"I am the quick fish" - When Shark Tank investors rejected Copy Keyboard entrepreneur's product idea

Copy Keyboard founder Scotty Trujillo's pitch for a $40,000 investment ended without a deal on Shark Tank's season 14 episode 13. Seeking a 25% equity valuation, Trujillo presented his two-button keyboard device, targeting users who frequently copy and paste. When Kevin O'Leary questioned patent protection, Trujillo responded:

"I thought you would ask me this question. It's not the big fish that eats the small fish, it's the quick fish that eats the slow fish, and I am the quick fish."

The simple USB device, priced at $19.99, aimed to streamline copy-paste functions for computer users. All five Sharks declined investment, citing concerns about market protection and growth potential. The pitch highlighted the challenges of defending simple tech innovations in a competitive market.

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Shark Tank panel passed on Copy Keyboard's $40,000 investment request

Trujillo walked the Shark Tank investors through his minimalist USB keyboard design. The two-button configuration eliminated the need for complex key combinations when copying and pasting text. He emphasized the plug-and-play functionality, requiring no additional software installation for both Windows and Mac systems.

The financial presentation revealed $42,209 in total sales since the 2021 launch. Manufacturing data showed a $9.14 per-unit cost, with projections to lower it to $6.50 through bulk ordering. The product line included two versions: the standard black model at $19.99 and an RGB-lit version at $24.99. Limited inventory meant only the black model remained available, with other variations showing 2-3 week waiting periods.

Trujillo's marketing success stood out, particularly on TikTok, where his product videos accumulated over 20 million views. This social media traction translated into sales through their website. The presentation included plans for retail expansion, although no confirmed partnerships existed at the time.

The Shark Tank entrepreneur developed Copy Keyboard after experiencing frustration with repetitive copying and pasting on his computer. The idea emerged from a simple need to make this daily task more efficient. His initial product design focused on creating a basic two-button USB device to simplify these common computer commands.

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Kevin O'Leary's patent challenge

Shark Tank Kevin O'Leary zeroed in on business protection measures. He asked the entrepreneur:

"Let me ask you a quick question. Patent? Yes or no?"

Trujillo acknowledged the lack of patent protection and focused instead on rapid market expansion. This strategy prompted Lori Greiner to probe further about his competitive approach.

"So you're saying you're gonna get out there bigger, faster, stronger than anybody else?" Lori asked.

Trujillo confirmed his focus on speed to market and social media momentum as key advantages.

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Final negotiations and decision

After examining the business model, market approach, and growth potential, each Shark opted not to invest. Lori praised Scotty's honesty, while Robert stated,

"Hey, you're captivating. You're a little bit eccentric in a very nice way. The product is crap, but I want to invest in it somehow. I just can't own a copy keyboard product, Scotty. Seriously, all joking aside, I actually think you could do brilliant and great things. But for now, I'm gonna have to do what the other sharks did. Copy. Paste. I'm out. I'm sorry."

Despite Trujillo's social media success and his strategy of rapid market entry, the Shark Tank pitch failed to secure the requested $40,000 for 25% equity.

As per Scotty's official LinkedIn account, Copy Keyboard was active till May 2023, only as the founder Trujillo's tenure with the company ended that month. The company site is inactive as of now, and Scotty works at Tesla as an operations advisor. The Shark Tank company did $100,000 in total revenue before ceasing active operations, marking the conclusion of the Copy Keyboard venture.

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Fans can catch new episodes of Shark Tank season 16 on ABC network.