⁠"Could not be more thrilled" Shark Tank investor Lori Greiner comments on FlexScreen's acquisition 

Investor Lori Greiner couldn't contain her excitement when the industry leader RiteScreen announced that it would acquire FlexScreen, the innovative window screen firm that enthralled Shark Tank viewers.

"FlexScreen has grown rapidly and gained significant momentum in the years since Joe Altieri first appeared on Shark Tank," said Lori Greiner, FlexScreen investor, entrepreneur and television personality.

Elaborating:

"I could not be more thrilled for Joe and the entire FlexScreen team as they take FlexScreen, the best innovation in windows in 50 years, to new heights with this partnership."

The strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone for the flexible window screen company, which first gained national recognition on ABC's popular show where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to wealthy investors and "sharks" in the hopes of receiving capital in exchange for stock.

FlexScreen's journey from a garage workshop prototype to a multi-million dollar acquisition serves as an example of the revolutionary power of innovative thinking and strategic investment.

The "Queen of QVC" herself eventually took notice of FlexScreen, a company founded in 2013 by Joe Altieri that transformed the century-old window screen market with its flexible design that makes installation and removal easier.

How did FlexScreen fare on Shark Tank?

Joe Altieri's Shark Tank appearance on January 5, 2020, wasn't your typical pitch.

"What you see when the show airs is only a fraction of what actually happens in The Tank," Altieri revealed.

She explained further:

"My pitch was one of the longest in Shark Tank history. Filming for my segment took more than two-and-a-half hours."

The extended pitch paid off. Three sharks—Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, and Barbara Corcoran—competed for a piece of FlexScreen. Altieri was delighted with the outcome:

"We were very happy with that outcome because, from the very beginning of this whole experience, Lori was the Shark we were hoping would bite!"

The partnership with Greiner proved to be the catalyst FlexScreen needed. Her retail expertise and QVC platform provided the exposure that helped accelerate FlexScreen's growth trajectory, setting the stage for the eventual acquisition.

After more than 20 years in the window industry, Altieri identified persistent problems with traditional screens: bent aluminum frames, scratched paint, and complicated hardware. His frustration sparked creativity.

"I knew there had to be a better way, so I set up shop in my garage and got to work," Altieri explained.

Elaborating:

"After years of trial and error, I emerged with my prototype that contained no aluminum, no paint, and no hardware."

The result was a high-performance spring steel screen with a damage-resistant coating that could withstand remarkable abuse.

"You could run over our screen with a car, and even toss it from a five-story building, without damaging it," Altieri noted.

Beyond durability, FlexScreen offered aesthetic advantages. The flexible frame hides in the screen pocket, eliminating the need for color matching and providing a clearer view of the outside. This combination of practical benefits and patented technology positioned FlexScreen as what Altieri calls "an industry disruptor."

Post Shark Tank success and RiteScreen acquisition

FlexScreen has grown its production footprint to four locations in the US, including one in Vermillion, South Dakota, after appearing on Shark Tank. The South Dakota plant, which started production in May 2017, grew from producing roughly 500 screens a day to producing over 1,500 screens a day by 2020.

The company was recognized internationally and earned multiple industry honors, including Window and Door Magazine's Crystal Achievement Award for Most Innovative Window Product. Furthermore, Door and Window Market Magazine awarded FlexScreen the Reader's Choice Award for Favorite Window Product for three consecutive years.

The acquisition of FlexScreen by RiteScreen represents the strategic convergence of two complementary firms. The partnership benefits from greater manufacturing capacity, market penetration, and industry experience provided by RiteScreen, the leading independent manufacturer of window and patio door screens in North America.

"This acquisition is a transformative moment for our company," said Chris Yankowich, CEO of RiteScreen.

Explaining:

"FlexScreen has rapidly grown to become a disruptor in the industry and shares our focus on customer-centric innovation."

Altieri, who joined the RiteScreen team, expressed optimism about the merger:

"We are excited to become part of the RiteScreen family. With RiteScreen's expanded manufacturing capabilities, industry expertise, and market reach, we are confident that this partnership will enhance our ability to innovate, improve efficiencies, and bring our groundbreaking screen technology to even more customers."

With the integration, FlexScreen embarks on a new chapter that builds on its success on Shark Tank and promises to reach even more people, demonstrating once more that often the most straightforward ideas have the biggest effects.

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You can watch Shark Tank on ABC and stream it on Hulu.