{"id":21684,"date":"2019-11-01T12:38:57","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T19:38:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moneyppl.com\/?p=21684"},"modified":"2022-04-22T03:26:14","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T10:26:14","slug":"rejected-shark-tank-ideas-that-ultimately-found-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.moneyppl.com\/rejected-shark-tank-ideas-that-ultimately-found-success\/21684\/","title":{"rendered":"Rejected Shark Tank Ideas That Ultimately Found Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Shark Tank is a popular television show where small business owners and entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to successful investors, the Sharks. Sometimes, a company will get an investment from one or two Sharks and end up making millions of dollars. Many of those products are now household names. You may have even purchased a product or two and not realized it was featured on Shark Tank.<\/span><\/p>\n However, many of the products don’t receive offers from the Sharks. True, it can be devastating for the business owners, but it’s definitely not the end of the road. In many cases, ideas featured on Shark Tank that didn’t get a deal end up being extremely successful. If a concept is good, a business can get a considerable amount of customers just because of their television exposure. Read on to learn about ideas that failed on Shark Tank but ultimately became successful.<\/span><\/p>\n Shark Tank premiered on ABC in 2009. Its concept is based on a show called Dragon’s Den that originated in Japan. On the show, a panel of five Sharks, or investors, listen to business presentations made by entrepreneurs in the hopes of getting financial investments in their growing companies.<\/span><\/p>\n Sharks featured on the show include Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, QVC Maven Lori Greiner, and “Mr. Wonderful” Kevin O’Leary. It’s reported that less than 20 percent of the deals made on Shark Tank ever come to fruition. Most of the time, deals that disappear are due to buyer’s remorse from the small business owner or that they only made an appearance on the show to get publicity for their business. <\/span><\/p>\n As we mentioned before, not all rejected Shark Tank ideas become failures. One success story from Shark Tank is CoatChex. The innovative concept behind CoatChex was developed by entrepreneur Derek Pacque. His business is a ticketless coat check system that makes checking coats and other valuables at events simple and quick.<\/span><\/p>\n This idea impressed the Sharks on Shark Tank, and Shark Mark Cuban offered Pacque $200,000 for a 33 percent stake in the company. Pacque turned him down and left the show without a deal. Since being on the show, CoatChex has been used at events like Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and even the Super Bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n Founder Chris Ruder pitched his Spikeball idea on Shark Tank in 2015. The product is a two-on-two game similar to volleyball. It’s a way for people to play together outside and on the beach. The compact design of the Spikeball device and its balls make it easy to take places.<\/span><\/p>\n Shark Daymond John offered Ruder $500,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company, but the deal never came to fruition. John wanted to license Spikeball to Marvel in order to create Spiderman and other superhero-themed sets. Ruder was vehemently against the idea and declined the offer. Since being on Shark Tank, Spikeball has reached an annual revenue of more than $15 million.<\/span><\/p>\n Justin Kittredge made an appearance on Shark Tank to pitch his customized footwear line ISlides. ISlides are slide sandals that can be printed with all kinds of designs and colors. When ISlides were pitched on Shark Tank in 2016, many of the Sharks were impressed with the product.<\/span><\/p>\n Shark Robert Herjavec offered Kittredge $500,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company. Kittredge believed the deal was too low and countered with the same amount of money for a 5 percent stake. No agreement was reached and Kittredge walked away empty-handed. Since being on Shark Tank, ISlides are sold at Lids and Neiman Marcus, and have more than a dozen partnerships and 50 licenses.<\/span><\/p>\n Who doesn’t love cinnamon rolls? Inventors Shannon and Florian Radke pitched their all-natural, vegan, and dairy-free Cinnaholic creations on Shark Tank, hoping to make a deal.<\/span><\/p>\n When they appeared on Shark Tank, Shark Robert Herjavec offered the couple $200,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company. They agreed and the deal was made. But behind the scenes, the deal fell apart because of creative differences and a lack of a cohesive vision for the company. Since then, Cinnaholic has flourished and their offerings have expanded significantly. They have more than 135 retail locations in development.