Additional Coverage:
- ‘Shark Tank’ judge Daymond John tears up after his wife and daughter showed up during a pitch (marketrealist.com)
‘Shark Tank’ Surprise Leaves Daymond John in Tears
The popular show “Shark Tank” is known for its innovative products and dynamic pitches, but a recent episode delivered a heartwarming surprise that left judge Daymond John visibly moved. Entrepreneurs Valerie Strattan Guerra, Amanda, and Danny Seibert, pitching their personalized stuffed animal company, Mama Sing My Song, orchestrated a touching moment by bringing John’s wife, Heather, and daughter, Minka, into the studio mid-pitch.
The trio were seeking $125,000 for a 10% stake in their business, which creates custom stuffed animals that play personalized songs. Heather had worked with the company to create a special song for Minka, recorded in a stuffed bunny.
As Minka sat with her rabbit, listening to the personalized lyrics, John struggled to hold back tears. The song, which referenced Minka’s life and special moments with her dad, clearly resonated with John, who commented, “There are a lot of little things in there.
I heard all that.”
While many viewers anticipated an offer from John, the product’s impressive $1.4 million in sales drew interest from other sharks as well. Although Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary ultimately declined to invest, citing scalability concerns, John, Lori Greiner, and Daniel Lubetzky joined forces to make an offer.
They proposed $125,000 for a third of the company—a significantly larger equity stake than the entrepreneurs initially offered. Recognizing the value of having three sharks on board, the entrepreneurs countered, proposing a 25% stake.
Lubetzky, with the agreement of his fellow sharks, then sweetened the deal, offering $150,000 for the 25% stake. The entrepreneurs accepted, securing a deal that promises to boost their company’s visibility.
The emotional moment resonated with viewers, who flooded YouTube with supportive comments. Many praised John’s emotional response, highlighting his character and the heartwarming family connection. One commenter aptly summed up the sentiment: “I was absolutely touched by Daymond’s reaction when his family came and when they were leaving.”