are no longer in pre-order mode. Their website says US orders will arrive in 3-7 business days after ordering while international orders “may take longer.” They’ve also dropped the price down to $350. In 2022, they had sales of $1 million.
They introduced 2 new products. The Hugl, a cooling pillow to put in your bed, and a cooling fitted sheet for the Plufl. In 2023, they won a House Beautiful Live Better Award. As of August, 2024, they’ve sold over 12,000 Plufls; that translates to around $4 million in lifetime sales.
The Shark Tank Blog will follow-up on Plufl & Yuki Kinoshita and Noah Silverman as more details become available.