<\/span><\/p>\n Echo Valley Meats is a specialty meats company started by Dave Alwan. Alwan pitched his company on Shark Tank in 2014. While the Sharks enjoyed the taste of his products, none of them were interested in investing in the company.<\/span><\/p>\n After his appearance on Shark Tank, Alwan took the advice given to him by the Sharks and used it to boost his business. In the first week after being on the show, Echo Valley Meats sales jumped from $190,000 to $1.4 million. In 2016, Alwan made it back onto the show to pitch his business again and ended up making a deal with Mark Cuban.<\/span><\/p>\n Dating these days can be tough, and most people turn to apps to meet new people. Dating app Coffee Meets Bagel was created by a team of sisters named Arum, Dawoon, and Soo Kang. They made it onto Shark Tank in Season 6 and asked for $500,000 in exchange for a 5 percent stake in the company.<\/span><\/p>\n In what would become the biggest offer in Shark Tank history, Shark Mark Cuban offered the sisters $30 million to buy the company outright. They didn’t want to give it up entirely, so the deal was rejected. Eventually, Coffee Meets Bagel raised the funding it needed to get off the ground. It’s now worth roughly $82 million and has made over 50 million matches worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2014, inventor Ray Phillips appeared on Shark Tank to pitch his idea for SoapSox. These kid-friendly washcloths were designed to be easy to use for kids as well as get them excited about bath time. Phillips asked for $260,000 for a 10 percent stake in the company.<\/span><\/p>\n Shark Daymond John offered Phillips $260,000 for a 33 percent stake. Sharks Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec wanted to team up and buy the whole company for $1 million. Both offers were rejected, but the company is still going strong. SoapBox has collaborated with Disney Baby and is sold worldwide in baby stores, Nordstrom, and on Amazon.<\/span><\/p>\n Ben Young and Greg Coleman, the CEO and COO of Sworkit, appeared on Shark Tank to pitch their exercise smartphone app to the Sharks. All of the Sharks were interested in the idea, but Shark Mark Cuban ended up making a deal with Young and Coleman.<\/span><\/p>\n Cuban offered them $1.5 million for a 10 percent stake in Sworkit as well as $1.5 million worth of unsold ad space on the app. Due to a difference in vision for the company, the deal between Cuban and Sworkit fell through. Since being on the show, Sworkit has become extremely popular and is one of the top exercise apps. It’s available on both Apple and Android phones.<\/span><\/p>\n Nerdwax is an all-natural wax product designed to keep glasses and sunglasses from sliding down the bridge of your nose. Founder Don Hejny and his family appeared on Shark Tank for funding as well as a mentorship. Hejny asked for $80,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company. All of the Sharks were interested, but a deal was never made.<\/span><\/p>\n In the 72 hours following the airing of Nerdwax’s appearance on Shark Tank, the business made $150,000 in sales. Sales were roughly $136,000 before the show aired and jumped to over $1 million very quickly. Nerdwax can be found on their website and in many other retailers. <\/span><\/p>\n Eco Nuts is an all-natural detergent company that was founded by Mona Weiss and Scott Shields. This company appeared on Shark Tank in season 4 and was then on track to sell about $250,000 worth of products. Weiss and Shields asked for $175,000 for a 15 percent stake in their product line.<\/span><\/p>\n Shark Robert Herjavec offered the couple $175,000 for a 50 percent stake in Eco Nuts. They were unwilling to part with that much of the business, so they declined the deal. Since being on the show, Eco Nuts has generated more than $1 million in sales thanks to exposure from Shark Tank. <\/span><\/p>\n Solemates are small plastic slipcovers that protect high heels from sinking into grass and other soft surfaces. This product was pitched on Shark Tank by founders Becca Brown and Monica Ferguson in 2016. The Sharks were interested, and two of them made offers.<\/span><\/p>\n Sharks Daymond John and Robert Herjavec made offers to invest in Solemates, but Brown and Ferguson turned them down. They felt at the time it was the right decision to prepare for their business. Even without help from the Sharks, Solemates has flourished. They partnered with CVS and are now sold in more than 4,000 locations around the world. They are also sold on Amazon.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the more notable rejections from Shark Tank is Copa Di Vino. These unique sealed plastic tumblers of wine appealed to the Sharks, but mostly because of the cup design. Founder James Martin was unwilling to sell the patented container without it containing his own wine, so he didn’t accept any deal made by the Sharks.