"A philosophical disagreement on the direction" — When Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary rejected MAXPRO

When MAXPRO appeared on Shark Tank in episode 9 of season 13, the investors got into a disagreement, especially with Kevin O'Leary. The Sharks were pleased by the fitness brand's sales and market presence, which is renowned for its inventive portable gym equipment. But in spite of the encouraging figures, the pitch swiftly descended into a dispute that exposed significant gaps in the company's strategy.

Kevin O'Leary voiced worries regarding MAXPRO's scalability and strategic direction despite the fact that certain Sharks showed interest. He believed that the founder's answers were ambiguous when he sought clarification on plans for future growth. O'Leary firmly rejected this lack of cohesion,

"We have a philosophical disagreement on the direction. That's my opinion, okay? I'm out," Kevin O'Leary said.

The pitch was nonetheless exciting in spite of O'Leary's rejection. While other sharks considered the risks of investing, Daymond John questioned the founder's reluctance to hear criticism. Despite all the criticism, there was one shark who invested in the company.

Let's find out who wrote a cheque to MAXPRO.

---

When MAXPRO appeared on Shark Tank in season 13 episode 9

The fitness company MAXPRO wanted to wow the sharks with its portable cable resistance machine when it made an appearance on Shark Tank in season 13 episode 9. During the pitch, the founder presented strong sales numbers and an inventive design. But as the sharks questioned the company's long-term vision and strategy, the pitch quickly took a sharp turn.

---

Nezar Akeel pitched his fitness brand on Shark Tank

With the goal of revolutionizing at-home training, Nezar Akeel entered Shark Tank with his fitness brand, MAXPRO. He demonstrated the portability and efficiency of his portable cable resistance equipment for full-body exercise. The experts took notice when Akeel presented them with excellent sales data, revealing that MAXPRO had made $10 million. He valued the company at an astounding $20 million and asked for a $500,000 investment in exchange for 2.5% shares.

The sharks, however, had doubts about the assessment. They doubted that the company could continue to grow and turn a profit. Akeel justified his price and marketing approach by highlighting the brand's loyal following.

Even though he was confident, the conversation became heated as several panelists thought he was sidestepping important queries about future projections and scalability. This hesitancy jeopardized his pitch and caused the investors to react in different ways.

---

Mark Cuban invests in MAXPRO

As the Shark Tank pitch went on, the majority of the investors withdrew because they were worried about MAXPRO's valuation and Nezar Akeel's unwillingness to direct inquiries. The company's direction was openly opposed by Kevin O'Leary, and Daymond John became irritated with Akeel's delayed answers. Both Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec existed, citing concerns about growing the company.

Mark Cuban, however, recognized the potential in MAXPRO's creative design and impressive sales figures, and after some haggling, he offered $500,000 for a 3% equity stake and 5% advisory shares. By accepting the offer, Akeel secured Cuban's offer and experience to help MAXPRO achieve greater success.

---

Stay tuned to the latest episodes of Shark Tank Season 16 on ABC every Friday at 8:00 pm ET.