Many irrigation systems around have been developed to help farmers grow crops more efficiently. Johnny Georges’ Tree T-PEE is one of them. Its structure features a containment device that can help save massive amounts of water in growing trees. The entrepreneur pitched his company Shark Tank and closed a deal with guest Shark John Paul DeJoria. As of 2023, Tree T-PEE is worth an estimated $50 million.
About the Founder
Farmer Johnny Georges was brought up in Winter Haven, Florida. Though he is the current head of the company, Johnny is not the original founder. That would be his father, Rick Georges.
As the creator of the micro-sprinkler in 1970, Rick is considered a pioneer in the crop watering industry. He focused primarily on citrus farming and irrigation, constantly looking for ways to water citrus trees.
When Johnny was at the right age, Rick taught his son everything he knew. Johnny spent more than 20 years working for his father, where he gained first-hand knowledge of irrigation engineering, well drilling, and pump installation.
Founding the Company
Rick originally made the first Tree T-PEE to protect young trees from frost. He launched the cone-shaped product under his company, Georges Enterprises Inc, in 1984. While observing the invention, Johnny realized it had water-conservation potential.
Johnny thought that if it only had a specialized irrigation system that sprayed water inside the cone, it could save more resources. But water was cheap at the time, so Rick didn’t find it relevant to make such adjustments.
When times changed, Johnny did not waste the opportunity to upgrade his dad’s creation and turned it into what it is today. The official product was launched in 2005 under a new company, GSI Supply, Inc. They sold around 127,000 units in two decades.
Shark Tank Appearance
Johnny Georges’ company had deep roots, but it was still relatively small in 2013. He wanted to move operations outside of Florida, so he signed up for season five of Shark Tank and was seeking $150,000 for 20% equity.
The man was a humble farmer who was a bit fazed when he entered the stage, even choking on his words for a minute. It didn’t help when Kevin O’Leary started asking some intimidating questions.
Johnny stood his ground and gave honest answers. Guest Shark John Paul DeJoria showed compassion towards Johnny and offered to give him exactly what he was looking for.
After Shark Tank
The Tree T-PEE pitch was a very moving episode. Things got very emotional at the end, and the tears paid off as the company is now thriving. They sold thousands of units on the night the show aired. Over the years, through distribution the episode has been viewed by millions of people.
With the help of billionaire John Paul DeJoria, the product became available in 80 countries. The Tree T-PEE is most commonly found at Home Depot, but you can also purchase it directly on TreeTPee.com. On their website, the tree irrigation device has an average rating of 4.7 from 15 reviews. The company is hugely successful and is valued at $50 million.
Despite this, Johnny Georges hasn’t shared any recent sales figures but according to zoominfo.com, the business makes an estimated $5 million in annual revenue. Some websites such as marketrealist.com believe the company is worth $100 million but that valuation is unrealistic.
