Brilliant Pad Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Picking up dog poop is a messy, unpleasant chore. Existing solutions like bags and pads require constant maintenance and create waste. This frustration led Alan Cook to invent the Brilliant Pad, an automatic indoor dog potty that seals waste into disposable containers, eliminating the need for messy cleanup. Do the sharks think this messy problem needs a solution? Let’s find out in this Brilliant Pad update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Brilliant Pad after Shark Tank.

Alan Cook pitched his self-cleaning puppy pad business on Shark Tank, seeking $500,000 for a 5% ownership stake. After negotiations, he secured a deal with Lori Greiner for $500,000. The deal included a $2.50 royalty per unit sold until she recoups her investment, followed by a 5% equity.

In terms of a Brilliant Pad update, the company is still thriving. They’ve introduced more absorbent and affordable waste pads, along with a tray lip to prevent spills. As a result, they now boast $1 million in annual sales.

Shark	Result
Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $500,000 for a $2.50 royalty per unit until $500,000 is recouped and 5% equity
Alex Rodriguez	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank Brilliant Pad Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Alan Cook
• Business: Self-cleaning puppy pads
• Ask: $500,000 for 5% equity
• Result: $500,000 for a $2.50 royalty per unit until $500,000 is recouped, and then 5% equity
• Shark: Lori Greiner

Alan Cook began his pitch to the sharks by introducing the Brilliant Pad as a revolutionary self-cleaning indoor dog potty specifically designed for puppies and small dogs. He highlighted its pioneering nature by mentioning it’s “the world’s first” product of its kind.

Alan shared that the IndieGoGo campaign, launched in April 2017, garnered significant interest and exceeded its goal by raising over $110,000. 

This strong demand translated into successful fulfillment, with over 1,600 units delivered to customers by August of that same year. 

He described his product as a compact, automated system that uses rollers. When a dog uses the pad, the system automatically seals the waste into an airtight, sanitary packet. 

This innovative feature offers a clear advantage over traditional methods. It functions similarly to a food vacuum sealer but is specifically designed for pet waste disposal. 

Alan explained that the Brilliant Pad prioritizes sustainability. All components are eco-friendly, and the waste-sealing material biodegrades after use. 

The absorbent pad quickly dries solid waste while absorbing liquids before being rolled into a disposable container. This eliminates the need for wasteful plastic bags and paper towels typically used for pet cleanup. 

A Brilliant Pad costs $159 and includes 27 pads. 

When customers need to purchase replacements, they can do so for $57-$64. 

He added that customer reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, indicating a strong market demand for this innovative product. 

Alan is seeking a shark’s help to make his product a mass-market item. 

Kevin O’Leary is interested and comes up to the carpet to do a smell test to verify that the product actually works. 

He also shares that he is an investor in Scoop Free Automatic Litter Box and thinks the two companies could benefit from each other. He offers $500,000 as a loan at 11% interest for 10% equity.

Barbara Corcoran, on the other hand, expressed concerns about the risk involved and exited the deal. 

Guest shark Alex Rodriguez said that the business did not align with his brand interests and dropped out as well. 

Mark Cuban, while interested in the product itself, believed the return on investment timeline was too long. For that reason, he is out of the deal. 

Lori Greiner made an offer for $500,000 at 8% equity plus a royalty fee of $5 per unit sold until she recoups her investment. After some thought, she revised her equity to 5% with the same royalty structure. 

Alan counters her at $500,000 for a $2.50 royalty per unit until $500,000 is recouped and 5% equity. Lori accepted this final deal.

Let’s see what becomes of Alan’s company in our Brilliant Pad update.

Shark Tank Brilliant Pad Update 

After airing,  the deal with Lori Greiner ultimately fell through. Despite the disappointment, the company took this opportunity to refine its product. 

They introduced more absorbent and affordable waste pads, along with a tray lip to prevent spills. They also implemented an automatic roll advance system for added convenience. 

Like many companies, our Brilliant Pad update found that they faced some manufacturing challenges in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

As restrictions let up and manufacturing got back to normal, the company launched the Brilliant Pad Smart, a completely hands-free version. 

This innovative design allows users to control the waste pad advancement remotely through a smartphone app. 

Additionally, the Smart Pad captures pictures of “potty events” and provides insights on stool consistency, even alerting users to potential health concerns through soft stool detection.

Since airing, Brilliant Pad has grown to over $1 million in annual revenue and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

We can’t wait to see what Alan has in store for our next Brilliant Pad update.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 9 here:

• Bravo Update
• Hoop Maps Update
• GloveStix Update

Before you go, be sure to check out some more of our Shark Tank Season 9 updates!