Maneesh Sethi hopes to shock a Shark when he introduces the Shock Clock by Pavlok, a wristband alarm clock and accompanying behavior modification system that uses electric shocks. The initial product, the Pavlok, got over a quarter of a million bucks in a very successful IndieGoGo campaign to get off the ground. Now Sethi wants a Shark to help him as he pitches the idea in the season 7 finale.
The idea behind Pavlok is similar to Pavlov’s famous experiment. Users program the FitBit sized wristband to shock them when they engage in a bad habit, whether it’s smoking, overeating, or biting their nails. Used along with the behavior modification system (available for free download with purchase), bad habits get shocked into oblivion.
The latest product from Pavlok, the Shock Clock, uses electric shocks like an alarm clock to get you out of bed in the morning. It claims to train users to wake up at the same time each day. Another IndieGoGo campaign raised well over $200,000 to get this product made.
Both the Shock Clock and the original Pavlok aim for the same goal: change bad habits. The shocks users receive range from “pleasant to slightly uncomfortable.” The idea is your subconscious mind will begin to associate the shocks with the bad behavior or the over-sleeping and you’ll program yourself to stop.
My Take on the Shock Clock
While I think this could work very well, I have a couple of problems with Pavlok out of the gate. The first issue is the whole wristband thing. It seems we have wristbands for everything: the aforementioned FitBit tracks fitness, Apple watch is an iPhone extension, PsiBands cure nausea, and on it goes. Before you know it, there will be a wristband for just about everything; the question will be where to put them.
The second thing is the electric shock business. I don’t want to get shocked! There’s a feature on the Pavlok that allows friends to shock you via the accompanying app. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want anyone to be able to hit me with an electric shock. I know enough people that would find that exercise and extremely humorous way to pass the time!
One thing Pavlok has going for it is they were mocked by Stephen Colbert. Once you reach that level of notoriety, you have to be doing something right! While I believe this could be an effective tool for behavior modification, I am not into shock therapy, “slightly uncomfortable” or otherwise. For that reason, I am out.
Will the Sharks be Shocked?
Surely when Sethi hands out samples, the Sharks will get a taste of the shock the unit can deliver. Watching the Sharks get a little jolt will be one of the best segments of season 7. That said, the deal has to be right. Pavlok and the Shock Clock have proof of concept with nearly a half million bucks in crowdfunding, but they’ll need to show “real sales” over and above their IndieGoGo success.
If they have good numbers and a plan for the future, they could field offers, otherwise the Sharks will shock Mr. Sethi into submission.
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.
The Sharks blew it on this one and rude also. I get more bored by the show every week
THE SHARKS WERE RIGHT. THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND DOG COLLARS CAN BE BOUGHT WITH SHOCKERS. SAME THING! HOWEVER AS THE REVIEWS HAVE POINTED OUT..THE SHOCK WRISTWATCH..DOESN’T DO VERY MUCH. IF IT DID,,GAMBLERS, ALCOHOLICS EXTREMISTS WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. THE PAVLOK IS FULL OF BUGS!