Additional Coverage:
- ‘Shark Tank’ contestant stuns judges after emptying an entire pumpkin’s flesh on his head (marketrealist.com)
Pumpkin Guts on “Shark Tank”? Entrepreneur Stuns Judges with Gory Pitch!
In a recent episode of “Shark Tank,” entrepreneur Daryl Braithwaite, also known as “Big D,” certainly made a memorable impression – though perhaps not in the way he intended. Seeking $300,000 for a 10% stake in his product, the “Pumpkin Glove Scraper by Halloween Moments,” Braithwaite brought a truly unique, and somewhat messy, approach to his pitch.
The product itself is a glove equipped with a scraper, designed to simplify the often-dreaded task of cleaning out pumpkins for Halloween. Braithwaite’s demonstration, however, is what truly caught the sharks off guard. To emphasize the “problem” his product solves – the struggle of scooping out pumpkin innards – he proceeded to dump the entire slimy contents of a pumpkin directly onto his bald head!
The shocking stunt left judges like Lori Greiner in disbelief, as Braithwaite, full of an almost frantic energy, nearly forgot his lines at one point. While the product’s utility for Halloween enthusiasts seemed clear, the entrepreneur’s requested $3 million valuation immediately raised eyebrows, especially for “Mr. Wonderful,” Kevin O’Leary.
When pressed for sales figures, Braithwaite cited $58,000 in sales from September to December of the previous year, and $52,000 year-to-date, with the caveat that Halloween season hadn’t yet begun. The real shocker came when he revealed he had already raised $850,000 for the company, largely due to a pandemic-era decision to order a massive 300,000 units from a Chinese manufacturer.
This colossal inventory and significant overfunding proved to be the “nail in the coffin” for the sharks. Despite expressing admiration for the product itself, none of the investors were willing to take a bite out of “Big D’s” pumpkin-scraping venture. It seems even the most entertaining pitches need solid financials to secure a deal in the Tank!