Top 10 Weirdest Shark Tank Pitches
For this list, we'll be looking at pitches given in the Shark Tank that were bizarre, in their presentation, in the products and business ideas themselves, or a combination of both. Of course, weird sometimes works, so we will be including pitches that were rejected and accepted.
#10: Throx
When you’re in the business of socks, your proposal really can’t afford to . . . have holes in it. Sadly, inventor Edwin Heaven, clearly already very sold on his own idea of triple socks, couldn’t see the shortcomings of his own product. Yes… it’s annoying when you lose a sock, and sure, having an extra is convenient. But then you’re down to two socks, and when you inevitably lose one again… you’re back at square one. The sharks are quick to point that it comes across as a bit of a novelty product, and Edwin responds with bad puns. It’s a strange and silly concept, but the real oddity is the inventor’s unshakable faith in his product and deeply ingrained denial.
#9: Kookn’ Kap
Let’s get one thing straight: this chef’s hat product isn’t an overtly awful one. If anything, its biggest crime is being generic. Also, we suspect that if we were to poll trendy young homecooks, most would agree that they’re far more concerned with how this hat looks than how their hair smells after cooking. Regardless, what really earned this entry a spot on our list is the pitch. Don’t get us wrong, you should practice your presentation, but Juli Deveau and Ozma Khan clearly forgot to practice being natural. It looks like they planned every smile, blink and breath. The performance seriously distracts from the product.
#8: Lose 12 Inches in 12 Workouts
We warned you right from the outset… some of these pitches actually got themselves the green light. Had we been sitting in the position of the Sharks, we’re not so sure, but hey, they’re the professionals and as they’ve clearly learned from experience in the world of business: cheese sells. Rodeo rider turned fitness expert Ryan "Cowboy" Ehmann comes into the shark tank hooting and hollering like a manic cowboy - and dressed to match the part. He’s got a stereotypical over-the-top, larger than life, online personal trainer vibe to him. It makes for a pretty grating sales pitch, but the Sharks seem entertained by his antics, and he walked away with a deal from Daymond John.
#7: Freaker USA
Walking into the room like someone who got on the wrong flight and missed his intended destination of Burning Man, Zach Crain certainly stands out from his fellow entrepreneurs. The short shorts, the top hat, the slow somersault, the intense eye, the two-fingered greeting… this guy was made for television, just not a show about business ventures. His “Freaker USA” koozies are actually pretty cool, but they aren’t exactly revolutionary, and his big personality kind of overshadows them. “Vikings” hadn’t premiered when this episode was filmed, but in hindsight we can’t help but notice that Cain bears a striking resemblance to Floki - not exactly someone we’d want to invest in either.
#6: UroClub
Seasoned roadtrippers know all too well the necessity of peeing in a portable vessel. On a long, time-sensitive drive, water bottles sometimes get emptied only to be refilled. But peeing in a golf club? That’s a new one. Urologist, and creator of the Uroclub, Floyd Seskin, explains to the Sharks that as a doctor, and avid golfer, he was encouraged by his patients to solve the issue of needing to urinate while playing. His solution is functional and admittedly reasonably subtle, but it’s the sort of product that can’t help but elicit giggles and disbelief. We’re not denying the problem, but is this the right solution? Investor Kevin Harrington seemed to think so!
#5: Ionic Ear
In the debut episode of “Shark Tank”, viewers and the investors were given the opportunity to bond over shared horror upon hearing the terrifying pitch for the “Ionic Ear”. Remember bluetooth headsets that were once all the rage but have largely since gone out of fashion? Ionic Ear entrepreneur Darrin Johnson wanted to surgically implant them in people’s heads. Apart from biohackers and extreme body modification enthusiasts, we can’t imagine anyone who would sign up. The idea itself earns Ionic Ear a spot on our list, but it’s Johnson’s awkward, deadpan delivery that made this extra unnerving. It feels more like a supervillain detailing his scheme for world domination than a sales pitch.
#4: Guard Llama
We’ll be honest with you… this one is delightfully eccentric, but undoubtedly bizarre nonetheless. From the moment that co-founders Joe Parisi and Nick Nevarez walk through the door with a llama in tow, we know that this was going to be a pitch to remember. These two men are clearly comfortable in front of an audience, and know how to field questions. They also know how to use eye-catching props without having them overshadow the product they’re actually pitching. Bringing in an real-life llama before unveiling their emergency bluetooth device is bold, but weird in all the right ways. Admittedly… the llama pooping on the floor isn’t great, but they still left with a deal.
#3: Wake n' Bacon
Shoddy, amateurish design? Check. Safety concerns? Check. Lack of business plan? Check. A novelty item with very limited sales potential? Check! The Wake n’ Bacon is an alarm clock that wakes you up to fresh bacon. What we really love about this idea is that in 2011 when it was pitched on Shark Tank, the world had already seen Steve Carell’s Michael Scott hurt himself on “The Office” with what was basically a prototype for this very device. Inventor Matty Sallin starts off confident, but before long, he’s utterly defeated as the sharks tear this little piggy of an idea to shreds. Oh, and can we talk about the random bunny hopping around in his video?
#2: The Sullivan Generator
Top 20 Worst Shark Tank Pitches of All Time
With his Ionic Ear, Darrin Johnson looks like a small time comic book crook next to the diabolical, earth-shaking machinations of Mark Sullivan. This oddball inventor comes to the Sharks looking for funding to make his generator a reality. Not only does he promise that his device will create cheap energy, he also claims it will desalinate “brackish water” and (wait for it…) produce gold. The scientist is naturally met with skepticism and dismissal courtesy of the sharks, who quickly switch gears into mockery when Sullivan rattles off a staggering series of facts about himself, from the money his other inventions have allegedly generated, to his experience making women’s clothing and accessories. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Squirrel Boss - No Fly Cone - Under-Ease Underwear
#1: I Want to Draw a Cat for You
Another Top 10 Worst Shark Tank Pitches
Weird and wonderful sometimes go hand in hand, as is the case with our top entry. Artist Steve Gadlin immediately charms the Sharks, and viewers around the world, when he begins his quirky dance and accompanying song. Steve is hilarious, personable and super self-aware. His on-demand cat drawings are, by his own admission, silly and not unlike the pet rock, but he embraces that; and in doing so, shows the Sharks that he’s the sort of unlikely entrepreneur that they should be going into business with. He walked away with a $25,000 investment from Mark Cuban, and a permanent place in our hearts and memories as the most wonderfully weird pitch in the show’s history.
