Shark Tank has been inspiring entrepreneurs across the world since 2009. Those in the process of building a business can come into the “tank” and pitch their ideas to five titans of industry who have had incredible success in their own business ventures. Since I started watching Shark Tank, it has quickly become my favorite show and an everyday obsession. Although I don’t see entrepreneurship in my future, I love the show and often come across pitches for ideas that I wish I had thought of myself. I’m no Mark Cuban, but here are, in my opinion, five of the best ideas that have come through Shark Tank.
The Paint Brush Cover
The Paint Brush Cover, created by Sal Depaola, John Depaola and Anthony Caputo, is a simple fix for a common problem. It is a plastic cover that snaps over wet paint brushes or paint rollers to keep them wet for up to 30 days. This benefits consumers by allowing them to do painting projects without constantly having to clean the brushes. The product fascinated me because I just couldn’t believe that no one had thought of this sooner given how useful it is. After securing a deal with Lori Greiner on Shark Tank in 2014, the company’s sales jumped from $35,000 to $2.5 million in the first year. It just goes to show that sometimes the best ideas are the simplest.
Bantam Bagels
Nick and Elyse Oleksak appeared on Shark Tank in 2015 to pitch their business, Bantam Bagels. The sharks fell in love with their idea of cream cheese stuffed bagels, landing them a deal with Lori. This is personally my favorite food product that I have tried from Shark Tank. Bantam Bagels are now in a bunch of retail locations and their product line has heavily expanded. They not only have stuffed bagels, but they also have Bantam pizzas, egg bites and pancakes. In 2018, Nick and Elyse sold their business to T. Marzetti Co. for $34 million and the business still does $20 million in annual revenue.
PupBox
PupBox, created by Ben and Ariel Zvaifler, is a subscription service for new puppy owners. The box is designed to match your puppy’s size and needs throughout each month of it growing up. In each box, there are toys, treats, accessories and training guides. Ben and Ariel landed a deal with Robert Herjavec when they pitched this in 2016. It’s strange that I’m obsessed with PupBox given that I hate monthly subscription boxes and I don’t have a puppy, but when I watched this pitch, I loved it so much that it almost convinced me to get a puppy just so I can get this box. I thought it was genius that it walks through the stages of growth with the owner, and I love the vision of doing a monthly unboxing with my furry best friend.
Doorbot
Jamie Siminoff came onto Shark Tank in season five to pitch his invention, Doorbot. Doorbot has since been renamed Ring and is an incredibly popular product for anyone who wants a little extra home security. Unfortunately for the sharks, they denied the opportunity to invest in this now $415 million annual revenue company. In 2018, Amazon bought Ring for over $1 billion. There are obvious monetary incentives that make me wish I thought of this idea, but my main reasoning behind my jealousy of Jamie Siminoff is that he was able to appear on Shark Tank again as a guest shark. He was the first contestant on the show to ever be given this opportunity.
PhoneSoap
PhoneSoap, conceived by Wes La Porte and Dan Barnes, is a UV light sanitizer and phone charger. This was a miracle product for the pandemic, as phones are one of the dirtiest things we touch on a daily basis. They scored a deal with Lori and, as of December 2021, are doing $13.5 million in annual sales. I love this product because I hate germs, especially phone germs. I am the type of person to avoid setting my phone down on a public surface, but it’s inevitable at some point, so this is an amazing product to ensure that your phone is clean no matter where you’ve brought it.
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