'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAJGKKRP/xAAcEAACAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMFAAQRITH/2gAIAQEAAT8AuLVbnctqyOWQJrl3UPCihQjBeAj3DCe/c//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwUh/9oACAECAQE/AKp2aHT/xAAZEQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIDBSH/2gAIAQMBAT8AsWAS4v/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In Shark Tank season 7, an entrepreneur named Maneesh Sethi appeared in episode 29 that aired on May 20, 2016. Sethi's pitch for his product, Pavlok, became one of the most prominent presentations in the show's history.
Sethi’s ambitious ask for $500,000 in exchange for a 3.14% stake in his company led to heated exchanges with the sharks. Mark Cuban, in particular, dismissed the pitch by stating:
"We have different ways to remind you right but you went so over-the-top with nonsense It is everything but a legitimate product."
Sethi explained his product as a wearable device that helped users break bad habits through mild electric shocks, employing principles of aversion therapy. However, Sethi's pitch in Shark Tank failed to impress most of the panelists.
Trending
Ultimately, Sethi left the show without an investment. Despite this, Pavlok achieved growth after its appearance on the show.
Shark Tank: Maneesh's pitch
In Shark Tank season 7 episode 29, Maneesh Sethi introduced Pavlok as a revolutionary wearable device designed to help people conquer bad habits. He explained that the device was equipped with an app that delivered an electric shock to users when they engaged in undesirable behaviors like nail-biting, overeating, or hitting snooze buttons. Sethi talked about the product's effectiveness, stating:
“More than 81% of our users quit nail-biting in four days.”
Mark Cuban dismissed the pitch, calling out the lack of proprietary research to support Sethi’s claims.
“Aversion therapy is legit, but what's not legit is trying to take credit for other studies and apply it to your product,” Cuban argued.
Lori Greiner echoed this sentiment, questioning the absence of clinical trials and proof. Despite Sethi's defense and his evidence booklet citing aversion therapy research, the sharks were skeptical of his valuation and data.
Robert Herjavec initially appreciated the concept but found the $16 million valuation based on pre-orders unrealistic. Barbara Corcoran found the presentation complicated and opted out, saying:
“I couldn’t imagine having the energy to deal with that.”
Kevin O’Leary made a final offer of $500,000 as a loan at 7.5% interest, with a 3.14% equity stake, but Sethi turned it down, citing a lack of compatibility with O’Leary as an investor. When Sethi rejected O’Leary outright, saying he’d accept an offer from anyone else but him. To this, O’Leary responded:
“Maneesh, you’re an a*****e. Get the f*** out of here,”
What happened after Shark Tank?
While the Maneesh's pitch failed on Shark Tank, his appearance on the show increased Pavlok's visibility and brought success to his brand. In an interview with Business Insider on March 28, 2016, Sethi reflected on the experience, stating:
“Going in, I knew Kevin was not a great investor fit for our company. A lot of people don’t realize investment partnerships are about way more than money. Business style and vision for the company need to align as well.”
Nine months after filming, Sethi released an update video on their website, revealing that Pavlok had gained 10,000 new customers and refined its technology. Features such as hand detection were added to further assist users in curbing undesirable behaviors.
Additionally, Pavlok secured funding from investors such as IncWell and MassChallenge. As per Looper, on September 10, 2024, the company also launched a successful Indiegogo campaign for its Shock Clock, raising over $343,000. However, the campaign faced backlash as some customers claimed they never received their products.
Sethi remained steadfast in defending his vision for Pavlok, emphasizing its potential to change lives despite the skepticism he faced in the tank. The company continued to expand, offering products aimed at specific habits like procrastination and smoking.
According to Pavlok’s website, they have now extended their product line with inclusion of products like the Pavlok Ring, Shock Clack Max, and other accessories like hydra charging cables. For regular updates, fans can check their Instagram page: @pavlok.
Shark Tank airs every Friday at 8/7c on ABC.
