Four innovative businesses enter Shark Tank season 16 episode 14- Image source @sharktankabc
Shark Tank Season 16, Episode 14 becomes fertile ground for an eco-friendly crop, buckwheat, when a business called BAM pitches to seek investment. A father-son duo brings with them Duzer, a solution to safeguard hockey players from serious injuries.
Firefly Recovery arrives with an elite athlete to demonstrate their products, which facilitate easy and fast recovery for athletes. Meanwhile, a business called Blackdot educates the sharks about a multimillion-dollar industry that has significant market gaps.
Guest Shark Rashaun Williams joins the sharks in this episode and provides his valuable insights. His expertise and keen business acumen bring a fresh perspective to the negotiations.
Check: Other Shark Tank Season 16 Episodes
Episode 14 Pitches and Deals
Four inspiring businesses walk through the doors of Shark Tank Season 16, Episode 14. Some win deals, while others return with valuable advice to make their business better. Talented entrepreneurs present their compelling pitches, demonstrating the potential of their products and themselves.
1 Firefly Recovery
Firefly Recovery emphasizes the often-overlooked importance of recovery in fitness. Founders Kjenstad and Campbell pitch their athlete-focused product, seeking $500K for 2.5% equity.
| Item | Description |
| Entrepreneurs | Anthony Kjenstad |
| Pitch Summary | The entrepreneurs behind Firefly Recovery bring with them a five time Olympic champion, Kerri Walsh Jennings. Kerri is a loyal customer of the business. She reveals that during her athletic career, she frequently relied on Firefly Recovery. Anthony claims Firefly Recovery is better than its competitors in terms of effectiveness, it fits perfectly into lifestyles of today’s athletes. |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured |
| Sharks Who Invested | Lori and Rashaun |
Founder of Firefly Recovery, Anthony, walks into Shark Tank Season 16, Episode 14 with their recovery device for athletes or anyone who wants to speed up muscle recovery. They describe the benefits of their device, how it works, and how it is different from or better than the rest.
- They talk about how Firefly Recovery’s “Flutter” action stimulates blood flow, helping in athlete recovery. The product is compact and portable, offering a 30-hour treatment. It is popular with elite athletes. Firefly Recovery stands out due to its unique neuromuscular stimulation technology, which enhances circulation and reduces muscle soreness more efficiently than traditional recovery methods like compression sleeves or ice baths. It’s a mobile, easy-to-use solution for reducing soreness.
- As the product cannot be charged again, nor can its battery be replaced, Mark is curious to know if customers find it frustrating that one device only lasts for 30 hours. Founder Anthony explains that his customers aren’t unhappy with the product.
- The mobility and lightweight factor impress Shark Rashaun. He inquires if it can replace the compression leg sleeves that he uses. He points out the fact that he is aging, and that is why products like these make sense to him. Anthony clarifies his confusion and reassures Rashaun that his recovery products are built to replace other devices.
The entrepreneurs, Anthony and his pitch partner Lauren, reveal that they have hit $7.5 million in sales to date. They also tell the Sharks that they raised $10 million in 2022 for the venture.
Kevin and Daymond refrain from offering a deal as they find the valuation too high. Shark Lori Greiner finds the product to be of high value, and she also believes that it has a strong place in the market. Rashaun joins Lori in a deal, and they offer to invest $500,000 in exchange for a 5% stake plus royalty.
The entrepreneurs do not really like the royalty offer. After a little more negotiation, both parties meet on common ground and make a deal for $500,000 in exchange for 5% of the business.
2 Blackdot
Blackdot’s automated tattoo device minimizes pain and provides a digital marketplace for tattoo designs. Founder Joel Pennington seeks Shark investment to revolutionize the tattooing experience.
| Item | Description |
| Entrepreneurs | Joel Pennington |
| Pitch Summary | The founder of Blackdot highlights the gap in innovation within the tattoo industry. His pitch addresses the market need for his product. He explains the precision of his device and emphasizes the fact that it makes getting tattoos painless and easier. |
| Deal Status | No Deal |
| Sharks Who Invested | – |
Joel is seeking $1.5 million for 5% of the company Blackdot, which makes the sharks wonder if there is a real business behind this. The entrepreneur explains that Blackdot is the world’s first automatic tattoo device, which reduces the intensity of pain.
They also have a website featuring tattoo art, where artists upload their designs, and the machine replicates them with precision. However, the sharks didn’t think he had a solid business model.
