The 'Shark Tank' Sharks Don't Regret Rejecting These Unsuccessful Pitches

Summary

• The Shark Tank Sharks rejected a number of pitches on their show, and their intuitions were right about a lot of them.
• Many products faced unfavorable outcomes after appearing on Shark Tank.
• Only a select few products, like Ledge Pillow, managed to find short-lived success after the show.

The Shark Tank panel’s ability to see through the weaknesses and strengths of business proposals maintained the show’s authenticity over the years. Fans of the ABC-produced show watched entrepreneurs walk in and out of the studio, taking their best shots at striking deals worth thousands of dollars to invest in their company or product.

However, while some business owners managed to get the sharks on their side, others couldn’t make it past a few sentences. Sharks like Kevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban, and Barbara Corcoran can’t help but notice the flaws in proposals from the onset. This article will look back at products and proposals that sent the panel into red alert and outright rejection because they were doomed to fail from the start.

10 What Happened To Pavlok After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $500,000

Entrepreneur Maneesh Sethi appeared on Shark Tank in season 7, looking to convince the sharks of his habit-breaking device, Pavlock. How does it work? The product is a wearable device synced to an app where the user can send shock effects to their bodies once they get the urge to indulge in a habit. Sethi explained that the product, named after the Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov, aimed to break habits like nail-biting, binge-eating, and over-sleeping.

Kevin O’Leary wasted no time calling Sethi out as he labeled him a con artist. This was because most of the scientific studies he presented were from past research unrelated to his device. Mark Cuban also questioned the lack of clinical evidence, with which Lori Greiner agreed. Nine months after leaving Shark Tank without a deal, Maneesh Sethi revealed that the company gained over 10,000 customers due to traction from the reality show.

The order reportedly reached over $30,000. However, in recent times, the company has failed to reach its valuation figure, making it relatively smaller than other Shark Tank-approved businesses like Scrub Daddy.

Pavlok in the years after Shark Tank, according to Medium:

• Pavlok’s net worth is $40,000.
• The company makes $19,000 yearly in revenue.
• Maneesh shifted focus to a new product for hypnotizing strangers.

9 What Happened To Squeeky Knees After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $80,000

Lisa Evans and Ivan Barnes pitched their toddler-focused Squeeky Knees pants with padded knees to protect babies in the crawling stage. The unique feature was an in-built sound system that makes a squeaky sound to alert parents of their toddlers’ location. The sharks were totally put off after the creators revealed that they made $10,000 after three years of launching.

The Squeeky Knees creators did not get a deal from the sharks, but they gained some publicity. However, according to the Gazette Review, their popularity was temporary. Lisa Evans and Ivan Barnes remained in business until 2017. Unlike some "Shark Tank" rejects that became successful, Squeeky Knees did not stand the test of time.

Squeeky Knees after Shark Tank, according to Gazette Review:

• Most of their products were listed as out of stock in 2017.
• Squeeky Knees social media page was last updated in 2014.
• As of 2020, the Sqeeky Knees online domain was converted to a baby blog.

8 What Happened To Ledge Pillow After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $30,000

The Ledge Pillow product, as the name indicates, was designed as a pillow to help women with bigger boobs when they sleep. The creator, Amanda Schlecter, designed the memory foam for women with sensitive breasts who liked to sleep on their stomachs. However, Mark Cuban did not find the product promising.

The investor described Amanda Schlecter as a “wantrepreneur” before declining her offer. The other sharks ultimately did not buy her idea. Updates in the aftermath of her pitch showed that the Ledge Pillow business had become obsolete.

Inside Amanda Schlecter’s struggles with Ledge Pillow, according to The List:

• Amanda Schlecter struggled to sell her product three years before Shark Tank.
• The Sharks believed her business had a limited market.
• The Ledge Pillow website and Facebook page were shot down shortly after her Shark Tank episode.

7 What Happened To Go Cubes After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $2 million

The creators of Go Cubes, Geoffrey Woo and Michael Brandt, looked to carve their own space in the coffee industry amid many other caffeine-related products. The duo who marketed the Go Cubes through their joint company NootroBox explained that each cube is equivalent to half a cup of coffee, making them chewable coffee. However, the sharks could not be convinced to come onboard.

Michael Brandt and Geoffrey Woo struggled to answer Lori Greiner’s question. They also hit a dead end when Kevin O’Leary asked them about their company's $40 million valuation. After Shark Tank, Woo revealed that the product received six times as many orders following their episode, but this did not last long.

