"It’s all nonsense" — Mark Cuban slams Minus CAL, Tycoon, and Pavlok as scams on Shark Tank

Shark Tank is a platform for entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of investors, known as the Sharks, in hopes of securing a deal. The show often features innovative products, but certain pitches sometimes fail to convince the Sharks due to questionable claims or flawed business models.

Among the Sharks, Mark Cuban stands out for his straightforward and critical approach. He doesn’t hesitate to dismiss products that he thinks lack credibility, offering blunt feedback.

One such moment came during the pitch for Pavlok in Shark Tank season 7, a wearable device that claimed to help users break bad habits through small electric shocks. Cuban rejected the product outright, stating:

“It’s all nonsense across the board. You're such a con artist."

From weight-loss claims to risky investment platforms, Cuban has called out pitches he believed misled consumers. Here are three instances—Minus CAL, Tycoon Real Estate, and Pavlok—where Mark Cuban’s candid rejections left no room for doubt.

---

1. Mark about Pavlok in Shark Tank — “It’s all nonsense across the board”

Pavlok in Shark Tank (Image source via shark tank blog)

Pavlok, introduced in Shark Tank season 7 by Maneesh Sethi, claimed to help users break bad habits like smoking and overeating through aversion therapy. The wearable device delivered small electric shocks when users engaged in undesirable habits.

Sethi asked for $500,000 for 3.14% equity, presenting the product as a unique behavioral conditioning tool. Mark Cuban dismissed the pitch, voicing doubts about its scientific basis and long-term effectiveness.

The other mentors continued to listen, and Mark interrupted and said:

"You can't be that stupid Robert, do you even think there's any legitimacy in this?"

Cuban criticized the pitch as unconvincing and refused to entertain it further, even calling out Sethi’s presentation.

Despite Cuban’s rejection, Pavlok found a niche audience and continued to sell units online. However, the pitch remains one of the show’s most controversial moments.

---

2. Minus CAL — “Don’t buy it, I’m out”

Minus CAL (Image source via shark tank blog)

Minus CAL, pitched in Shark Tank season 11, claimed to offer weight-loss benefits through a snack bar containing an ingredient called Choleve, derived from green tea extract.

The founders stated that Choleve could block fat absorption, allowing users to lose weight without changing their diet.

Seeking $500,000 for 20% equity, the entrepreneurs faced immediate skepticism from the Sharks. Mark Cuban quickly questioned the legitimacy of their claims, focusing on the lack of credible scientific evidence.

He criticized the ethical concerns around promoting unverified health benefits, ultimately advising viewers against the product. Cuban stated:

“I think we're done here. To everybody who's watching, don’t buy it, I’m out.”

The pitch failed to gain support, and Minus CAL faced backlash after the episode aired. Unable to recover, the company eventually shut down.

---

3. Tycoon Real Estate — “I hate it, I’m out”

Tycoon Real Estate appeared in season 6 as a platform allowing individuals to invest in real estate deals with small amounts of money.

Founder Aaron McDaniel sought $50,000 for 5% equity, presenting the business as an opportunity for everyday investors to access property ownership.

Before the pitch was complete, Mark Cuban interrupted with strong objections. He raised concerns about the platform’s risks for small-scale investors and its vague structure. Cuban rejected the pitch outright, saying:

"I hate it, I’m out."

To this, Kevin replied,

"I smell jail time, wow Mark that was aggresive."

The Sharks shared Cuban’s skepticism, and Tycoon Real Estate walked away without a deal. Despite a brief rise in website traffic after the episode, the company struggled to sustain its operations and eventually shut down.

---

New episodes of Shark Tank season 16 air every Friday on ABC.