<\/span><\/p>\n After appearing on the show, Copa Di Vino went from selling $600,000 worth of wine cups a year to selling $5 million in products. Martin went back onto the show for another pitching session, but the Sharks only wanted to buy the container without the wine. He once again refused the offers, and Copa Di Vino is still selling like crazy. The innovative company has sold more than 40 million cups of wine.<\/span><\/p>\n In the second season of Shark Tank, inventor Joseph Moore pitched his idea for First Defense Nasal Screens. These nasal air filters were designed to be worn on the nostrils and had the ability to filter out up to 99 percent of allergens, dust, and pollen to reduce allergy symptoms. Unlike face masks, these nasal screens are nearly invisible.<\/span><\/p>\n The Sharks were so impressed that Moore had a contract in hand for eight million units to be shipped overseas. Many of them made offers, with Shark Robert Herjavec offering him $4 million plus 10 percent royalties for the entire business. Moore rejected that deal but ended up partnering with Kevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban, and Daymond John for $750,000 for a 30 percent stake in the company as well as a 15 percent royalty and season tickets to the Dallas Mavericks. Today, First Defense Nasal Screens are sold in more than 50 countries around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n You may have seen Kodiak Cakes on the shelf at your local grocery store and not even known it was a Shark Tank product. Founder Joel Clark appeared on Shark Tank in its fifth season to pitch his healthy, whole grain, and protein-rich pancake mix. The Sharks enjoyed the taste of Kodiak Cakes, and many wanted to make a deal.<\/span><\/p>\n Clark initially wanted $500,000 for a 10 percent stake in the company. Sharks Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran teamed up to offer him $500,000 for 50 percent of Kodiak Cakes. Clark declined to offer and left the show without any funding. In the year following the Shark Tank appearance, Kodiak Cakes doubled their sales and are now making more than $50 million each year. It has become the fourth-largest pancake mix producer in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n These handcrafted wood sunglasses are stylish and eco-friendly. Proof Eyewear was founded by brothers Brooks, Tanner, and Taylor. They pitched their company to the Sharks in season four of Shark Tank.<\/span><\/p>\n Several of the Sharks were impressed by the pitch, and the brothers were offered a deal of $150,000 for a 25 percent stake in Proof Eyewear. Initially, they only wanted to give up 10 percent of the company, so they countered with an offer of $200,000 for a 20 percent stake. The Sharks didn’t take kindly to that and bowed out. Since being on the show, Proof Eyewear is doing quite well. A flagship store opened in Boise, Idaho, and their glasses are sold in more than 20 countries around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n If there was one product we had to guess the Sharks regret rejecting, it’s the Ring Video Doorbell. In season five of Shark Tank, founder Jamie Siminoff pitched his idea for DoorBot. DoorBot was a specialized doorbell with a camera attached that let homeowners see and talk to people at their front door through their smartphone.<\/span><\/p>\n Siminoff wanted $700,000 for a 10 percent stake in the company, but the Sharks were not interested. None of them made him an offer, so he walked away empty-handed. Since being on the show, DoorBot was changed to Ring. Ring was bought by Amazon for over $1 billion in 2018 and is now one of the most successful products to be featured on Shark Tank.<\/span><\/p>\n Baking is a fun hobby, but it actually requires a lot of precise measuring. Thanks to the Smart Baker, baking has never been easier. Husband and wife duo Daniel and Stephanie Rensing pitched their cookware, cake stands, and aprons on Shark Tank’s third season.<\/span><\/p>\n The Sharks were impressed with the Smart Baker’s line of products, and Shark Barbara Corcoran offered the couple $75,000 for a 40 percent stake in the company as well as five percent of royalties. The Rensings accepted the offer, but after the show, they ended up declining. Within a year of being in the show, revenue had climbed to nearly $600,000, and it reached $1 million the following year.<\/span><\/p>\n Many runners and running experts say running barefoot is the best thing for your body. In the fourth season of Shark Tank, husband and wife team Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix pitched their idea for running shoes that simulate barefoot running. Some of the Sharks were interested, and Shark Kevin O’Leary made them an offer.<\/span><\/p>\n O’Leary offered the couple $400,000 for a 50 percent stake in Xero Shoes. They declined and left the show with no deal. The publicity from being on the show boosted sales, with 2,500 pairs of shoes being sold within the first week of the episode airing. Now, Xero Shoes makes more than $12 million each year.