“I want to invest in it somehow” — When Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec opted out of Copy Keyboard

When Scotty Trujillo, the creator of Copy Keyboard, entered the Shark Tank with an ask for $40k for 25% of his product, a keyboard that makes copying and pasting easier, it made the sharks intrigued, amused, and confused. His device, which just had two buttons, one for copying and one for pasting, was made to help regular computer users save time and become more productive.

Robert Herjavec was interested and delighted by the product's simplicity right away. Although he gave Scotty credit for his astute branding and marketing strategy, he ultimately didn't think the product had mass-market appeal or long-term scalability. He laughed and remarked,

"The product is crap but I want to invest in it somehow. I just can't own a copy keyboard product." he said.

The oddball product attracted attention from consumers and went viral on sites like TikTok in spite of the rejection, demonstrating that the market can still be competitive after sharks pass. The Copy Keyboard is now a popular internet product, particularly for specialized markets like gamers and content producers, demonstrating that even the most basic concepts can resonate with the proper audience.

When Scotty ends up leaving the Shark Tank stage in season 14 episode 13

The Copy Keyboard left a unique and memorable impact when Scotty Trujillo entered the Shark Tank. However, when all five sharks rejected his product, what had begun as a playful pitch swiftly became an intense situation. Scotty left the stage without closing a deal and without bringing in an expert.

Scotty explained in his pitch on Shark Tank why he created the Copy Keyboard, a single-purpose keyboard key that is used for the "copy" and "paste" instructions. He described how he got the idea while performing monotonous work chores and thought it would help others with their workflows.

He disclosed that he had already sold more than 800 pieces, making close to $42,000, mostly via his website and TikTok. He made about $9.14 on each unit and sold them for $19.99 and the RGB-lit version for $24.99, so his margins were also substantial.

The sharks appreciated Scotty's hustling and thought he was entertaining, but they were unable to imagine the product growing or reaching a large enough market. Mark claimed it didn't address a significant enough issue, while Shark Tank OG Lori opted out and said,

"I don't think that this is the right kind of business for me. I'm really not a techie person and I think there are better partners up here for you than me. I wish you good luck though and I'm out.

After all five sharks ultimately decided not to invest, Scotty was left without a deal but gained widespread notoriety.

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Watch more such pitches and unique products on Shark Tank on ABC.

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