Credit: Sportskeeda
Highlights
- Shark Tank Guest Sharks were introduced fourteen years ago on the show.
- Mark Cuban started his journey as a Guest Shark on the show.
- From Peter Jones to Emma Grede, find out which guest panelists made top deals on the show.
With numerous reality shows online, Shark Tank is one such show that has kept its viewers engaged through its mind-blowing deals. Another reason for the popularity of the show is the panel of celebrity investors. We are not talking about regular names like Mark Cuban or Lori Greiner. Here, we will emphasize the Shark Tank Guest Sharks.
The concept of Guest Sharks was carried out for the first time in 2012. Witnessing the increased attention of audiences to these celeb figures, the makers invited many such names every season since then. Some of them are Chris Sacca, Emma Grede, and Kevin Hart.
Below are a few deals by Shark Tank Guest Sharks, which earned immense love from the viewers:
1. Black Sands
The entrepreneur trio of Geiszel Godoy, Teunis De Raat, and Manuel Godoy made their way to the judges, seeking $500K for 5% equity in their entertainment company. Pitching Black Sands as the only black-owned publishing house in the USA, they focused on the black characters and their historical tales.
Starting in 2016, the company offered comics, DVDs, graphic novels, picture books, and chapter books. The entrepreneurs then revealed to have generated over $102K in four different campaigns on Kickstarter. They even used WeFunder to raise more than $1 million in 2020.
Making use of the acquired amounts, they developed an app that users could access through different gadgets. Black Sands’s offerings could be found on Amazon and their website. They had approached the investors for an increased reach.
Reiterating his strong background in the entertainment arena, Shark Tank Guest Kevin Hart expressed his interest in making an investment. But he wanted a different equity percentage. Mark Cuban interrupted him and asked if he could join him in making an offer.
Kevin said ‘yes’; they both laid the offer at $500K for 30% equity.
A passionate negotiation round started after this. But Mark and Kevin were unwilling to move. Kevin consistently stressed his strong expertise in distribution aspects of the industry, convincing the pitchers to accept the offer. The deal was finalized at $500K for 30% equity.
Kevin and Mark closed the deal, helping Black Sands to grow by leaps and bounds. As of 2023, its lifetime sales have touched the milestone figure of $3 million.
2. Collars & Co
Aspiring entrepreneur Justin Baer approached the panelists seeking $300K for 4% equity in his apparel company. Collars & Co offered a range of combination polo shirts that came with dress collars. He started the business in 2021 with the idea to provide formal clothing that is comfortable to wear.
Justin claimed that Collar & Co was scripting new success highs with $5.4 million in sales in just a year. Additionally, the brand had Nick Falso as their celebrity endorser. Based on the many styles, each of the shirts fell within the range of $69-$74.
The Sharks seemed hugely impressed with the numbers. Kevin O’Leary stated that although he had not invested in any shirt companies before, he wanted to propose an offer of $300K for 10% equity. Justin instantly rejected the deal.
Shark Tank Guest Shark Peter Jones made the next offer at $300K for 10% equity. The entrepreneur said, “No way,” and declined the offer again. Daymond had a small argument with Justin after this. Mark Cuban then joined the negotiations and stated that $300K was not enough for the business.
Mark partnered with Peter and offered Justin $300K along with a $700K line of credit for 10% equity. While hesitant initially, the two Sharks convinced him that losing the deal would make him regret it one day. Eventually, Peter agreed.
Collar & Co. closed the deal with Mark and Peter and made $8.5 million in sales within two months after the telecast. The brand expanded both nationally and on a global level with multiple stores. By 2024, its lifetime sales went beyond $20 million.
3. Ooakshell
Mika Bertholdo pitched her handmade headbands to the Sharks, seeking $150K for 10% equity. She presented Ooakshell as an alternative to the regular headbands, which often cause headaches due to their one-size-fits-all nature. The business was started directly from her home.
Three years before her appearance on Shark Tank, Mika had been suffering from hair loss, which forced her to find a solution that covered her ‘huge forehead.’ She thought of creating headbands on her own, which were easily adjustable.
On being asked about the costs, the entrepreneur revealed the landing and selling costs to be $1.64 and $35, respectively. The margins wowed the Sharks. Additionally, the sales in three years after her launch in 2018 were $12K, $245K, and $396. No amount was spent on marketing.
Shark Tank Guest Shark Emma Grede showed her excitement and made an offer of $150K for 20%. Mark Cuban asked Mika not to leave the amazing opportunity. While Emma reiterated her expertise in the clothing vertical, Mika countered her with 13% equity.
Emma did not accept the counteroffer, which compelled the entrepreneur to take the deal for $150K at 20% equity.
The deal with Emma closed in 2022, and Ooakshell found a mention in one of the update segments of the show. Mika then revealed that after the deal, she was able to move into a new home. Plus, the sales made in six months after the telecast were $375K.
Bottomline
Shark Tank Guest Sharks have brought about an unmatched positive influence in the show. Fresh viewpoints and diverse experiences of the different Sharks have resulted in plenty of amazing deals on the show. This, in turn, has kept the interest of the audiences alive even after all these years.
Black Sands, Collars & Co, and Ooakshell are some landmark deals that have reflected the significant value added by Shark Tank Guest Sharks on the show.
References
1. Black Sands Entertainment, Wikipedia
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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