Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 items that were rejected by the investors on “Shark Tank,” but have become popular through Amazon.
#20: BedJet
Season 6 of “Shark Tank” gave NASA engineer Mark the financial opportunity of a lifetime. His invention: the BedJet. A climate control system made especially for beds, this device helps to alleviate the discomfort of a bed getting too hot or too cold. All five Sharks rejected the pitch, with Kevin O’Leary, (Mr.) wonderful as ever, going as far as to say: “You will never sell this device”. Well Sharks, we’ve got some news for you. This sold--and it sold well. In fact, by the end of 2020, the company had sold its 100,000th unit, and launched additional add-on products.
#19: First Defense Nasal Screens
We’re bending the rules a little bit here, as this guy did end up leaving the Tank with a great business deal - but it’s the way in which he turned the tables on the Sharks by rejecting a killer offer, that really got our attention. First Defense Nasal Screens sells air filtration devices for each nostril of your nose, capable of filtering out things like allergens and pollen. At first, The Sharks aren’t impressed, but when CEO Joseph K. Moore hits them with impressive sales figures of 1.7 million units, they start to listen up. His initial aim was to get £500,000 for a 10% stake in the company. He didn’t get that, but he did get an offer of $4 million to buy his entire company. But Moore rejected it. Instead, he fought his corner, and ended up agreeing a three-way deal with Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John and Cuban for $750,000 for a 30 percent stake and a 10 percent perpetual royalty. Today, the company is flying, with the nifty nasal filters available worldwide.
#18: Baker's Edge Non-Stick Pan
Some people like ooey-gooey pieces of brownie cut right from the center. For others, a corner piece is the most coveted, due to the delightful textural contrast it provides. For those in the latter category, this maze-like baking pan is a dream come true - shaped in such a way as to give every piece two crispy edges and make cutting a breeze. Of course, it has applications beyond brownies as well. Baker's Edge might have been a “no” on Shark Tank, but it’s been a resounding “yes” on Amazon.
#17: Spikeball
Spikeball is based on an old toy whose trademark ran out - and Chris Ruder swooped in to nab it and rebrand it as Spikeball. Tournaments are held everywhere for this volleyball-esque game, and Chris was keen to secure a $500k investment for 10% of the company. Initially the Sharks don’t seem too keen, questioning the product's valuation. But after some negotiating, Chris and Shark Daymond agree on a $500k, 20% deal. Unfortunately, the deal never closed, but since then, Spikeball has become somewhat of an institution. There are professional-level Spikeball-branded Tournaments and World Championships everywhere - and even lobbying for it to become an olympic sport. In the process, the product has made a lot of money and has an estimated net worth of over $45 million.
#16: Slawsa
Get a little coleslaw, a little salsa, throw in some mustard, and you’ve got the unique condiment called Slawsa. While Julie Busha isn’t the creator of the hamburger and hot dog topping, she is the owner of the company, after having purchased it in 2013. She was thus the one to pitch the brand on season five of “Shark Tank”, subsequent to introducing the product to more than 4,000 stores across the U.S. Her tenacity earned her admiration from the Sharks but, unfortunately, not their funds. Since her appearance on the show, Slawsa has expanded to the shelves of more than 7,000 stores.
#15: Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs
You don’t need to be a professional musician to appreciate the benefits of high quality earplugs. Kevin O’Leary expressed interest when Vibes founder Jack Mann appeared on the show in early 2017, but Mann wasn’t willing to offer the royalties that O’Leary wanted in exchange. And so Mann walked away. Clearly, he made the right move, as business has been good ever since, even tapping into unexpected markets. With over 1000 reviews at an average of about 4.3 stars, Vibes clearly didn't need O’Leary’s cash injection to thrive.
#14: CellHelmet
Even billionaires drop their phones sometimes. To avoid the problem of smashed phone screens, David Artuso and Mike Kane came up with an idea for a tougher phone case, as well as a guaranteed repair or replacement if the phone broke while within it. Unfortunately, the Sharks weren’t biting. Predicting that bigger companies with larger budgets would pounce on the idea as soon as CellHelmet became big, it didn’t take long for the investors to scatter. But upon arriving home, the two founders immediately discovered that their inbox was filled with offers from other investors. CellHelmet has been available at over 3000 wireless stores across the U.S.
