Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07

Shark Tank USA Season 16 is back with its highly anticipated Episode 07. This episode was a Christmas and holiday special. It featured an interesting lineup of innovative holiday startups, each ready to pitch their amusing ideas to make the holiday season even more special. The episode was filled with excitement as entrepreneurs passionately presented their groundbreaking concepts, hoping to secure investment and mentorship from the Sharks. As always, the Sharks weren’t easy to impress; they dived deep into each business model to assess the profitability, scalability and growth potential of each startup. The Sharks offered their sharp insights and high expectations, making tough decisions. Let’s dive into the highlights and see which entrepreneurs walked away with the deals of their dreams. 

The panel of Sharks for Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 includes:

Mark Cuban:  Owner of Dallas Mavericks and the author of How to Win at the Sport of Business 

Lori Greiner: Known for the QVC show Clever & Unique Creations 

Kevin O'Leary: Founder of O'Leary Ventures

Daymond John: Founder, President and Chief executive officer of FUBU

 Robert Herjavec (Guest Judge): A businessman, investor and television personality

Also Read: Shark Tank USA Season16 Episode 06

Contestant No. 01 of Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07: Coordinates

Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 kicked off with a fantastic and wholesome pitch of a former athlete couple, Aaron Ross, an NFL player who won two Super Bowl rings and Sanya Ross, 4 times Olympic gold medalist, Founders of Coordinates.

What does Coordinates do?

Coordinates is a pyjama and loungewear brand. The company focuses on bringing families together with matching holiday pyjamas, comfy loungewear and thoughtful designs. Coordinates help families create lasting memories while celebrating special moments by helping every member coordinate in the same pyjamas with others.

What did Sharks say?

Shark Mark mentioned that their name doesn't express what the business does and suggested they should change it to something that distinguishes them and Shark Robert agreed with him.

Shark Kevin opted out, stating that it wasn't his area of expertise. He pointed out that there were other Sharks who had experience in this space and could help the founders better, but it wasn't a business for him to invest in.

Shark Mark said he wasn't a clothing guy, so he opted out.

Shark Lori mentioned that she doesn't know the clothing business and Shark Robert and Daymond are more suited for this type of business and for that reason, she opted out as well.

Shark Daymond said the founders had only tapped into a small portion of the potential value of the business which is worth millions. However, he felt it was too early for him to invest and opted out for that reason.

Shark Robert said the founders have a great story, which could help them create an authentic brand. He added that as sportspeople, they should focus more on values and motivation, which is their unique selling point (USP). However, the founders were confusing him with their vision for the brand.

The founders persuaded him by saying they needed someone who could mentor them, as they were new to the segment and didn't know much about it. Robert then asked if they were open to rebranding the business, to which the founders agreed.

Shark Robert said it was super early for him to invest, but out of admiration for the founders' passion, he offered $100K for 25%, stating that he was investing in them. The founders countered with 20%.

Shark Daymond joined in again and offered the same deal. However, the founders were inclined toward Robert since he had stuck with them throughout the pitch. Robert agreed to the deal and joined hands with the founders.

Contestant No. 02 of Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07: Gnome Advent Calendar

The next pitch in line for Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 was presented by Jenna Hess, Founder of Gnome Advent Calendar.

What does the Gnome Advent Calendar do?

The Gnome Advent Calendar brings holiday magic to all ages. The company sells handmade gnomes which are revealed, day by day on the advent calendar countdown. The company helps in creating excitement and togetherness throughout the holiday countdown. It’s the perfect gift for friends, family, teachers, or even for you. Their advent calendars spread joy with every door opened and add a whimsical touch to the season.

What did Sharks say?

All the Sharks liked the Gnome’s advent calendars and they were shocked to hear the prices of the Advent calendars, as the costs were much lower than they had expected. They had anticipated the prices to be higher.

Shark Robert said his kids would be excited by the gnomes. He further added that the founder could do great with the business, but he didn’t feel the business was right for him, so he opted out.

Shark Lori liked the Advent calendars as well but felt the founder didn’t really need her help. She added that she'd definitely be a customer, but it wasn't an investment for her, so she opted out.

