Credit: Daymond John, Facebook
Highlights
- Shark Tank Premiered on ABC on August 9, 2009.
- From AVA The Elephant to College Foxes Packing Boxes, find out the hits and misses from the pilot episode.
- The pilot episode saw five pitches brought by entrepreneurs from different industries.
Shark Tank has been enticing its viewers since 2009. With a total of 14 episodes in the first season, the show earned a massive fanbase in no time. Even the producers were unsure if they could continue after Shark Tank Season 1 and never imagined it to become so big.
Here’s a quick flashback into the Shark Tank Season 1 Pilot Episode:
Five prominent business figures, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, and Kevin Harrington were the ones who began the legacy of Shark Tank. They played the role of investors on the show who listened to the pitches brought to them by budding entrepreneurs.
If impressed, they decide whether or not to invest money in their business.
The concept was new for both the Sharks and the entrepreneurs, so the decisions made were not very calculated. Today, both these groups have the benefit of looking back at previous seasons’ episodes and learning from their mistakes.
Want to know how things unraveled in the first-ever season of the show? Below are some hits and misses of the Shark Tank Season 1 Pilot Episode:
Shark Tank Season 1: The Hits
Have a look at the investments where the Sharks aimed at the right target and the businesses turned out to be hugely successful in coming years.
1. Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory
Tod Wilson, an aspiring entrepreneur, made his way to Shark Tank Season 1, pitching for ‘Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory,’ a bakery and cake venture. Accompanied by his mascot, Mr. Pie Man, Tod offered a tray of samples to the Sharks and shared the story behind coming up with this business.
He made a lasting impression by demonstrating his humble beginnings and expertise in baking. Tod then highlighted the impressive sales figure of $850K generated by his company in the wholesale business. Additionally, he had a strong foothold in retail, and McDonald’s was one of his major wholesale customers.
Did the Sharks bite a deal?
Tod asked for $460K for 10% equity. Robert Herjavec expressed his apprehensions about Tod’s ambitious plans and stepped out of the deal. Kevin O’Leary and Kevin Harrington also felt the valuation sought was unrealistic and opted out.
Barbara and Daymond were interested and presented their offers. Barbara proposed $230K for 20% equity and asked Daymond if he would join her. He agreed and stated he would supply the remaining $230K but for a 50% equity. Wilson accepted the joint offer of $460K for 50% equity.
Why is Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory a hit?
Tod turned down the offer after the episode aired, but his TV exposure helped him gain massive fame. Tod’s Pie was featured in Jet Magazine and Country Living. Further, he was invited to shows by Oprah Winfrey and Rachel Ray.
The latest update about Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory is that although the shop has closed, Tod still ships pies across the USA. The annual revenue touched the $12 million mark by 2022.
2. AVA The Elephant
Tiffany Krumins appeared in the Shark Tank Season 1 Pilot Episode hoping to secure an investment for her company, “Emma The Elephant.” The name was later changed to AVA The Elephant.
Seeking an investment of $50K for 15% of her company, she revealed that she had made the prototype “Emma the Elephant,” to help a sick child consume his medicines orally. Unlike traditional medicine droppers, she added a lot of fun to the process by disguising the dropper with her elephant character prototype.
It was also equipped with her voice that said congratulations every time the kid would take his medicine.
Were the Sharks impressed?
It was evident that the Sharks were not entirely convinced of the idea. Kevin O’Leary felt this was more an idea than a business, so he was out, and Daymond was out for the same reason.
Robert Herjavec felt that Tiffany should have looked for licensing deals more than an investment. He was out as well. Kevin Harrington was worried about the patents and was the next to opt out.
Barbara was the only one who offered $50K for 55%. Tiffany accepted the deal.
Why is AVA The Elephant a hit?
AVA The Elephant is regarded as one of Shark Tank’s major hits owing to its string of success stories appearing on the show. Its sales reached up to 10,000 retail outlets, including major industry brands like Walgreens and CVS.
On the personal front, Tiffany battled with cancer, gave birth to three children, and decided to license AVA The Elephant to Baby Delight. In 2021, it was then licensed to Better Family. The business is still active, and she even made a commercial in 2021.
Shark Tank Season 1: The Misses
Despite landing some great deals, the Sharks did miss out on some businesses, which made it huge in the coming years. Have a look at all of them:
1. College Foxes Packing Boxes
Omar Soliman and Nick Friedman, entrepreneurs, entered Shark Tank in its first season with ‘College Foxes Packing Boxes.’ Seeking an investment of $250K for 25% equity, they revealed it to be a spin-off of their previous venture, ‘College Hunks Hauling Junk.’
Giving a background into their junk removal business, the entrepreneur duo described how College Hunks Hauling Junk came into existence. They returned to school after spring break and won a contest for young entrepreneurs. The business plan that they presented was for College Hunks.
Witnessing the favorable results, Omar and Nick decided to carry forward and take the venture to new heights.
What was in it for the Sharks?
Unsure about whether the pitchers were asking them to invest in the existing or new business, Robert asked for clarification. Soliman and Friedman clarified that the investment sought was only for College Foxes Packing Boxes, not the College Hunks franchise.
Kevin O’Leary firmly stated that he wouldn’t give them “a dime” “without taking a big piece of” the “existing business.” The two entrepreneurs didn’t like this and were not eager to give up any equity in their already successful company.
Despite this, Kevin O’Leary offered $250K for 51% equity in College Hunks. Robert advised them to consult and propose an offer that includes the combined business. So, they both conversed briefly and came back with a revised offer of $1 million for 10% of the company.
All the Sharks mocked the offer. Kevin O’Leary, Kevin Harrington, Daymond, and Barbara step out of the deal one after the other.
Robert was the only one who offered $250K for 50% of College Foxes Packing Boxes and 10% of College Hunks Hauling Junk. The two entrepreneurs rejected the deal.
Why is College Foxes Packing Boxes a miss?
After its appearance on Shark Tank Season 1, the company grew manifolds. In 2021, it had spread nationwide with 160 franchises, and its annual revenue went over $200 million.
By September 2022, its annual revenue figure went beyond $180 million.
2. Ionic Ear
Darren Johnson pitched for Ionic Ear, a Bluetooth device that could be implanted right below the ears.
The product ensemble included battery, microphone, and speaker. Throwing light on its working, Darren further described that you could charge it by attaching the AC adaptor into your ear. This is because your ear would have its charging port.
Even though the Sharks were shocked to hear everything, they asked a few questions. Darren then replied saying that an additional surgery was a must if you were to get an update.
The investment sought for this weird product was $1 million at 15% equity. The idea was utterly bizarre for the Sharks, and they opted out of making any deals.
The latest update about Ionic Ear is that it is nowhere in existence.
3. WiSpots
WiSPots, a patient interaction center, was brought to the Sharks by Kevin Flannery. He sought an investment of $1.2 million for 10% equity in his company.
Going ahead in the pitch, he revealed that after investing $550K in the venture for the past seven years, he had gone bankrupt. This made the Sharks opt out of the deal.
No one wanted to invest in a business that had no funding and vision whatsoever.
After the pilot episode, Flannery joined hands with Worthington Healthcare Corporation. After this merger, WiSpots was renamed to WiFiciency and offered a range of services in the healthcare domain, including electronic health records, voice recognition, and automated medical transcription.
According to the latest update about the company, it is no longer in operation.
References
1. AVA The Elephant, Better Family
2. Baby Delight, Go With Me
3. Executive Producer Clay Newbill & Sharks Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, and Kevin O’Leary Talk 15 years of ‘Shark Tank’ & The Show’s Lasting Impact, Awards Daily 2025
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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