<\/span><\/p>\n In the first season of Shark Tank, entrepreneur Jeff Cohen made an appearance on the show to pitch his idea for Voyage Air Guitars. His guitars fold in half to make traveling with the instrument much more manageable. The neck of the guitar folds down for easy packing but doesn’t affect the sound quality of the instrument.<\/span><\/p>\n Initially, Cohen asks for $500,000 for a 5 percent stake in Voyage Air Guitars. The Sharks balk at the valuation and levied a counteroffer of $500,000 for a 51 percent stake in the company. Cohen didn’t want to give up that much of his business, so he walked away. Even without funding, Voyage Air Guitar is a success, with more than 200 retail stores around the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n Henry’s Humdingers is a gourmet honey company run by young entrepreneur Henry Miller and his family. His flavored honey comes in delicious flavors like pepper & ginger, cayenne & garlic, and chipotle & cinnamon. Miller appeared on the show seeking $150,000 for a 25 percent stake in the company.<\/span><\/p>\n The Sharks like Miller and his presentation, but don’t see value in the spicy honey business, so many of them bowed out. Shark Robert Herjavec offered Miller $300,000 for a 75 percent stake in the company, and the deal was accepted. Eventually, he decided to turn down the deal to keep the business in his family’s control. After being on Shark Tank, Henry’s Humdingers business increased 300 percent and ended up being sold on QVC.<\/span><\/p>\n For most of us, our pets feel like a member of the family. On your pet’s birthday, wouldn’t you like to bake them a cake? Thanks to Puppy Cake dog-friendly cake mixes, you can bake a special cake just for your pet.<\/span><\/p>\n Puppy Cake was pitched on Shark Tank by entrepreneur Kelly Chaney. She was seeking a deal of $50,000 for 25 percent of the business. The Sharks saw the product as more of a novelty than a viable business, so none of them made a deal. Since being on Shark Tank, Chaney has expanded her business and gotten a licensing agreement for her cake mixes.<\/span><\/p>\n Buying flowers online can be expensive and loaded with hidden fees. The Bouqs Co. aims to change that. All bouquets sold on The Bouqs Co. website are $44, and that includes shipping and delivery fees.<\/span><\/p>\n Founder John Tabis did not make a great impression on Shark Tank, and none of the Sharks offered him a deal. That didn’t phase Tabis. So over the three years following his appearance on Shark Tank, The Bouqs Co. made more than $43 million. Eventually, Shark Robert Herjavec hired Tabis to make the floral arrangements for his wedding to ballroom dancer Kym Johnson and was so impressed that he ended up investing in the company.<\/span><\/p>\n The Lip Bar is a line of cocktail-inspired cosmetics created by Melissa Butler and Roscoe Speres. They pitched their business on Shark Tank’s sixth season. Eventually, Butler and Speres wanted to buy a mobile truck and have a traveling version of The Lip Bar.<\/span><\/p>\n When they pitched The Lip Bar to the Sharks, the founders wanted $125,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company. The Sharks weren’t exactly fans of the crazy lipstick colors and thought the business model wouldn’t go anywhere, so none of them made an offer. After being rejected, Butler approached Target and got her products into their stores. The Lip Bar also sells on Amazon.<\/span><\/p>\n MealEnders are appetite suppressant lozenges that are intended to curb appetites and keep people from overeating. The founder, Mark Bernstein, hopes that MealEnders can help people lose weight by eating less. The tablets are slightly sweet and work to trigger the signal to the brain that your stomach is full.<\/span><\/p>\n The Sharks sampled the products and didn’t really enjoy the taste. None of them saw the business taking off, and Bernstein left the show without a deal. In the days after the show aired, more than $400,000 worth of Meal Enders sold. You can find this product on the company’s website and Amazon.<\/span><\/p>\n1. All About Shark Tank<\/span><\/h2>\n
2. CoatChex<\/span><\/h2>\n
3. Spikeball<\/span><\/h2>\n
4. ISlide<\/span><\/h2>\n
5. Cinnaholic<\/span><\/h2>\n
6. Echo Valley Meats<\/span><\/h2>\n
7. Coffee Meets Bagel<\/span><\/h2>\n
8. SoapSox<\/span><\/h2>\n
9. Sworkit<\/span><\/h2>\n
10. Nerdwax<\/span><\/h2>\n
11. Eco Nuts<\/span><\/h2>\n
12. Solemates<\/span><\/h2>\n
13. Copa Di Vino<\/span><\/h2>\n
14. First Defense Nasal Screens<\/span><\/h2>\n
15. Kodiak Cakes<\/span><\/h2>\n
16. Proof Eyewear<\/span><\/h2>\n
17. Ring Video Doorbell<\/span><\/h2>\n
18. The Smart Baker<\/span><\/h2>\n
19. Xero Shoes<\/span><\/h2>\n
20. Voyage Air Guitar<\/span><\/h2>\n
21. Henry’s Humdingers<\/span><\/h2>\n
22. Puppy Cake<\/span><\/h2>\n
23. The Bouqs Co.<\/span><\/h2>\n
24. The Lip Bar<\/span><\/h2>\n
25. MealEnders<\/span><\/h2>\n