Pinblock Update | Shark Tank Season 8

Vladislav Smolyanskyy noticed that traditional building blocks often limited creativity due to their specialized pieces. In response, he developed Pinblock, a construction toy made from a single, versatile block that gives builders the freedom to create anything they envision without any constraints. Will the sharks invest in this creative construction toy? Let’s dive into our Pinblock update and pitch recap to find out.

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

Vladislav entered Shark Tank Season 8 to pitch Pinblock, seeking $100,000 for 20% equity. After his pitch, he struck a deal with Kevin O’Leary for $100,000 for 50% equity.

In terms of a Pinblock update, the company benefited from the media exposure from its Shark Tank appearance, selling out 80% of its stock. However, delays in product redesign affected the company’s momentum. Despite this, Pinblock is still in business at the time of writing.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	Accepted offer of $100,000 for 50% equity
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer

Shark Tank Pinblock Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Vladislav Smolyanskyy 
• Business: Toy building blocks
• Ask: $100,000 for 20% equity
• Result: $100,000 for 50% equity
• Shark: Kevin O’Leary

Vladislav introduced Pinblock to the sharks and handed out personalized samples.

He explained how its unique single-shape design lets users create anything they can imagine, offering more flexibility than traditional building sets with specific, limited pieces.

He told the sharks that he needed the investment to speed up production and expand into major online retailers.

Pinblock uses a flexible pin-and-hole system that allows for movement and creative play, making it stand out in the toy industry.

The business operates mainly through e-commerce, selling directly to children and adults who are looking for creative and educational toys.

With various color themes and tutorials, Pinblock encourages users to build imaginative structures that enhance creativity and problem-solving skills.

Vladislav also shared that he owns 85% of the company, with 15% belonging to a former partner no longer involved.

With over $160,000 in sales and his inspiring backstory of moving to the U.S. from Kyiv, Vladislav had the sharks’ attention.

He revealed that his starter packs cost $3 to produce and sell for $19.99.

Kevin O’Leary, curious about the entrepreneur’s progress at the Toy Fair, asked about his deals with retailers.

Vladislav explained that while he had signed with smaller retailers, he hadn’t yet secured deals with larger ones.

Kevin offered $100,000 for 30% equity, proposing to license Pinblock to a major manufacturer for global distribution.

Vladislav hesitated, as it didn’t align with his vision for the company.

Barbara Cocrocran agreed with Kevin’s plan but said this wasn’t the right investment for her, so she declined to make an offer.

Mark Cuban said the toy business was filled with many challenges, so he declined to make an offer. Followed by Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner.

Kevin then revised his offer to $100,000 for 50% equity, giving him the right to negotiate licensing deals.

However, the entrepreneur would still retain the right to vet any deal.

After considering the offer, Vladislav accepted Kevin’s terms.

Was this the best arrangement for Vladislav? Let’s find out in our Pinblock update.

Shark Tank Pinblock Update

Our Pinblock update found that the deal with Kevin O’Leary did not go through because the toy industry was too competitive, and manufacturers were not interested in licensing Pinblock.

Nonetheless, thanks to the media exposure from Shark Tank, Pinblock sold out 80% of its stock shortly after airing.

In a Facebook livestream, Vladislav explained how redesigning the product and finding new manufacturers delayed the launch of Pinblock 2.0, which was originally slated for June 2017.

At the time of writing our Pinblock update, products are still available on the official website, but some items are marked as sold out.

Vladislav has since taken up a role to work at Raindrop Media Management.

If we get another Pinblock update, we will let you know.

For more company updates from Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 13, look no further:

• Grease Bags Update
• Mama’s Milk Box Update
• Nice Pipes Apparel Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 8 page for more updates.