For those of you who don’t know, Shark Tank is an American reality television series that premiered August 9, 2009, on ABC. The show is a franchise of the international format Dragons’ Den, which originated in Japan in 2001. Shark Tank shows aspiring entrepreneur-contestants make business presentations to a panel of “shark” investors, who then choose whether or not to invest. So for all the Entrepreneurs, Investors and Business people, Here is a list, from 5 to 1, of the top 5 best deals made on Shark Tank.
- Ten Thirty One Productions
The Product: Live-action horror entertainment company (think haunted house hay rides on steroids).
Sharks that bit: Mark Cuban ($2 million for a 20% stake).
Sales: The Company has counted more than 400,000 customers since launch in 2009, $3 million in revenue in FY 2014 and aimed for $5 million in revenue in 2015.
- Breathometer
The Product: A portable Breathalyzer that plugs directly into the headphone jack of most smartphones.
Sharks that bit: All five sharks bit. They are Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner and FUBU clothing company CEO and founder Daymond John ($650,000 for a 30% stake).
Sales: The Breathometer saw $10 million in sales in FY 2014 and expected to hit $20 million in FY 2015.
- Buggy Beds
The Product: An early detection and prevention system for bed bugs.
Sharks that bit: All five sharks bit. They are Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, Daymond John and real estate entrepreneur and investor Barbara Corcoran ($250,000 for 25%).
Sales: International growth across 23 countries with sales of more than $1.2 million after the Shark Tank pitch.
- Groovebook
The Product: A subscription-based service that allows customers to receive a bound book of high-resolution photos taken from their smartphones.
Sharks that bit: Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary ($150,000 in exchange for 80% licensing profits).
Sales: A gain of 50,000 subscribers shortly after the pitch. Acquired by Shutterfly Inc. (SFLY) in 2014 for $14.5 million.
- Scrub Daddy
The Product: A reusable super sponge in the shape of a smiling face that gets firm in cold water and soft in warm water. Scrub Daddy has also been lab tested to rinse clear of debris and resist odors for up to two months. The ergonomic shape is designed to clean both sides of kitchen utensils at once.
Sharks that bit: Lori Greiner ($200,000 for 20% equity).
Sales: Scrub Daddy has moved 10 million units for total sales of more than $50 million since the pitch. Before Shark Tank, the company had $100,000 in sales.