#13: EZPZ Happy Mat
As any parent will tell you, when you’ve got babies, toddlers or young kids, you’re fighting a never ending battle against mess. While there’s no quick fix, EZPZ certainly is a useful weapon to have in your parenting arsenal come mealtime. You’d think that its appeal would have made Shark Tank funding a foregone conclusion, but the gap between inventor Lindsey Laurain’s valuation and that of the Sharks was just too large of a gap. Regardless, EZPZ clearly didn’t need help to prosper, as it’s doing extremely well online.
#12: Teaspressa
It’s tea, but it tastes like coffee, or at least that’s what we think it is. And that’s kind of the point. Allison DeVane created this special coffee copycat as she likes coffee, but it gives her headaches. And she went into the Shark Tank looking for $50k for a 10% stake in her company. But from the get-go, the Sharks were confused about the product, and what Allison could actually bring to the table from a business sense. It got quite intense, especially for Allison, as she started crying and pleading with the Sharks. Neither of them invested, and all seemed lost. But since then, Allison has excelled, with online and retail sales thriving.
#11: Puppy Cake
We know, it’s not the greatest name, but a cake mix created specifically for dogs to enjoy some pooch pampering sounds good to us. Creator Kelly was looking for a $50,000 investment for 25% of her company. And she even brought her dog Minnie along to show just how enticing her doggy cake blend is. The Sharks don’t bite however, and largely dismiss the company as a gimmick, and say it needs more products in its line-up besides cake mix. They also question Kelly’s commitment. She leaves empty handed - but in her post-Tank interview, said she was going to build on the weaknesses outlined by The Sharks. And it appears she did just that. Kelly has expanded the range to include things like doggy ice cream, and she also landed a lucrative licensing agreement with Uncle Jimmy’s Brand Products.
#10: Buzzy
Intended for children receiving needles or finger pricks, Buzzy is a small, reusable, and vibrating ice pack. According to their own product description, “Buzzy combines fast and focused ice-cold temperature and vibration therapies to replace pain before it can reach your brain.” The product’s founder, Dr. Amy Baxter, was asking the sharks for $500,000 in return for 5%. She was turned down for a variety of reasons, including her high valuation and shoddy sales strategy. Baxter was offered $500,000 for 20%, but she declined - much to the disappointment of Barbara, who called it an “arrogant” move. Regardless, Buzzy seems to be doing well. It has an average of 4.3 stars on Amazon and is estimated to be in 5,000 hospitals and clinics.
#9: Eco Nuts
Upon hearing this name, you might be fooled into believing this is another one of those healthy snack options. Turns out, this product isn’t even edible! Mona Weiss and Scott Shields entered the tank to pitch their eco-friendly soap substitute, which is made from the “soap nuts” of a Himalayan Lychee tree--hence the name! Even before appearing on the show, their little business was quite busy, raking in $100,000 in sales the year prior. Scott estimated that it was a million-dollar market, but the Sharks didn’t buy it, and the two were sent packing. Their time in the tank yielded them a boost in sales, and actually did put them past the million-dollar mark! The company is still around today and has expanded to include other products.
#8: SoapSox
It’s a stuffed animal, but it’s also a washcloth and toy for bathtime. That’s the crooks of it. And after their $50k Kickstarter helped them launch, Ray and Alvin hoped to secure a $260k investment for 10% of their company. The Sharks hit out at the pricing of the product right away, and suggested they find a way to lower it. Ray and Alvin regroup and hit the Sharks with another offer - $350k for 15% - but that doesn’t go down well. They then get an offer to buy the company outright for $1 million - but they pass on the offer and leave empty handed. Since their appearance on Shark Tank, Ray and Alvin have done deals with Disney Baby and Paw Patrol, and are still going strong.
