"Don't have that one marketing thing" — When Shark Tank expert Mark Cuban passed on Sparketh's pitch

The popular business reality TV show Shark Tank is well-known for its intense negotiations and high-stakes pitches. Entrepreneurs enter the tank intending to land a deal with one of the top investors in the industry, but not all pitches result in funding, particularly when key business components are absent.

In one such instance, Sparketh, a kids' online art education platform, pitched their business to the sharks in an attempt to secure funding and mentorship. The founders spoke about their goal of facilitating engaging and accessible creative learning. Even though other sharks saw promise in the company, Mark Cuban wasn't persuaded as he identified a critical weakness in their marketing plan,

"You don't have that one marketing thing for you guys that's an accelerant, and that's unfortunate, so for those reasons I'm out."

Though Cuban decided to back out, Daniel Lubetzky and Barbara Corcoran were both impressed by the company and the founders. The two decided to come together and offer their mentorship to the founders in exchange for 20% equity and a profitability clause.

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Sparketh failed to impress Shark Tank's Mark Cuban with their pitch on the show

Sparketh's pitch on the show

In season 13 episode 3 of Shark Tank, which aired on ABC on Oct 21, 2021, the founders of Sparketh walked inside the tank seeking $100,000 for 8% equity. Dwayne Walker and Tim Samuel created the company intending to transform online art education for children and teenagers by offering captivating video classes.

During their pitch, the two emphasized Sparketh's goal of facilitating access to creative learning. They demonstrated their paid platform, which included hundreds of painting lessons aimed at developing young artists. The idea initially excited the sharks, but as the conversation went on, worries regarding marketing and customer acquisition tactics surfaced.

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Mark Cuban questions Sparketh's marketing

The Sharks listened intently as Tim Samuel and Dwayne Walker, the founders of Sparketh, presented their online art education platform. Although Lori Greiner and Kevin O'Leary liked the idea, they had reservations about its client acquisition plan and scalability. Robert Herjavec opted out early, stating concerns about long-term viability, while Shark Tank investor Cuban was the most outspoken in criticizing their business.

"Guys look, I see where you're going with this. The real challenge I see in this as a business, you don't have that one thing to hang your hat on. You need something that says this is why we are different, this is what makes us unique. Why am I going to do this instead of just watching free YouTube videos?"

Despite Cuban's feedback, Barbara Corcoran and Daniel Lubetzky saw potential in the company and joined forces to offer $100,000 for 20% equity, adding that the company must become profitable within six months, which the founders eventually accepted.

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You can watch more such interesting pitches of Shark Tank on ABC.