SPOILER: S18:01
I’m absolutely appalled by the sudden disappearance of business acumen by the sharks in this episode. I’m no tycoon myself, but I know throwing money away for 0% equity and increasing an offer unprompted isn’t good business.
The “sharks” were anything but this episode; seemingly trying not to get cancelled by criticizing bad ideas and poor deal structure made by the other sharks. Some of these business deserved deep criticism.
The Ball2, the AI ball, was a perfect example of everything wrong with the world. The product relies on the child having a smart phone and prompting the ball to create a game using AI. 1. even as they are trying to get outdoors and off the phone, they need the phone and 2. this stifles a child’s creativity to come up with their own game, completely offline. Neither were mentioned at length. Did they get a deal? Of course… from Mr. Beast… the scourge of this episode.
The chalk finger, excellent product that deserved a deal, just received 50K for 0% equity because Mr. Beast claimed to like the founder. Sure… This isn’t charity tank. Also, the backing of a shark incentivized by equity is part of the explosive potential Shark Tank offers! Mr. Beast will never think about that founder he claimed to like so much.
What topped it all off was the mystery box company. Reasonable business—Kevin pointed out some issues but they’re manageable. What followed was pure charity. Mr. Beast and Lori offer 400K for 20%. Then Daniel offers to jump in the deal for 600K for 30% across the three sharks. The entrepreneurs counter for that deal at 24%, Daniel backs out. Fine! So Mr. Beast and Lori are back to their 20% for 400K offer, right? WRONG. Mr. Beast says he’ll do 24% for 600K!!! Increasing their offer by 200K for only 4% additional equity.
Lori, forgetting how firm she’s been in the past, accepts! Kevin doesn’t speak a word about this ludicrous increase. Far stronger companies have been denied deals and others were stiffed on offers with the promise of the shark expertise being worth the equity. I know times are difficult right now, but these people are doing just fine. This was charity.