Company Updates Season 1 

Ink Flip Printer Ink Refill Program Update | Shark Tank Season 1

Andrew Smith

Printer ink can run out at the most inconvenient of times. That’s why Andy Sperry has created a program that ensures customers will never run out of ink. Will his company earn a deal on Shark Tank Season 1? Find out in our Ink Flip update! 

Shark Tank Ink Flip Update

Ink Flip Update

  • Entrepreneur: Andy Sperry 
  • Business: Printer ink refill program
  • Ask: $150,000 for 20% equity
  • Result: No deal
  • Shark: None

Andy entered Shark Tank Season 1 and showed how the Ink Flip system works. His program system creates a loop, where the client receives their first cartridge. When the ink runs out, the client replaces the cartridge, then sends the empty Ink Flip in the mail with a pre-addressed pre-paid box. The company refills the cartridge, then sends it back to the customer.

Kevin O’Leary asked how he would go about ordering his first cartridge, wondering what the printer manufacturer’s reaction would be.

Andy said the business was all online, so all orders would be done on the website. Robert Herjavec also asked about the manufacturers, but Andy said they couldn’t force anyone to use the same brand of cartridges.

After six months on the market, Andy had $10,000 in sales. Kevin O. asked how much it would cost to acquire customers.

Andy admitted that he didn’t know and that he was in the tank to acquire expertise through the sharks. Kevin was highly unimpressed, as were most of the other sharks.

Robert was taken aback by this comment, as the business depended on a growing customer base. Barbara Corcoran asked how much Andy had invested, which was about $50,000.

Kevin O. went out due to Andy’s lack of knowledge. Daymond John followed out, stating that he saw no proprietary product and not enough business knowledge.

Robert went out because he said he didn’t want to fund a test, along with Kevin Harrington. Barbara said Andy hadn’t done his homework, and didn’t deserve an investment. She went out.

Andy had to leave Shark Tank Season 1 without a deal. Do you think Ink Flip survived? Keep reading our Ink Flip update to find out!

Our Ink Flip update reveals that the company did not make it much longer after its Shark Tank appearance. It closed in 2010, but Andy has gone on to achieve success in other career endeavors.

This will be our final Ink Flip update.

Would you like to learn about the other companies featured on Season 1 Episode 11? Follow the links below for our other company updates from the episode.

For even more on companies and products, be sure to stop by our Season 1 Products Page!

Andrew Smith
Website | + posts

Andrew Smith is the founder and owner of Shark Tank Recap. He is a longtime Shark Tank fan that has been watching it for years and has seen every episode multiple times. His friends know him as the Shark Tank expert, because he can answer any question about the show! His favorite Shark Tank products are Bertello's pizza oven and Bug Bite Thing!