Watching nature unfold before your eyes is one of life’s underrated pleasures. The Peep Show provides one way to enjoy this gift in all its glory. Through their smart birdhouses you can stream live videos to your phone. Founder Steve Gray recently pitched the product on Shark Tank but didn’t get a deal. After the pitch, The Peep Show is worth an estimated $750,000.
About Steve Gray
The Peep Show products don’t just function as smart birdhouses; they also look the part. Instead of the traditional aesthetic, the founder went for a futuristic egg-shaped appearance.
All the materials used are environmentally friendly as Steve Gray believes what’s good for nature is best for the birds. He is a true ornithophile and grew up in Seattle, a city considered a haven for diverse bird species.
The Peep Show’s Inception
Steve’s 95-year-old father, Chuck, inspired the design of The Peep Show birdhouses. He created the original prototype by drilling a hole in their kitchen wall and installing a coaxial cable, sewer inspection camera, and a black-and-white monitor.
During the pandemic, Steve and his two engineer brothers worked to perfect their old man’s idea. Steve led the project, and came up with the egg design. Not only was it unique in style, but it was the most ergonomic layout for camera mounting.
With the help of a nonprofit mentor, the product was launched in 2023 with a now-deleted IndieGoGo campaign. That year, The Peep Show received the Red Dot Award, the same award for modern designs has been won by Porsche, Maserati, and Apple.
After Shark Tank
Shark Tank was the ideal platform to promote the product. With its contemporary appeal, it’s sure to attract interest like Hummingbird did, a similar product that appeared on season 14 of Shark Tank. Hummingbird sold 1,500 units 24 hours after their episode aired, so The Peep Show should also do well! Also, it helps that Steve came across as a wholesome guy!
The company’s main challenge will be scalability since all of the birdhouses are hand-crafted, This isn’t a product that can be mass manufactured in China. The Peep Show can only sell limited quantities every month. They often sell out and have a waitlist on ThePeepShow.com.
If you have the patience to wait for a month or two, sign up on the waitlist. The high-tech birdhouses cost $299, but if you’re okay with no cameras, you can buy one for $199. You can also sign up for their newsletter and automatically enter a monthly raffle for a free bird house.
They have no reviews from customers on any platforms online, but you can read some testimonials on their website. The startup has competitors with similar product functions and prices, such as Birdfy Nest. Steve Gray believes The Peep Show still stands out because it’s more than just a birdhouse. One can value it as a modern art object.