The new season of Shark Tank has brought some of the biggest surprises yet. First there’s the first black female guest shark. Now, what else is in store?
Diaper Dust
Diaper Dust, a product developed by entrepreneur Regina Crisci, appeared on the Shark Tank season 13 episode 14. Diaper Dust is a deodorizing powder made from sodium bicarbonate and activated charcoal. It’s designed to remove odor from diapers and baby wipes before it gets to a disposal unit. The powder is sold online and has a 4.5 star rating.
According to the Shark Tank blog, a deal for Diaper Dust was finalized in August 2022. This was the first time that a Black woman has made a guest appearance on the show. Emma Grede is the CEO of Good American, a fashion juggernaut. She advised Crisci to market her product via mom influencers on social media.
Crisci originally conceived of Diaper Dust as a side hustle. Her son Maddox inspired her to start her own business. After researching business requirements, she developed the product. But she still needed help to scale her inventory.
Crisci went to the Sharks hoping to get a hand-up for her product. She asked for $75,000 in exchange for 40% of her startup. Fortunately for her, Mark Cuban was willing to offer a deal.
However, the sharks were not impressed. They didn’t find the product to be a particularly novel idea. And most of them thought that asking for $75,000 was a bit too much money to ask for a company that was only generating about $3,000.
In the end, though, Mark Cuban agreed to a deal. He would invest $75,000. Apparently, Mark isn’t a fan of investing in businesses that don’t have a track record of success.
On the show, the Sharks also tested the product. Some even noticed a noticeable difference after using it. Nevertheless, the odor was gone.
The only hiccup was that the product was sold out shortly after the air date. That’s because there wasn’t a huge demand for Diaper Dust.
There were also other product claims that the Sharks liked, but they didn’t have the budget to test them all. Nonetheless, Diaper Dust is a unique product that works. It’s available on Amazon and is priced at $30 for a two-pack.
Range Beauty
Range Beauty is a makeup brand that offers a range of products for women of color. The brand’s focus is on clean beauty and addressing neglected skin types. The company uses botanicals in its formula.
The brand was started by Alicia Scott, a woman of color with acne-prone skin. She founded the company after noticing that she was not able to find cosmetic products for her skin. Her research led to the creation of Range Beauty. After getting feedback from other women of color, she was inspired to launch the brand.
She first bootstrapped the business, receiving grant money and hiring influencers on social media to promote the brand. Alicia’s business was a success. In just a few short months, Range Beauty was sold out of Target stores. It became the first Black woman-owned makeup brand to appear on Shark Tank.
As of this writing, Range Beauty is in the midst of series A fundraising. The startup has received hundreds of orders for its True Intentions Hydrating Foundation sample kit. Alicia has enlisted family and friends to spread the word about the brand.
The company offers a wide variety of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal skincare products that are all natural. The products are also suitable for people with sensitive skin. They are available for sale on the company’s website as well as Target. Alicia Scott was able to raise her net worth from $300 in the previous year to $1.5 million now.
Alicia has also been known to have entered a number of pitch competitions. Some of her competitors include Christina Funke Tegbe, founder of 54 Thrones; Tania Specks, founder of Tania Specks Organic Skincare; and Cora and Stephen Miller, co-founders of Young King Hair Care.
Several networks are working hard to increase diversity on and off the screen. Alicia Scott is the founder and CEO of Range Beauty. The brand has made great sales and is a major contender on Shark Tank.
Several of the investors that participated in the pitch competition chose to take a deal with Lori Greiner. Greiner offered $150,000 in exchange for 20% equity. Jeremy Ross doesn’t see the value in a makeup deal without differentiation.
Junobie
Junobie is a startup from West Lafayette, Indiana, that aims to create an eco-friendly breast milk storage system. It was launched in February of this year. The company has been generating good sales in the early months of the business.
Junobie makes silicone bags for storing breast milk. It’s designed with breastfeeding in mind, but also offers trays, jars, boxes and cups. They also offer lactation consultation services through their website.
When Ramsey was returning to work after her second maternity leave, she discovered that there weren’t many options for storing breast milk. She struggled to find a product that worked. With the help of her family, she developed a product.
After her initial prototype failed, she consulted with other mothers. Her idea for a reusable breast milk storage bag was a hit. Eventually, she found another manufacturer who perfected the design.
Junobie’s goal is to provide unique and specialized milk storage solutions to parents. They regularly collaborate with La Leche League International and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) organizations.
In addition to partnering with nonprofit organizations, Junobie also offers a free breastfeeding and lactation consultation service. It’s available through the Junobie website.
Junobie has been featured in numerous popular magazines. Their products are available in a wide variety of supermarkets across the country. During their initial period, they earned $86,000 in sales. But Nickey says her business is growing. She plans to run the business from her home in West Lafayette.
Junobie’s founder Nikeytha “Nickey” Ramsey started the business to solve a problem. A struggling mother, she wanted a better way to store her breast milk.
While she was traveling as a speech pathologist, Ramsey was frustrated with her breast milk storage solutions. As she searched for a solution, she came up with an idea for a reusable bag. She was determined to make it work.
Eventually, she went to Shark Tank with her prototype. Her pitch impressed Mark Cuban. He offered her a $100,000 investment for 10% equity in her company. However, he was out because he didn’t like the product.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, Nickey was a traveling working mother of two. She earned a Bachelor’s of Applied Sciences in Audiology from Purdue University.
First Black female guest shark
One of the first Black female guest sharks on Shark Tank, Emma Grede, will join Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner. They will team up to offer $100,000 in No Limbits, an adaptive clothing company for people with disabilities.
The Shark Tank Season 13 premiere is set for October 8. In addition to Grede, Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran will also make appearances on the show. Previously, the series has featured five Black hair care and makeup innovators.
The show has also focused on diversity off-screen. This year, the cast includes a recurring shark, Rohan Oza, who is an icon of the Smartwater brand.
While the cast of regular Sharks has included Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, and Daymond John, the series has also featured a number of prominent guest Sharks. In fact, the Season 13 premiere aired with a number of guest Sharks, including Alicia Scott and Christina Funke Tegbe.
Another highlight of the Season 13 premiere was the debut of the Head Lightz beanie, a product that allows dog owners to walk with their dogs and not worry about tripping on a stick or a beanee. It also offers free hands for cleaning up.
Shark Tank has a huge impact on brands. It provides exposure, mentorship, and investments. With a large number of Black entrepreneurs participating in the show, it’s clear that diversity is a priority.
On the other hand, there is still a funding gap for Black women-owned businesses. A recent survey from Crunchbase showed that 0.34% of all venture capital in the U.S. was devoted to businesses owned by Black people in July 2021.
For these reasons, Shark Tank has become an important tool for aspiring Black entrepreneurs. Hopefully, more black-owned businesses will be able to tap into the program’s resources.
The season premiere of Shark Tank will air Monday, October 8. ABC has announced eight new shows for the 2018-19 season. These include the return of “A Million Little Things” and “The Good Doctor” as well as America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Additionally, FOX has announced a new spin-off of “Bones” with Michael Clarke Duncan. The show will also feature former “Shark Tank” entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff.