Shark Tank has been around since 2009, providing a great way for entrepreneurs to raise money and get some publicity. Since its inception, the Sharks have made more than 500 televised deals but not all of them have closed! Below are ten of the biggest Shark Tank deals in the show’s history.
Largest Ever Shark Tank Deals:
1. Zipz Wine – $2.5 Million
Zipz is a wine business that stands out because of its single-serve packaging. It’s in a plastic container shaped like a wine glass. You just need to peel and unscrew the top to drink wine on the go.
The company was started by Andrew McMurray and J. Henry Scott. However, only Andrew pitched the product on season 6 of Shark Tank, asking for $2.5 million for 10% equity.
Wine connoisseur, Kevin O’Leary agreed to Andrew’s initial ask with a few adjustments. After the show, Zipz faced tough competition and wasn’t able to make a profit. As a result, they stopped making wine and focused on packaging other drinks.
Still, the business makes $600,000 annually and is valued at $1 million. This is a far cry from their initial valuation of $25 million when they entered the Tank!
2. Vengo – $2 Million
Traditional vending machines are bulky. Vengo vending machines are different; they are small but smart. The machines can be installed anywhere as they only need up to two feet of wall space.
These machines were originally called Taxi Treats by founders Brian Shimmerlik and Steven Bofill. The duo featured on season seven, asking for $2 million for a 12.5% equity stake.
Kevin and Lori Greiner made a deal to loan them $2 million at 7% interest for 3% equity, but it didn’t close after the show. Vengo raised capital from other investors that valued the business at $50 million. Now, Vengo earns $20 million in annual revenue.
3. Ten Thirty One Productions – $2 Million
Ten Thirty One Productions was an entertainment company that produced live horror shows. Melissa Carbone appeared on season five of the show, asking for $2 million for 10%.
Mark Cuban invested $2 million for 20% and is still his largest ever investment on Shark Tank. In an interview with Business Insider in 2015, Cuban claimed it was one of his best deals at the time.
Ten Thirty One Productions was doing well until 2018, an accident at an event in New York led to an expensive lawsuit. This pushed the founders to sell the company to Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group for an undisclosed price.
4. Numilk – $2 Million
Plant-based milk has a lot of benefits, but not many people have access to it. Thankfully, there’s Numilk, a device that makes almond milk on-demand without too many ingredients.
Founders Ari Tolwin and Joe Savin are serial entrepreneurs in the beverage industry. They knew that Numilk had massive potential when they signed up for season 12 in hopes of getting $1 million for a 5% stake.
Mark Cuban gave them more than they asked for, with $1 million in cash for 7% equity and a $1 million loan at 3% interest. This investment helped Numilk boost distribution and now sells its machines in 65 stores across the US. The startup isn’t profitable yet but is currently valued at $55 million.
5. Rugged Events – $1.75 Million
Another event-organizing startup, Rugged Events, is the company that created Rugged Maniac, a race that spans 3.1 miles and features insane obstacles like towers, shipping containers, and colossal water slides.
Rugged Events was founded by retired attorneys Brad Scudder and Rob Dickens. The duo featured on season five of Shark Tank, seeking $1 million for 10% equity.
Cuban eventually bagged 25% of Rugged Events and their second company, Bull Run, for $1.75 million. The business sold an 80% stake to New Media Investment Group in 2018 for $10.4 million. The acquisition led to Cuban getting a huge return on his investment.
6. xCraft – $1.5 Million
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are slowly becoming more mainstream. xCraft and its X PlusOne drone model were influential in turning this vision into a reality.
JD Claridge and Charles Manning teamed up to develop xCraft and make it an industry leader. The two gentlemen appeared in season seven to offer 20% equity for $300,000.
All five Sharks teamed up to invest $1.5 million for 25%. The deal didn’t go through, so the entrepreneurs resorted to crowdfunding. In 2021, xCraft made $199,122 in revenue but made a net loss of $392,496. xCraft was valued at $34 million after its latest round of fundraising.
7. LARQ – $1.5 Million
Premium water bottles are very trendy nowadays. LARQ is a leading provider in this niche, and it makes self-cleaning water bottles that use ultraviolet-C LED technology.
As a hiking enthusiast, Justin Wang noticed that most water bottles develop a bad odor over time. So, he created LARQ and pitched on season 13 of Shark Tank, asking for $500,000 for 1% equity.
It was an eye-watering valuation, but Kevin and Lori eventually agreed to do $1.5 million for 4%. With this, LARQ is expecting to do $30 million in sales for 2022. LARQ is currently worth around $30 million.
8. SparkCharge – $1 Million
Perhaps the biggest concern of electric vehicle owners is running out of power on the road. SparkCharge’s Roadie, the first portable EV charger, is the solution for this.
The device was created by Chris Ellis and Josh Aviv to fill a large gap in the market. They entered the Tank in season 12, asking for $1 million for a 6% stake.
Lori and Mark joined forces to give $1 million for 10% equity and 4% advisory shares. SparkCharge then raised money from other investors. Now, it has $5 million in annual sales and is valued at $30 million.
9. Breathometer – $1 Million
The Breathometer is a breathalyzer for smartphones. It measured the blood alcohol content, which helps a user determine if it’s safe for them to drive after drinking.
Charles Yim invented the product and pitched the app in season five, requesting $250,000 for 10% equity. He made a five-way deal of $1 million for 30% with all five Sharks.
This helped Breathometer rack up millions in sales. However, the FTC shut down the product after discovering that its claims were misleading. Breathometer is still in business but is considered one of the worst deals on the show.
10. Yellow Leaf Hammocks – $1 million
Woven by Thailand’s Mlabri tribe, Yellow Leaf Hammocks are more than just tools for relaxing. They are produced with the intention of empowering underprivileged individuals.
Married couple, Rachel Connors and Joe Demin founded the hammock company. To grow the business, they appeared in season 11 to give away 7% equity for $400,000.
Guest investor Daniel Lubetzky was the one who closed a deal of $1 million for 25%. Currently, Yellow Leaf Hammocks make around $1 million in annual revenue and is worth an estimated $4 million.
