Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking
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11 Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking

11 Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking Shark Tank deals, though promising, often face challenges post-investment. From regulatory hurdles to scalability issues, not every venture succeeds. These regrettable deals underscore the importance of due diligence and market sustainability. Despite their initial potential, the businesses listed here faltered due to various operational and market dynamics,…

11 Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking

Shark Tank deals, though promising, often face challenges post-investment. From regulatory hurdles to scalability issues, not every venture succeeds. These regrettable deals underscore the importance of due diligence and market sustainability.

Despite their initial potential, the businesses listed here faltered due to various operational and market dynamics, illustrating the complexities of entrepreneurship and investment.

Summary: Top 5 Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking

CompanyProductInvestorDeal AmountEquityValuationCurrent StatusNet Worth
ToyGarooToy SubscriptionKevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban$200,00035%$571,429Defunct$0
BreathometerSmartphone BreathalyzerAll Five Sharks$650,00030%$2.17 millionDefunct$0
ShowNo TowelsTowel with SlitLori Greiner$50,00025%$200,000Defunct$0
Voyage-Air GuitarFoldable GuitarKevin O’Leary$500,00049%$1.02 millionActiveN/A
Hy-ConnQuick-Connect HoseMark Cuban$1.25 million100% + royalty$1.25 millionDefunct$0

Investment Regrets

InvestorCompanyRegret Reason
Kevin O’Leary, Mark CubanToyGarooInventory & logistics failures
All Five SharksBreathometerRegulatory issues, inaccurate readings
Lori GreinerShowNo TowelsMarket interest waned
Kevin O’LearyVoyage-Air GuitarDeal fell through
Mark CubanHy-ConnScalability concerns

 

11 Worst Shark Tank Deals They Regret Taking & Shark Tank Deal Insights

ToyGaroo

ProductToyGaroo
FounderNikki Pope, Rob Dalton
Shark Tank Deal$200,000 for 35% equity
Amount Requested$100,000
Equity Stake35%
InvestorKevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban
Valuation at Show$285,714
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretBankruptcy shortly after investment

ToyGaroo was dubbed the “Netflix of toys,” offering a toy rental service. Despite early enthusiasm, the business model was unsustainable, leading to its collapse.

Breathometer

ProductBreathometer
FounderCharles Michael Yim
Shark Tank Deal$650,000 for 30% equity
Amount Requested$250,000
Equity Stake30%
InvestorMark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec
Valuation at Show$833,333
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretFTC settlement over false advertising claims

Breathometer promised a smartphone-connected breathalyzer. However, the company faced issues with product accuracy and regulatory compliance, leading to its downfall.

ShowNo Towels

ProductShowNo Towels
FounderShelly Ehler
Shark Tank Deal$50,000 for 25% equity
Amount Requested$50,000
Equity Stake25%
InvestorLori Greiner
Valuation at Show$200,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretPartnership failed to scale

ShowNo Towels were intended as versatile, wearable towels for kids. Despite the initial investment, the business failed to scale and ceased operations.

Voyage-Air

ProductVoyage-Air Guitars
FounderJeff Cohen
Shark Tank Deal$500,000 for 51% equity
Amount Requested$500,000
Equity Stake51%
InvestorNone – deal not finalized
Valuation at Show$980,392
Current StatusStill in Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?Yes
RegretCould not finalize a favorable deal

Voyage-Air Guitars featured a foldable guitar design. Despite interest, Jeff Cohen chose not to finalize the deal, opting to retain more control over his company.

Hy-Conn

ProductHy-Conn
FounderJeff Stroope
Shark Tank Deal$1.25 million for 100% equity
Amount Requested$500,000
Equity Stake100%
InvestorMark Cuban
Valuation at Show$500,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretDeal fell through due to disagreements

Hy-Conn offered quick-connect fittings for fire hoses. Despite Mark Cuban’s initial interest, the deal fell through due to disagreements on the terms, leading to the company’s closure.

HillBilly

ProductHillBilly Brand Clothing
FounderMichael Woolley and Chris Vance
Shark Tank Deal$50,000 for 25% equity
Amount Requested$50,000
Equity Stake25%
InvestorBarbara Corcoran
Valuation at Show$200,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretInability to scale and sustain market presence

HillBilly Brand Clothing aimed to capture a niche market with its rural lifestyle-themed apparel. Despite initial funding, the company failed to achieve significant market penetration and eventually shut down.

Body Jac

ProductBody Jac
FounderCactus Jack
Shark Tank Deal$180,000 for 50% equity
Amount Requested$180,000
Equity Stake50%
InvestorBarbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington
Valuation at Show$360,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretProduct failure to gain traction

Body Jac was an exercise machine designed to make push-ups easier. Despite securing investment, the product failed to resonate with consumers and was discontinued.

Toy Box

ProductToy Box
FounderLisa Lloyd
Shark Tank Deal$50,000 for 50% equity
Amount Requested$50,000
Equity Stake50%
InvestorDaymond John
Valuation at Show$100,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretMarket failure

Toy Box was an all-in-one toy storage solution. The product struggled to find a market, and despite initial interest, the business eventually folded.

Sweet Ballz

ProductSweet Ballz
FounderJames McDonald, Cole Egger
Shark Tank Deal$250,000 for 25% equity
Amount Requested$250,000
Equity Stake25%
InvestorMark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran
Valuation at Show$1,000,000
Current StatusStill in Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?Yes
RegretFounders’ legal disputes

Sweet Ballz produced gourmet cake balls. Despite initial success, legal disputes between the founders hampered growth and led to significant business challenges.

Chef Big Shake

ProductChef Big Shake
FounderShawn Davis
Shark Tank Deal$200,000 for 25% equity
Amount Requested$200,000
Equity Stake25%
InvestorNone – deal not finalized
Valuation at Show$800,000
Current StatusStill in Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?Yes
RegretCould not secure favorable terms

Chef Big Shake offered shrimp burgers and other seafood products. Although the deal was not finalized on the show, the business continued to grow and is still operational today.

You Smell Soap

ProductYou Smell Soap
FounderMegan Cummins
Shark Tank Deal$55,000 for 20% equity
Amount Requested$55,000
Equity Stake20%
InvestorRobert Herjavec
Valuation at Show$275,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretFounder chose another investor

You Smell Soap was a luxury soap brand. Although Robert Herjavec offered a deal, founder Megan Cummins chose another investor, which eventually led to the business failing to thrive.

CATEapp

ProductCATEapp
FounderNeal Desai, George Keritsis
Shark Tank Deal$70,000 for 30% equity
Amount Requested$50,000
Equity Stake30%
InvestorKevin O’Leary
Valuation at Show$166,666
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretMarket did not adopt the technology

CATEapp was a privacy app that allowed users to hide text messages and call logs. Despite initial interest, the product failed to gain significant market traction and was eventually discontinued.

Green Box

ProductGreen Box
FounderNed Hill
Shark Tank Deal$300,000 for 10% equity
Amount Requested$300,000
Equity Stake10%
InvestorLori Greiner
Valuation at Show$3,000,000
Current StatusOut of Business
Net WorthN/A
Still in Business?No
RegretUnable to sustain operations

Green Box was an environmentally-friendly pizza box that could be repurposed into plates. Despite the initial hype, the company couldn’t maintain operations and eventually went out of business.

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