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Shark Tank aired a new episode on December 13, 2024, featuring Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland as they presented their business venture called Snow Scholars. The duo shared that their snow removal service currently employs college students to provide affordable snow shoveling solutions for homeowners.
Seeking $75,000 for a 10% stake, the founders explained their business model, which allows homeowners to choose specific areas for shoveling, salting, or sanding. The duo added that the fixed-rate pricing ensures predictability for customers, regardless of snow depth.
Operating at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the business generated $116,800 in revenue during the most recent snow season, with a profit of $85,500. Jake and Philip planned to expand to four additional campuses in the coming year, aiming to target over 140 universities across the U.S. and Canada.
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They emphasized their custom-built software, which automates operations and reduces management costs. The Sharks questioned the entrepreneurs about their marketing strategies and scalability.
After presenting their sales, profit margins, and pay rates for workers ($25/hour), they received offers from Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John, who proposed $75,000 for 20%. Ultimately, Snow Scholars owners accepted Mark Cuban's deal of $150,000 for a 20% stake.
Snow Scholars' business model and expansion plans in Shark Tank
As seen on Shark Tank, Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland created Snow Scholars to address two needs: affordable snow removal services for homeowners and flexible employment opportunities for college students. Homeowners can choose specific areas to be shoveled, salted, or sanded, with a fixed pricing model of $74.56 per snowfall.
The business focuses on consistency by offering seasonal and vacation plans, ensuring customers are not affected by unpredictable weather. The company currently operates at two campuses: the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Expansion plans include adding four more campuses next year and targeting over 140 universities across the U.S. and Canada. Jake and Philip aim to scale their operations using their custom software, which automates communication and scheduling. This efficiency minimizes the need for additional management, allowing them to maintain profitability.
Marketing efforts have primarily included social media and flyer distribution, with plans to partner directly with campuses in the future. By keeping their operational costs low and paying student workers $25 per hour, they ensure both customer satisfaction and competitive employee wages.
The company evaluation and final deal in Shark Tank
On Shark Tank, the panelists asked detailed questions about Snow Scholars’ financials, scalability, and marketing strategies. Jake and Philip revealed that their last snow season, from December to April, generated $116,800 in revenue and $85,500 in profit.
The duo further explained that they acquire clients through flyer distribution and social media advertising, with plans to use campus partnerships to reach more homeowners in the next year.
The Sharks were impressed by the business's profitability and streamlined operations but expressed concerns about the competitive market and potential challenges in scaling. Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John, both individually offered $75,000 for 20%.
However, Mark Cuban proposed a counteroffer of $150,000 for 20%, highlighting his ability to help them expand their reach with his experience. He said:
"You guys already know from Storage Scholars the challenges you're going to face."
Jake mentioned in the episode:
"Mark was our target Shark, because he ultimately had, you know huge background in technology, he's got credibility as a name and experience with another college-student owned and operated company."
With the additional capital and Mark's guidance, Jake and Philip said that they plan to accelerate their expansion to new campuses and further refine their operational model.
Fans can watch the episodes of Shark Tank season 16, airing every Friday at 8 PM ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.
