Credit: ABC Entertainment Press Site
Highlights
- Products ranged from high-tech solutions to unique consumer goods
- Notable pitches included Dating By Blaine, Monosuit, and Flaus
- Regular Sharks and guest Sharks brought variety and freshness
- Entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds introduced innovative ideas
Shark Tank Season 15 was all about making the investors amazed. Entrepreneurs from different ages, genders, and walks of life came up with exciting new ideas to satiate their entrepreneurial dreams.
From high-tech wedding apps to innovative teeth floss, custom hats to unique cycle seats, the season was packed with impressive tech-based products, organic food items, and so much more. Shark Tank Season 15 emerged better than ever with ingenious ideas.
All the five Sharks – Mark, Kevin, Lori, Barbara, and Daymond were back for this season full of innovation and emotion. Further, guest Sharks like Candace Nelson, Michael Rubin, Emma Grede, Daniel Lubetzky, and Jason Blum brought a splash of freshness to the panel of Sharks.
Here’s a list of a few pitches of season 15 ranked from worst to best:
1. Dating By Blaine
This was one of those pitches where the entrepreneur came unprepared and lacked a proper pitching strategy. Additionally, it was evident that she was biased towards one Shark.
Blaine Anderson came up to the Sharks, pitching her dating coaching service, ‘Dating by Blaine,’ which is created especially for men. Giving a quick background, she described how she began the business in 2020 after losing her job in the pandemic. It was her husband who pushed her to come up with it, as she had helped many of her guy friends with dating advice.
The cost of the course is $1249 and teaches men to become confident and present themselves better in the online dating realm. Her offer was $100K for a 2% equity stake.
How did the negotiations go?
On being asked about the numbers, Blaine revealed that since 2020 her overall sales had reached up to $2.2 million. The Sharks seemed impressed. But Lori asked why the course was just for men. To this, Blaine replied that she wanted to narrow down her customer base.
Michael marked himself out because he felt the business was not scalable enough. When the Sharks inquired more about the numbers, Blaine said that she “wasn’t sure” how many texting courses she had sold. Mark instantly called this dubious answer a “Shark Tank no-no.”
Blaine then went on to say that “a guy” would be valuable to her company owing to the nature of her service. Mark then said that the equity should have been higher, so he was out. She tried to convince him, saying that he would get $200K if they made $10 million, but he wasn’t impressed.
Kevin said he wasn’t ready to invest for 2% equity. Barbara wasn’t interested either, so she was out. Lori expressed her disappointment as Blaine wanted a “man” for her business, so she was out as well.
Barbara then asked Mark if he would rethink his decision. He said that he could relate with the business idea but he wanted to hear a different number. After some discussions, the deal was locked between Mark and Blaine at 10% equity.
Post-episode, both Mark and Blaine received backlash on Twitter, as they felt the latter wanted a deal only with him, and he, too, went in on the bait.
2. Monosuit
This pitch showed that sometimes less is more. In an attempt to present one’s business as far-reaching, entrepreneurs forget to talk about the core concept of their brand. Here’s how the pitch went:
Maria Agapkina, a rising entrepreneur, pitched her brand, Monosuit, a line of one-piece jumpsuits, at $150K for 5% equity. She started her pitch with a small musical act talking about her clothing range made out of recycled materials. Further, she emphasized that she was dedicated to the environment.
Speaking about her inspiration, she revealed that her futuristic-looking suits were based on the concept of interplanetary travel. They could be bought by both men and women. Ranging between $280 to $600, the product had already been worn by the Kardashians, Paris Hilton, and Madonna.
Did she bag any investment?
The Sharks were confused. Mark felt that the business was not maintaining a focused approach as it was catering to fashion, technology, and eco-friendly aspects. So it was hard for him to decide and invest. Kevin felt the same and was out.
Robert was confused because it wasn’t clear what business she was into. Barbara was also out for similar reasons. Lori liked the idea but felt the valuation was not right, so she didn’t invest as well.
3. Flaus
Samantha Coxe’s pitch was one of the best prepared of the season. She was aware of the industry trends and knew how to negotiate with the Sharks for the best offer.
Seeking a valuation of $250K for 5% equity, she presented her sustainable electric flosser ‘Flaus.’ In order to grab the attention of the Sharks, she came prepared with statistics that only 30% of Americans floss on a daily basis. This is primarily because it’s painful, difficult, gross, and time-consuming. But with Flaus, all these problems could be tackled.
Projecting Flaus as the world’s first electric flosser, she explained that it makes flossing easier than ever before. It’s easy to use, cleanses quickly, and fits perfectly between the teeth.
Coming to the numbers, she stated that the product was worth $99 and made with a cost of $10. Plus, Flaus’ last year sales were $900K.
Were the Sharks Impressed?
Well, Kevin surely was, but he wasn’t happy with the deal offered. Saying that he could help her curb the customer acquisition costs with his fan following, he made an offer of $250K at 5% along with a royalty of $2.50 per unit until he got back his $750K.
Candace, stating that it was a bad offer, presented hers at $250K for 8% equity. Samantha countered it with $300K for 8%, which Candace denied. She then asked Daymond if he could join hands with Candace, which he rejected. Eventually, Samantha agreed to Candace’s offer.
To Conclude
Shark Tank Season 15 was a vibrant showcase of a variety of products and some unique pitches. While some fell short due to lack of preparation, others impressed the Sharks with their in-depth planning. From eco-friendly fashion brands to revolutionary electric flossers, the season underscored the entrepreneurial spirit and creative resilience of budding entrepreneurs.
References
1. 32-year-old attorney quit her 9-to-5 to launch an electric flossing startup—it brought in nearly $1 million in 12 months, CNBC, Ashton Jackson
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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