- Chris Gronkowski from Colleyville, Texas, and his brother Rob Gronkowski from the New England Patriots, bring an insulated sports bottle to the Tank; Mark Cuban and former baseball slugger Alex Rodriguez offer advice to a 17-year-old from St. Louis, Missouri, who devised a tool to soothe foot pain; an entrepreneur from Santa Monica, California, has a sweeter way to eat a popular snack; and a man from Los Angeles, California, hopes to lock up a deal with his innovative way to keep belongings safe.
- In the world of "Shark Tank," a variety of entrepreneurs brought their innovative products and business propositions to the sharks. Sharks attending are Alex Rodriguez, Barbara, Kevin, Lori, Mark
The first pitch featured Makenzie Marzluff and her unique creation, "Delighted By" dessert hummus. She is offering $600,000 for a 12% equity stake in her company. This tasty treat boasted less than 5 grams of sugar per serving and had generated impressive sales of $1 million within just 13 months, securing placement in 1,200 stores, including all 88 Wegmans locations. Makenzie started with a $20,000 investment and had already raised $400,000 from friends and family at a $4 million valuation. Alex is out as Mackenzie is asking for 33 times EBITDA, while deals are at 5-8 multiple. Barbara is out as she doesn't think Makenzie is good at delegating and building a team. Lori is out as the business will require a lot of cash. Kevin offered a $600,000 loan at 11% interest and 6% equity. Mark, on the other hand, proposed $600,000 for a 25% stake, a deal that Makenzie ultimately accepted.
Next up, Ehan (17 years old) and Vinay Kamat presented their "Sole Mender," a stainless steel foot massage roller containing a proprietary gel pack that required freezing for a 15-minute massage. Despite sales of $25,000 in a year and a $40 price point with $10 production costs, the sharks had mixed reactions. Mark encourages Ehan to complete his education and not give that up in favor of his product. Kevin is out as there is no online business. Ehan is focused on selling it via retail and via the doctors. Barbara is out as the product lacks sex appeal. Lori is out as this is not the right product for her. Mark is out as he wants Ehan to get an education. Alex is out as the business is too small and he wants Ehan to complete college.
Chris Gronkowski entered the tank with his "Ice Shaker," a stainless steel insulated protein shake bottle that could hold ice for over 30 hours, not sweat, and remain odor-free. Chris had already achieved sales of $80,000 in just six months through online and Amazon channels. Sells for $25 per unit, and costs $5 per unit to manufacture In this competitive pitch, Kevin offered $100,000 for 20%, while Mark and Alex joined forces, presenting $150,000 for 20%. Alex also owns a chain of gyms and has a natural fit with the product. Barbara offers $100,000 for 10%. Lori offers $100,000for 15%. The Gronks haggle with Mark and Alex and close at 15% for $150,000. Note: The "Ice Shaker" was pitched by former NFL fullback Chris Gronkowski. His brothers Gordie, Dan, Rob, and Glenn assisted in the presentation.
Lastly, Robbie Cabral showcased "Benjilock," a fingerprint-technology padlock with a 30-minute charge lasting a whole year. With a prototype in hand, Robbie's product had received acclaim, including winning the CES Innovation Award. He sought a $200,000 investment for 10% equity. Retails for $60 per unit, costs $20 per unit to manufacture. Invested $87,000. From Dominican republic and has a story where he was laid off from a real estate job. Kevin wants to go licensing. He offers $200,000 for 15%. Lori offers $200,000 for 15% and want to go retail. Barbara offers $100,000 for 10% and wants him to bring in another shark of the other half. Alex offers $200,000 for 20% and is open to going in with Barbara. Mark is out as this is not real technology. Robbie is torn, but eventually he picks Kevin.
As the pitches unfolded, the sharks assessed these innovative products, each presenting unique challenges and opportunities for investment. Throughout the episode, we also learned about the remarkable journey of Alex Rodriguez, the first Hispanic shark, who rose from a challenging childhood as the child of Jamaican immigrants to become a baseball legend and a successful entrepreneur, managing 50,000 apartment units through his A-Rod Corp which has 600 employees. Father left them soon after entering USA. Raised by a single mother in Miami. Mother worked 3 jobs to give him a shot at life. Learnt how to play baseball and got a scholarship to Univ of Miami. Played for 23 years. Started A-Rod corp to manage his post retirement life.
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