"Not worth getting up": When Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban weighs in on Vabroom during Trevor and John's pitch

When Trevor Lambert and John Vadnais brought their invention, the Vabroom—a broom with a built-in vacuum—to the Shark Tank season 13 episode 11, they sought a $350,000 investment for a 2.5% equity stake. The product's innovation was clear, but Mark Cuban's sharp critique revealed deeper concerns about the pitch and its structure. Cuban concluded his feedback by declaring,

“It’s not worth getting up in the morning for 2.5%,” ultimately declining the opportunity.

His reasoning provides valuable insight into the dynamics of startup funding, investor expectations, and strategic alignment.

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Vabroom's Shark Tank pitch: Overview and Mark Cuban's rejection

The Vabroom combines a traditional broom with vacuum technology, aiming to simplify cleaning for solid surface floors. Powered by a rechargeable lithium battery, the product includes a one-cup capacity canister to collect debris, activated by tilting the broom.

Its creators, Trevor Lambert and John Vadnais, introduced it to the Shark Tank as a solution to “broom lines” left behind after sweeping. With a retail price of $59.99 and a history of crowdfunding success—raising over $152,000 through Kickstarter and IndieGoGo—the product had already demonstrated market interest.

While Mark Cuban and other Sharks like Daymond John and Lori Greiner declined the investment, Kevin O’Leary—known as "Mr. Wonderful"—offered a deal. He proposed $350,000 with a $3 per unit royalty until $700,000 was recouped, plus 2.5% equity. After some negotiation, the founders accepted O’Leary’s terms, saying,

I'm hopeful that it's not just going we're going to form a relationship. I'm going to help you sell these things. You're going to see the power of what a shark can do and I want to get the next product....that's the whole idea."

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Mark Cuban’s criticism

Cuban’s decision to opt out of investing stemmed from three main factors. First, the founders offered 2.5% equity for $350,000, valuing their company at $14 million. Cuban noted that such a small stake lacked sufficient incentive, especially considering the broader context of their design firm's involvement.

The Shark Tank investor expressed skepticism about the founders' approach to segmenting the Vabroom as a separate entity, which limited his potential return on investment. He said,

"You're trying to segment things out so that you kind of have your cake and eat it too right."

Second, the Shark Tank investor highlighted that Trevor Lambert’s design firm, Enhanced Product Development, was a key factor in the product's development and success. The design firm retained a 5% royalty on Vabroom's sales.

Cuban pointed out that the founders’ primary skills lay in product design and marketing—strengths tied more closely to the design firm than the standalone Vabroom company. This separation diluted the overall value proposition for investors. He explained,

"You have to control the design firm you get to segment your product into this new company."

Lastly, according to Cuban, the minimal equity offered did not align with the risks involved. The Shark Tank investor emphasized that his greatest return would likely come from the design firm’s future projects rather than the Vabroom itself, which made the deal unappealing. He stated,

"You only want to give us 2 and 1/2% of it's not worth getting up in the morning for 2 and 1/2% particularly when your greatest skill set is more available to the design firm and anything else you come up with outside this company."

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Don't miss the latest innovations and pitches—new episodes of Shark Tank air on ABC every Friday at 8 PM ET. Catch up on past episodes and stream the show anytime on Hulu!