"Just what you ask for"- When Shark Tank's Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova offered a $900k deal to 'Bala Bangles'

Shark Tank US Season 11 featured former Russian tennis player legend, Maria Sharapova as a guest investor in episode 13. The rest of the panel had Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, and Kevin O'Leary.

Bala Bangles, a fitness equipment brand offering stylish wrist and ankle weights, was featured in the episode and had all the Sharks join the bidding war to invest in their product. The founders Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway initially asked for $400k for a 10% stake in their company.

However, the Sharks' competitive nature helped them get an investment of $900 for 30% of the equity from Mark Cuban and guest investor Maria Sharapova. Amongst all the five sharks, Mr. Wonderful was the first to offer a deal to Bala Bangles founder. He proposed a deal, offering $400,000 as a 36-month loan at 7.5% interest in exchange for 5% equity.

Maria Sharapova, who believed that she could be the right person to join in the deal, wanted another Shark with her, and was willing to offer $200k but for 30% of the equity initially. Lori and Daymond expressed their desire to join Maria, however, the Bala Bangles founder did not want to cut down their valuation below $3 million, and counteroffered, asking $900k for 30% of the equity, and two Sharks.

Mark Cuban took the opportunity, and joined in Maria Sharapova, and told Bala Bangles founders:

"We both believe in it if you believe in the company you don't nickel and dime the cash down, you go all in, and so what we'd like to do is offer you the $900,000 for the 30%. Just what you ask for."

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The Shark Tank investors fought to grab a deal with Bala Bangles featured in Season 11

Shark Tank investors going on a bidding war is one of the best things that could happen to a brand. During Season 11, episode 13, all the Sharks, including the guest shark, Maria Sharapova, contended to grab a deal with wrist and ankle weights company Bala Bangles.

Shark Tank guest Maria Sharapova started the fire when she threw an open offer for the sharks to join her in the deal. While Lori and Daymond were pitching their sides, Mark wooed away Maria with his offer. Lori Greiner decided to propose a new deal and offered $500k for 18% of the equity. However, it was too late, as Mark and Maria already offered a lucrative deal of $900k for 30% equity.

The Bala Bangles founder promptly accepted the deal while Lori called Mark a "snake in the grass." The banter went on for a minute or two, where Mark put the responsibility on Maria's shoulder, calling her the "devious one."

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Shark Tank Season 11 aired in 2019 on ABC Network.