Top 10 Best Shark Tank Pitches
#10: tree T-PEE
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The sharks were left chomping at the bit when Johnny Georges pitched this cost-cutting product, but he soon found himself in deep waters when his lack of business initiative affected the bottom line. While there was a clear payday to be had in a product that drastically reduced irrigation costs, it soon became evident that Georges was unwilling to raise the cost beyond its already-low asking price. His reasoning? He didn’t find it right to overcharge farmers. While many of the sharks felt this didn’t leave enough margin for profit, guest shark John Paul Dejoria respected Georges’ passion and offered a healthy investment. All in all, Georges proved that passion and heart can outweigh pure profits.
#9: Ten Thirty One Productions
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The numbers spoke for themselves in this historic pitch. Melissa Carbone entered the tank with a gimmick, and left with a record-breaking investment. The sharks were predictably left salivating when she announced her horror-attractions routinely sold out each night of their run - but Carbone’s expansion plans proved that this spooky event could be more than a seasonal fad. Despite the dressed up ghoul next to her, the only thing shocking about this presentation were the final figures - at 2 million dollars for a 20% stake, it was the biggest investment in the series at that point. Scary good!
#8: Cycloramic
It takes a lot to get every shark hungry for an investment, but that’s the power of the right idea with the right preparation. After an impressively thorough demonstration by founder Bruno Francois, this panoramic camera app left each of the sharks wanting a bite of the pie. Smartly, Francois let the sharks duke it out amongst themselves, and the result was a joint venture with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner that totaled an investment over five times what Francois initially asked for. The real apex predator turned out to be Francois’ winning idea and confident approach.
#7: Readerest
When a shark promises to make you a millionaire, you know you’ve done something right. After a scattered presentation that failed to address concerns over its mass appeal, it seemed this magnetic glasses-holder was dead in the water. However, Lori Greiner recognized founder Rick Hopper’s potential - not as a salesperson, but as an inventor. Because of his penchant for savvy business ideas, Greiner believed in him enough to buy a hefty 65% of his company. In the end, she upheld her promise to make him a millionaire, and this went down as one of the tank’s most lucrative success stories.
#6: Simple Sugars
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At the faintest whiff of blood, the sharks are ready to devour anyone who dares enter their tank, but that didn’t scare off 18-year old Lani Lazarri. Despite her youth, Lazarri held her own better than most seasoned businessmen, easily answering each question thrown at her with a cool head and ample research. The sharks were interested in her all-natural, ultra-sensitive exfoliant, but it was her business-savvy mindset and confident exterior that won her an investment from Mark Cuban. The cosmetics market is inundated with products, but Lazarri’s rock-solid product and clever business sense more than helped her stand out from the pack.
#5: Mission Belt
The tank is a tough place to crack, even with a good idea. Despite Nate Holzapfel’s solid presentation of his stylish, competitively priced holeless belts, most of the sharks were left unimpressed. The product may have floundered, but Holzapfel’s clear passion for the industry piqued the interest of one shark in particular. Daymond John countered with a unique offer: he’d invest, but only if Holzapfel led the sales team. By staking a claim in the person instead of the product, John ensured that he was investing in the best part of the pitch. Holzapfel led with a clear, unwavering passion for his business, and in the end, that’s what won him the investment.
#4: Breathometer
In a series first, this historic pitch started a feeding frenzy among the sharks that could only be resolved with a five-way joint investment. You can’t say the champagne diluted their senses - this product was a hot idea, and had the numbers to back it up. Founder Charles Michael Yim impressed the tank with this portable breathalyzer, but what really started the craze was the potential to branch into other health-related fields. With such a great product, and Yim’s excellent navigation of tricky questions, it’s no wonder this pitch had each shark refusing to back down from their place in line.
#3: Cousins Maine Lobster
The pivotal moment of this pitch came when offers were already on the table. After most of the sharks found their directly-delivered lobsters overvalued, the two pitching cousins didn’t lose any of their excitable demeanor, and that earned them a pair of competing investments. But the cousins proved their business-savvy mindset by asking thorough questions about proposed directions for their product. Their long term commitment and keen business sense impressed shark Barbara Corcoran, who set a deal with the company. By holding onto their likable demeanor and vision for the brand, this duo created a pitch that was hard to say no to.
#2: Scrub Daddy
It’s impossible to take your eyes off this energetic entrepreneur - and that infectious excitement, combined with an excellent product, made for an unforgettable pitch. Aaron Kraus seems like the person everyone wants to work with, but all that would be for nothing if the product weren’t up to par. While an impressive demonstration proved the reusable sponge’s efficacy, it apparently scrubbed off any anxiety Kraus had, too. The pitch itself was fast-paced, informative, and brimming with confidence and charisma - basically, all the ingredients for a winning swim in the tank. It was a bit like watching a live infomercial, but it sure made the sharks smitten, and Kraus walked away with a healthy investment for his business.
#1: Bombas
The bottom line didn’t sell this product - what made this pitch unforgettable was that founders Randy Golderberg and David Heath weren’t just in it for the money. Bombas’s ultra-comfy socks are not only an affordable alternative to generic specialty footwear, but the company matches every single sale with a donation to a homeless shelter. While most would gawk at the thought of sharing profits, this hospitable intent ended up winning over the sharks. Of course, it helped that the pitch was informative, confident, and adaptable. The smarts displayed, alongside a business the sharks could feel good about dumping money into, made for a pitch impossible to deny.
