“Way too complicated”— When Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban revealed Funkkoff strategy needed a change

On Shark Tank season 14 episode 14, Funkkoff investors Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell were seeking $250,000 for 5% of their business. They pitched their product, which was easy to carry and acted like a teeth refresher with a small toothpaste and brush. The founders revealed they had invested $325,000 and have so far made $80,000 since they launched their product.

The sharks loved the product but were surprised to hear the numbers and that the company wasn't profitable. Mark Cuban stated that Funkkoff's marketing strategy had to be changed in order for it to have good sales. He gave an example from basketball, Cuban continued:

"Way too complicated. In basketball there is a saying $100 shot, 10 cent finish, right where you're beautiful athletic, looks great but misses the basket by five feet. Your marketing misses the basket by five feet because you think people are going to think about this all the time, you just don't."

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Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban gave important feedback to Funkkoff founders

Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban backed out from investing in Funkkoff just like other sharks after he found out that the business wasn't profitable. He stated that he loved the product but "disagreed completely" on how the product was being marketed. Cuban made a suggestion that the product should be available at high-end restaurants, that is where it should be marketed the most. He continued:

"You should be going to high-end restaurants, going to all the waiters... saying here's one right just give it away to one of your best customers so you can help them out, and oh by the way I'd like to sell you twenty of them or fifty of them or a hundred of them a month."

Meanwhile, Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec advised the founders to place their product in airports and near checkouts. He said:

"Brilliant idea, where I see it is in a seven eleven, or an airport store when I'm at the checkout like why haven't you tried to go there? This isn't something you will sell one restaurant at a time, it has to be ambiguous."

Shark Tank investor Mark emphasized his previous point. When Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell stated they were willing to sell their product anywhere there was a counter, Cuban disagreed with this marketing strategy. He questioned:

"That's the wrong place to be because people don't think of funk on their teeth until they have funk on their teeth. And so have you thought about doing it in bars, in restaurants you know?"

O'Leary stated that the sales needed to be higher for him to invest in the business. Meanwhile, Lori mentioned the business was "too small" for her to become a part of.

After all sharks backed out, Herjavec surprisingly decided to place an offer of $250k for 12% equity, to which the founders agreed. As of December 2024, there hasn't been much information about how much yearly revenue that company has been generating, and there hasn't been confirmation about Robert's deal either.

All Shark Tank episodes are available to stream on ABC.