"That’s really scary for me"- When Shark Tank's Mark Cuban opted out from Bleni Blends' deal

Bleni Blend featured in Season 14 of Shark Tank/ Image via YouTube/ @sonypicturestelevision
Bleni Blend featured in Season 14 of Shark Tank/ Image via YouTube/ @sonypicturestelevision

Shark Tank Season 14 featured Bleni Blends, founded by the brothers Stuart and Peter Shapiro. Stuart and Peter have made high investment and hard work to create a healthy, dairy-free smoothie brand. The main component of the brand was the smoothie kiosk/ vending machine.

Getting inspired by one of their trips to Canada and witnessing the smoothie kiosk serving hassle-free and easy smoothies to the customers, the Shapiro brothers embarked on the journey to turn it into a business. The Shapiro brothers asked for $250k for a 6% stake in their company. As the sharks tasted the smoothies, they were all impressed.

However, Kevin and Daymon were quick to opt out, citing the expensive cost of the vending machine. Another problem heightened by Daymond was that the machine was not manufactured by the founders themselves. Daymond found it tricky to depend on another party. Another shark, Mark Cuban, remarked that he had seen a lot of self-service food brands getting stuck because there is a huge risk involved. He, too, opted out by citing:

"I get pitched self-service food this or that every single day. There's huge amount of risk in terms of technological obsolescence. If something better comes along you're still stuck. That's really scary for me as an investor. So for those reasons I'm out."

Did Bleni Blends' founder secure a deal in Season 14 of Shark Tank?

youtube-cover

After three sharks opted out to invest in Bleni Blends in Shark Tank Season 14, QVC Queen Lori Greiner and Daniel Lubetzky were willing to throw an offer to the Shapiro brothers. Having wide expertise in the food industry, Daniel Lubetzky came to Bleni Blends' founder's rescue; however, if they wanted two sharks in one deal, the price was high.

Lori and Daniel offered a deal, willing to pay $250k, but asked for 35% of the stakes instead of the 8% offered by the Shapiro brothers. Shark Tank investor Daniel believed that there was a lot of work required, and he would not like to go down even a percent from 35%. Shapiro brothers tried to negotiate at 15% but got rejected promptly.

Another counteroffer presented by the founders was $250k for 35% of the equity plus an additional $500k as an issue of credit. Daniel instantly responded that he was okay with the ask as far as the founders stayed true to the facts they presented on the show.

Shark Tank investors Lori and Daniel both joined hands and locked a deal with Bleni Blends founders Stuart and Peter.


Shark Tank US airs on ABC Network.

Edited by Debanjana
comments icon

What's your opinion?
Newest
Best
Oldest