The sharks found Joel’s business model unclear and his pitch unconvincing. Mark suggested focusing on tattoo shop owners, not just customers. Although Mark suggested pivoting toward tattoo shop owners for stronger adoption, the sharks remained unconvinced of Blackdot’s scalability and profitability, leading Joel to exit without a deal.
3 BAM
Paige’s BAM uses buckwheat for healthy drinks, boosting both people and nature. Though she didn’t get a deal, she remains hopeful for her company’s future.
| Item | Description |
| Entrepreneurs | Paige Hansen |
| Pitch Summary | The entrepreneur of BAM presents her environment-friendly product that is creamy and delicious in taste. The pitch is filled with informative insights into the business vision and sustainability goals. She shows the difference between ordinary soil that has lost its nutrients and the soil in which buckwheat is grown. |
| Deal Status | No Deal |
| Sharks Who Invested | – |
Paige Hansen pitches BAM on Shark Tank Season 16, introducing America’s first buckwheat-based plant milk. Inspired by her dairy allergy, she created BAM to offer a sustainable, nutritious alternative. Currently available in Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, BAM recently launched in Whole Foods.
Paige shares that since launching in November, BAM has made $50,000 in lifetime sales. Each bottle costs $2.94 to produce and sells for $4.95 to distributors, with a retail price of $8.29–$10.99. Despite a $2.5 million valuation, BAM is not yet profitable.
BAM stands out for its sustainability. Buckwheat is known to regenerate soil. It suppresses weeds and attracts pollinators. It is developed at Cornell’s Food Venture Center, BAM offers a creamy, slightly nutty taste. The best part is it’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and protein.
As the Sharks weigh in, Kevin dislikes the taste and opts out. Mark advises Paige to build a strong community before also declining. Lori and Rashaun pass, with Rashaun citing missing elements he could contribute. Daymond praises her progress but says it’s too early for investment.
Ultimately, Paige leaves without a deal but with valuable advice for growing her brand.
4 Duzter
Duzter Hockey’s father-son team pitched protective undergarments for hockey, aiming to reduce injuries. They secured a $200K deal for 20% equity with Mark Cuban after demonstrating the product’s effectiveness.
| Item | Description |
| Entrepreneurs | Martin E. Negron |
| Pitch Summary | Martin E., the CEO, and Martin A., the CEO’s father, present a fun and informative pitch for their business. Sharks are engaged in the presentation. They call up Shark Rashaun for a live demonstration of their product. The father-and-son team educates the sharks about the dangers of the sport and how their product provides safety against it. |
| Deal Status | Deal Secured |
| Sharks Who Invested | Mark Cuban |
The drama-filled pitch by the father-and-son duo starts by highlighting the popularity of hockey. They then talk about the risks involved and the market gap for protective gear for young players. That is where their company, Duzter, comes into the picture.
After presenting the samples, they showcase both the upper and bottom pieces for testing. They ask Shark Rashaun to cut a basic pool noodle with a skate blade to demonstrate that it could represent an arm, highlighting the risk involved. Rashaun cuts through it easily. Then, they place the same model inside their apparel, and he fails to cut through it.
When asked about the weave used, dad Martin explains that their material is polymer-based, which does not change in water or heat. In contrast, other products made of Kevlar do not sustain well in heat and humidity.
These clothes keep players safe in critical spots but let them move easily.
When asked about their sales, the duo explains that their lifetime sales are around $326,000 over two years, and they sell both direct-to-consumer and through pro shops. The manufacturing cost for a youth shirt is $26, and it retails for $85.
Despite liking the business, Daymond, Lorry, and Kevin decide not to make an offer. Rashaun relates to the father-son duo but admits he is not very familiar with the sport, so he chooses not to invest.
However, Mark offers the full amount for 20% equity with no room for a counteroffer.
Episode Highlights & Key Moments
After entrepreneur Paige Hansen presents her pitch, the sharks get into a thought-provoking discussion. Shark Rashaun talks about gender disparity in entrepreneurship.
He says, “The percentage of women and minorities… Every time I wake up, I have 25 pitches from people trying to raise money—99% of them are men. It is rarely any women.” They continue discussing the gender gap in business.
Kevin points out that on Shark Tank, “We don’t have that problem. There is only one thing that matters here—can you make money?” Rashaun agrees, saying, “This is the best thing ever!”