Shark Mark felt the same. He said that it was a great business for the founder, as she could grow it at her own pace. However, investors expect rapid growth when they invest in a business. He advised her to raise the prices and opted out as well.

Shark Daymond said that he had already invested in another gnome business, called Wendy’s Gnome, so he opted out.

Shark Kevin also shared the same thoughts as Shark Lori and Mark. He said that the founder could make 3-4 million dollars per year, which is a great amount for her, but it wouldn't be a great investment because investors look for businesses with potential for even greater growth. Unfortunately, she didn't secure any investment, but all the Sharks wished her a great future with the business.

Contestant No. 03 of Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07: Snow Scholars

The next pitch in line for Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 was presented by Philip Loveland and Jake Piekarski, Founders of Snow Scholars

What does Snow Scholars do?

Snow Scholars is a startup from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The company provides snow removal services for college towns. Their goal is to create flexible job opportunities for students while ensuring a smooth and reliable service for customers. The company has worked with universities like Northwestern, DePaul, University of Chicago and Harper College.

What did Sharks say?

Shark Kevin expressed that he doesn’t like snow but was still interested in making an offer. He offered $75K for 20% equity. The founders defended the valuation by stating some facts about the business.

Shark Daymond shared that he used to do the same things to earn money when he was young and offered the same deal as Shark Kevin.

Shark Lori appreciated the founders but added that she didn't know how she could contribute to their business, as they were already doing everything right. So, she opted out.

Shark Robert said that it would be difficult for the founders to scale the business, as snowfall varies, which would affect the demand and opted out for that reason.

When the founders were trying to persuade him, Shark Daymond reminded them that they had two offers on the table.

Shark Mark appreciated the founders and offered $150K for 20%. The founders immediately accepted the offer which shocked the other Sharks.

Contestant No. 05 of Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07: Wildcoat

The next and final pitch in line for Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 was presented by Carlo DiMeo, Founders and Wildcoat.

What does Wildcoat do?

Wildcoat creates fun and functional winter wear. Their fur coats are unique and have animal-inspired designs. Wildcoat is known for their weatherproof, cold-resistant coats with oversized pockets. Their coats offer the perfect gear for skiing, snowboarding and enjoying the winter season in style.

What did Sharks say?

Shark Kevin was doubtful about the valuation of the business. He said that the valuation didn’t match the sales and opted out for that reason.

Shark Lori appreciated the coats and their quality. However, she felt it was a niche market and for that reason, she opted out.

Shark Mark also said the business had a niche market. He advised the founders not to spend money on ads and to raise the prices because the product was a branding event. However, he did not believe it was an investable business for him and opted out.

Shark Daymond really loved the product and said that he would need to get involved with the founders to expand the business by licensing it to different categories and introducing more products like gloves and more. So he offered $350K for 30% equity.

Shark Robert said that while Shark Daymond definitely had experience with FUBU, but he also know the segment business. He stated that the founders need to make Wild Coat a brand if they want to stand out in the market, as knock-offs would soon appear and offered $350K for 25%.

Shark Daymond asked Robert if he would be licensing the product for different segments. Robert replied that, from all his years of experience, he had learned one thing: "Don’t cheapen the brand if you want to build it and scale the business."

Both Sharks had a heated discussion, trying to convince the founders why they were the perfect investors for the business.

However, the founder countered with a 20% equity offer, which both Sharks declined. He then countered again with 23% and stated that he wanted to keep 50% of the business for himself, so both Sharks agreed to it.

The founder asked if both Sharks could come together, as they both had different angles for the business, which would be great for its growth. However, the Sharks did not agree to it, so he finally went with Shark Robert and successfully cracked the deal.

Conclusion: Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07

Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 07 featured some exciting and wholesome pitches. Each entrepreneur delivered strong pitches and negotiated at best for their businesses. The Sharks didn’t hold back and questioned the Founders on every decision while offering valuable advice for growth. By the end of the episode, 3 out of 4 start-ups secured deals and received critical feedback for the future of their business. However, 1 founder walked away with practical advice and wishes. It’s clear that the journey isn’t over and we’re eager to see what happens next in Episode 08 of Season 16.

Also Read: Shark Tank USA Season 16 Episode 05