Rohan Oza, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Kevin O’Leary gathered in the Shark Tank to review four companies that are seeking strategic partnerships and financial investments with the Sharks.

MC Squares, Rescue Ready, Slate Milk, and Salted came to the Shark Tank prepared to provide entertaining pitches and take questions from the Sharks.

In the end, only one business was lucky enough to walk away from the Shark Tank with a partnership deal in tow.

Key Takeaways

  • MC Squares: Sustainable dry-erase tiles secured $300,000 from Kevin O’Leary for 25% equity, replacing traditional sticky notes.
  • Rescue Ready: Reinvented fire escape ladders faced market entry challenges, resulting in no deal.
  • Slate Milk: Low-sugar, high-protein chocolate milk for adults failed to secure investment due to high valuation and pre-sales stage.
  • Salted: Healthy takeout food brand faced skepticism over profitability and investor returns, leaving without a deal.

MC Squares Lands a Deal With Kevin O’Leary

Denver native Anthony Franco came to the Shark Tank to showcase his unique and sustainable product line, MC Squares.

Utilizing whiteboard technology and innovative designs, MC Squares produce dry-erase tiles that are designed to replace traditional paper sticky notes.

Each pack of six MC Squares can replace over 12,000 paper sticky notes saving the consumer (on average) $244 per package of 12,000 sticky notes.

Their reusable sticky note design can be used again and again without adhesive making it more sustainable and allows companies to reduce their paper waste stream.

The company also offers tablet-sized dry erase boards that can be layered to add ideas in a way that encourages team collaboration.

MC Squares is seeking $300,000 in exchange for 10% equity in their company.

Although their sales last year were $200,000, something has exploded this year and sales have been taking a steep upward trajectory. While excited by their recent sales momentum, Anthony would like a Shark to come on board to help him sustain the current growth and continue it into the future.

While some Sharks have businesses that would be a conflict of interest or perhaps don’t feel passionate about the product line, Kevin O’Leary is very interested in partnering with MC Squares.

Kevin offered Anthony $300,000 in exchange for 25% equity. Although he tries to unsuccessfully counter, Anthony ultimately accepts Kevin’s deal.

Rescue Ready Strikes Out in the Shark Tank

Firefighters and friends Brett Russell and Eric Hartsfield came to the Shark Tank in hopes of finding a Shark willing to take a chance on their business, Rescue Ready.

Although their company came to the Tank pre-sales due to their patents just being issued, they are hopeful that a Shark may be willing to invest $75,000 and strategic business advice in exchange for 15% equity in their company.

Rescue Ready has reinvented the traditional fire escape ladder for homeowners.

Rather than a portable model that can be stored under beds and in closets, the Rescue Ready ladder system is anchored, installed, and integrated into the window so that it is ready to go in the event of an emergency. They suggest the product is installed in at least one window in every second-floor bedroom in the event of a house fire.

Although the Sharks love the idea and ingenuity behind the product design, they are very concerned that this will be an uphill battle to have window manufacturers buy into the product.

For the Rescue Ready to be successful, window manufacturers will need to retool, remarket, and re-catalog their products which will be difficult to convince them to do.

Although they can sell the windows for a premium cost, it may be impossible to get the manufacturing companies to agree to produce the product and then even more difficult to get the salespeople behind it.

While the Sharks have a soft spot in their hearts for first responders, they, unfortunately, can not extend an offer to Rescue Ready because they came to the Shark Tank too early and have not proven that they are able to actually break into this market.

Slate Milk Walks Away Empty-Handed

Josh Belinsky and Manny Lubin came to the Shark Tank to showcase their grown-up version of chocolate milk, Slate Milk.

While many people enjoy the taste of chocolate milk, they don’t like the sugar or calories that come with it.

To cut down on these components but increase the protein in chocolate milk, Josh and Manny created Slate Milk which is a lower sugar, higher protein, lactose-free chocolate milk for adults. The product is created using an ultrafiltration method that filters out the natural lactose sugars leaving a creamy, better-for-you chocolate milk.

They have also incorporated a popular latte canning process that allows them to create a shelf-stable product.

Slate Milk is seeking an investor willing to part with $400,000 in exchange for 10% equity in their company. The Sharks are not crazy about the taste of the product and are very concerned that they have come to Shark Tank pre-sales sporting such a high valuation.

When asked about the high valuation with no sales to show for it, they explained that one of their VPs is a very prominent business person in the food space and because of his past successes and connections, he makes the company very valuable.

The Sharks were dissatisfied with this answer and declined to invest in Slate Milk.

Salted Leaves a Bad Taste in the Sharks’ Mouths

Jeff Applebaum believes that he has re-engineered the takeout food market to deliver healthier alternatives at a lower cost.

By utilizing cloud kitchens for takeout and pick-up orders only and marketing only on food delivery apps, Jeff believes his brand, Salted, will be one of the largest better-for-you brands in the delivery restaurant space.

Salted brands have healthy options in many common food spaces such as Korean, Chinese, Greek, and even a takeout pizza option with a cauliflower crust.

While the Sharks love Jeff’s food, there is something about him as a business owner that makes them nervous.

Jeff is seeking $500,000 in exchange for 5% of Salted. Although he is on track to do $1.1 million in sales this year, the company is still losing money and is not yet profitable.

Additionally, Salted has other investors already tied up in the business since Jeff is on his 3rd iteration of the business model and strategy for Salted. The other investors have not gotten any of their money back yet which makes the Sharks nervous.

Jeff doesn’t appear to have a solid strategy for how to handle SEO issues within the food delivery apps to get his company exposure and increase sales. He also seems to disregard Lori and ignore her questions which leaves a bad taste in the Sharks’ mouths.

Ultimately, the Sharks decline to invest in Salted and Jeff leaves the Shark Tank without a deal.

Wrapping Up

Do you feel that the Sharks missed any investment opportunities on this episode of Shark Tank? If you were a Shark which of these businesses would you have invested in? Start the conversation in the comments below!