"Horrific presentation" - When Robert Herjavec criticized Liftid One's pitch on Shark Tank

During Shark Tank season 12 episode 5, investor Robert Herjavec strongly confronted entrepreneurs Ken and Allyson Davidov over their presentation style for Liftid, a neurostimulation headband company. The founders began their pitch seeking $200,000 for 10% equity, demonstrating their $149 electric stimulation device designed to enhance focus.

Throughout the pitch, Ken Davidov repeatedly spoke over the Sharks' questions about their 1,240 units sold and $126,000 revenue. After multiple interruptions during product demonstration and safety discussions, Herjavec directly addressed Davidov's communication approach.

"I accept the fact that you're a great salesman because you were telling me that, but I can't justify the great salesman with the absolutely horrific presentation you did today…you're like a machine gun. Your job is to get me to share that passion, and the way you do not do that is just to talk over everybody. The nicest thing I can say to you today is, I'm out," he said.

The Shark Tank pitch ended with all five Sharks declining to invest, citing various concerns about the presentation style and product claims.

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Shark Tank's Herjavec criticized Liftid One’s founders for not letting investors speak

Ken and Allyson Davidov aimed for a $2 million company valuation through their investment ask on Shark Tank. Their product, developed with neurosurgeon Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz, retailed at $149 with a $22 manufacturing cost.

The company had established a marketing partnership with Gadgetflow, which supported their sales efforts and market presence. Dr. Schwartz's involvement brought medical expertise to product development, as he specialized in creating solutions for cognitive enhancement.

The presentation encountered multiple challenges when Ken Davidov discussed the product's capabilities. Mark Cuban raised concerns after reading the product's warning label, which stated "there is no medical benefit," creating confusion about its marketed claims.

When questioned about this discrepancy, Ken Davidov attempted to distinguish between medical and cognitive benefits, but his rapid communication style made it difficult for the Sharks to follow his explanation.

“Rob, you did nothing but come out here and talk talk, right, and you're like a machine gun,” Robert commented.

The founders’ attempts to demonstrate the product's functionality to the Sharks resulted in mixed reactions, with Robert Herjavec stating he didn't experience the promised energy boost similar to coffee.

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Other Sharks' reactions

Mark Cuban raised additional scientific concerns beyond the warning label issue. He stated that the founders attempted to sell science without properly using scientific evidence. Lori Greiner firmly opposed products making specific claims about performance benefits and exited the deal.

Kevin O'Leary expressed physical discomfort during the presentation, mentioning he developed a headache. He ranked the pitch among the most unusual ones in Shark Tank history before declining to invest. Daniel Lubetzky cited his lack of personal connection to the product as his reason for not participating.

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Post-show developments

As per Shark Tank Blog, despite walking away without a Shark Tank investment, Liftid demonstrated significant market growth. The company achieved $6 million in revenue by July 2024, marking substantial expansion from their initial 1,240 units sold during the show appearance. Their market valuation increased to $25 million, suggesting strong customer acceptance of their neurostimulation technology.

The company received recognition from Gadget Flow, winning their Best Product award in 2019. This award validated their technology in the consumer electronics market. The founders successfully maintained business operations and continued selling their headband device through multiple retail channels.

The company maintained its $149 price point while expanding distribution beyond their initial direct-to-consumer model. They were inactive on Instagram for two years until recently when they posted about CES 2025 event on December 27, 2024.

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Fans can watch new episodes of Shark Tank on ABC network.