#7: Nerdwax
No this isn’t lip balm. And it’s not something to clean your glasses lenses with either. Nerdwax is a special-formulated, chapstick-like product that when applied to your glasses, stops them from slipping off your head. Nerdwax founders Don and Lydia got the company off the ground thanks to a $60k Kickstarter campaign, and they entered the Tank looking to secure $80k for a 20% share. Their proposed deal and product was met with a fair amount of scrutiny, and when it came to The Sharks pitching their own deals, things got a little complicated, and heated - mainly between Daymond and Mark. Don, Lydia, Daymond and Mark go back and forth for quite a while, but ultimately, neither of them cut a deal. But Nerdwax went on to sell well online, and there are even some Nerdwax retail stores in Europe and Asia.
#6: MealEnders
Have you ever finished a meal and felt completely full, yet you still reached for an extra snack? Yeah, happens to the best of us. MealEnders gets it though! Their product comes in the form of lozenges intended to discourage overeating. After selling more than a million dollars’ worth of product, founder Mark Bernstein went into the tank looking for additional investors to grow his business. Although they were intrigued at first, in the end, none of the Sharks wanted in. However, as we’ve mentioned, exposure can sometimes be worth just as much as a deal, and his product made over $400,000 in just a few days after the episode aired. The lozenges are still currently for sale on Amazon and on MealEnders’ website.
#5: Kodiak Cakes
Aside from possibly getting funded, the biggest advantage to appearing on a show like “Shark Tank” is the opportunity for visibility. Kodiak Cakes were already selling in Safeways and Targets, but the business owners, Joel Clark and Cameron Smith, decided Shark Tank would be a good way to gain more exposure. They managed to get two offers but felt that the Sharks undervalued the company’s worth, so they walked away. It turned out they’d been right about gaining exposure, though, because within six weeks of the episode airing, they’d brought in a million dollars of additional revenue. Shortly after, the success of their business was taken to whole new heights with the launch of new Protein Power Cakes. The Sharks certainly missed a ‘sweet’ opportunity!
#4: Rocketbook
Making it to #1 on Amazon is every developer’s dream - and these two managed to do it without the Sharks’ help. Pitching their idea for a reusable digital notebook that was reset by putting it in the microwave, entrepreneurs Jake Epstein and Joe LeMay claimed to have a revolutionary idea on their hands. However, not only did the Sharks not see an opportunity with the product; they laughed the duo off the show, right into the arms of success. Shortly after airing, Epstein and LeMay reported earnings of over $10 million, and the Rocketbook was Amazon’s #1 best selling notebook in November 2016.
#3: Lip Bar
Breaking into the beauty industry isn’t an easy thing to do, but these two makeup artists were determined. Pitching their all-natural and extensively colored line of lipsticks, entrepreneurs Melissa Butler and Rosco Spears managed to impress the Sharks with the quality of their product. However, the duo’s weak numbers and confused marketing strategy had the Sharks bowing out. Apparently magazines like Cosmopolitan and Ebony thought otherwise, however, as the two have enjoyed coverage from both, and have launched their own mobile Lip Bar tour to further spread their brand.
#2: Xero Shoes
Even with the Sharks expert financial advice, sometimes you might be able to see your company’s potential better than they ever could. After pitching an ultra-minimal sandal for either day-to-day or running use, Steve Sashen and Lena Phoenix predicted that their product was worth $5 million. Calling the sandals nothing more than “rubber and a string,” the Sharks scattered, but the money soon started rolling in. In the week after the show aired, Xero Shoes managed to sell the same amount they usually sold in three months. The sandals might be simple, but they sell.
#1: Ring [aka Doorbot]
The Sharks aren’t the only investors prowling the waters. Originally named the DoorBot, this product kickstarted a new type of smart-home security. It’s a doorbell equipped with a camera that streams footage to your smartphone. After rejection from most of the Sharks and a declined offer, the product attracted other huge investors including Richard Branson, Goldman Sachs, and Qualcomm Ventures. Developer Jamie Siminoff has since rebranded the DoorBot into the “Ring” app, and continues to expand and create new products for his line. Good thing he opened the door when opportunity came knocking.