Updates on Go Cubes after Shark Tank:

• Michael Brandt and Georffrey Woo rebranded Nootrobox as Health Bia Modern Nutrition (HVMN)
• Go Cubes were phased out in March 2019, according to Mashed

6 What Happened To No Fly Cone After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $25,000

Shark Tank sharks were left gobsmacked after Bruce Gaither pitched his No Fly Cone solution for barns. The adhesive cones were to be placed over horse and dog poop to attract flies and trap them. This pitch did not sail with the sharks, who were skeptical about the poop part. Even the appearance of "Family Guy" star Seth McFarlane could not convince the sharks.

Bruce Gaither left Shark Tank without a deal but continued to market the product on his website. He also promoted it on Facebook while collaborating with ACE hardware.

Latest updates on Bruce Gaither’s No Fly Cones

• The product products were initially sold on Amazon until they developed constant technology issues.
• Unfortunately, Bruce Gaither’s No Fly Cones went out of business in 2016.

5 What Happened To Ecomower After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $90,000

According to entrepreneur Andy Humphrey, his Ecomowers were an eco-friendly line of lawn mowers which were noiseless and safer alternatives to traditional lawn mowers. The creator who appeared on Shark Tank in season 2 received no offers for his investment demand and equity of 20%.

Andy Humphrey’s Ecomowers are no longer in business. According to Shark Tank Recap, Andy Humphrey desperately needed the deal from the sharks to keep his company running, despite stating that he made $350,000 in sales in the year he appeared on Shark Tank.

More updates on Andy Humphrey’s Ecomowers

• The company seemingly folded up not long after Humphrey’s stint on Shark Tank.
• The Ecomowers website and social
• Media space is no longer active.

4 What Happened To Elephant Chat After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $50,000

In Shark Tank’s fifth season, the newly wedded couple Amanda and Jason Adams dreamed of becoming a power couple by leveraging communication among lovers. They created the elephant chat toy, an elephant plushie to help couples get on track during conversations. The sharks were not convinced of its effectiveness as they also considered the high cost of the product.

Amanda and Jason Adams walked away from Shark Tank with no deal. In an ironic twist, Elephant Chat folded up after six months. Amanda reportedly filed for divorce, leading to the demise of the business.

What did Shark Tank’s sharks think of Elephant Chat?

• Lori Greiner felt the Elephant Chat plushies were too expensive at a retail price of $59.00.
• Kevin O’Leary viewed the product as a ripoff.
• Robert Herjavec stated that Elephant Chat was not realistic enough after applying its theories to his situation with his ex-wife.

3 What Happened To Cougar Energy After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $150,000

Cougar Energy drink was doomed from the start due to the premise of its creation. The product owner, Ryan Custer, prided himself as the first to create a gender-specific beverage, but this was the actual issue. The sharks frowned at the product meant for older women who dated younger men.

Cougar Energy did not secure an offer from sharks and subsequently went out of business. The website now redirects to Custer’s Creations, which is Ryan Custer’s professional site. Per DailyMeal, the creator ended his role as founder and CEO of Cougar in 2014, two years after appearing on Shark Tank.

What the Sharks thought of Cougar Energy:

• Mark Cuban had no faith in the name “Cougar.”
• Barbara Corcoran said the drink tasted like chalk. Even Ryan Custer’s older girlfriend pretended to drink it.
• Draymond John frowned at Cougar Energy’s limited sales.
• While Kevin O’Leary felt the industry was too competitive.

2 What Happened To Skinny Mirror After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $200,000

The Skinny Mirror came off as a placebo effect when CEO Belinda Jasmine made her proposal on Shark Tank Season 7. The sharks cited issues of the mental and physical health implications on users, which led them to reject Jasmine’s proposal. Seven months after making its TV debut on Shark Tank, the Skinny Mirror business died a natural death.

Lori Greiner and Draymond John tried it out during the pitch, and the latter joked about needing one. However, all the sharks eventually concluded that it could result in body image issues.

About Skinny Mirror stats:

1 What Happened To Wake n’ Bacon After Shark Tank?

Investment demand of $40,000

Matty Stalin brought a twist to alarm clocks when he presented his Wake n’ Bacon device, which doubles as an alarm clock and a bacon cooker. The Shark Tank panel thought it was innovative and hilarious, but their safety concern was the product's weakness. Stalin walked away without a deal and did not get Wake n' Bacon off the ground.

What was Wake n’ Bacon all about?

Kevin O’Leary wondered if anyone would want a mini-oven by their bedside, and Barbara Corcoran echoed the same sentiment. However, she thought it would be a nice gift. Mark Cuban, who was once blamed alongside O'Leary for a billion-dollar fail, was unimpressed when Matty Stalin stated that $10,000 was the minimum production cost. The investor recommended $175,000, which Stalin took. Ultimately, he still could not snag a deal with the sharks.