PrideBites Pet Products Update | Shark Tank Season 7

While studying at the University of Kansas, Steven Blustein and his friends realized the dog toys they had for their pets didn’t last and weren’t fun or unique. They wanted something better, something that felt more personal. As a result, they came up with PrideBites, a line of custom pet products that let owners design toys and gear their dogs would actually love. Will the sharks get behind this college-born idea? Let’s find out in our PrideBites update and pitch recap.

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

Sean and Steven entered Shark Tank Season 7, seeking $200,000 for 10% equity in their customized pet accessories. After their presentation, they landed a deal with Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner for $200,000 for 20% equity.

In terms of a PrideBites update, the company secured $500,000 in seed funding from other investors. Further, they expanded their product line, shifted to a B2B merchandising model, and continue to operate successfully through their official website.

Shark	Result
Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $200,000 for 20% equity
Daymond John	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank PrideBites Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Sean Knecht and Steven Blustein
• Business: Customized pet accessories
• Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $200,000 for 20% equity
• Sharks: Robert Herjavec and Lori Greiner

Sean and Steven walked into Shark Tank and introduced themselves as the founders of PrideBites, a company that makes custom pet products.

Steven said they created the company to help pet owners treat their pets like family with personalized items made just for them.

Sean explained how it works. Customers visit the PrideBites website, pick a product, choose the size, color, and design, and then add their pet’s name or a custom image.

Once finished, the item is produced and shipped directly to the customer within a few weeks.

To show how it looks in real life, Sean brought out his dog Sadie, who wore a custom collar and leash. They handed out personalized samples to the sharks.

Robert Herjavec was impressed by the blanket with his dog Lola on it. Lori Greiner received a Frisbee with her face on it.

Kevin O’Leary said the products looked attractive, and Daymond John even made a toy squeak.

Sean said items range from $9.99 to $150. Mark Cuban asked if this was like Shutterfly for pets. Steven agreed but said PrideBites is different because they build each product from scratch.

Daymond asked about shipping time. Steven said it currently takes up to four weeks, but they’re working on cutting it down.

Steven said they have a 50% gross margin and have made $1.4 million in sales over two and a half years. They’re on track to do $1.3 million that year alone.

70% of sales came from brands and retailers that ordered custom products for their stores.

They had also started testing in-store kiosks to let customers customize products on the spot.

Lori then asked how the company started. Steven said they began in college, going door-to-door with their first dog toy, which later won a Pet Toy of the Year award.

Sean added that the toy is washable, floats, squeaks, and is one of the most versatile on the market.

Mark said they’ve done well but saw too much competition in the space. He didn’t think he could help them scale, so he went out.

Kevin didn’t like the valuation and didn’t see a fit for his portfolio, so he also dropped out.

Daymond said he respected the brand but didn’t want to deal with small retail products, so he passed.

Lori said the customization angle was great, but she was concerned about their weak online sales.

Sean responded that once they launched online, they sold 3,500 orders in 90 days.

Robert said he liked how they managed small custom orders and offered $200,000 for 20% equity. Steven asked Robert if he’d lower the equity to 15%.

Before Robert could respond, Lori jumped in. She offered $200,000 for 18% equity.

Sean then suggested that both sharks go in together for $300,000 for 20% equity. Robert countered with $300,000 for 30%, and Lori agreed.

Steven pushed back one more time. He asked if they would do $200,000 for a 20% equity split between both sharks.

Robert agreed. Lori hesitated, but when Kevin offered to jump in instead, she quickly said she was in.

In the end, PrideBites landed a deal with Lori and Robert.

What do you think happened after that? Read the rest of our PrideBites update to find out.

Shark Tank PrideBites Update

Our PrideBites update found that while the deal with Lori and Robert never closed, the company received $500,000 in seed money from other investors involved with the company.

Following the show, PrideBites expanded its product line. By the end of 2016, they added varsity dog jackets, raincoats, and sleeveless hoodies.

In 2017, they introduced waterproof collars, step-in leashes, and a premium leather goods line.

At the time of writing, PrideBites is still operating. The company now focuses on helping brands create custom pet products through a turnkey merchandising service.

You can purchase any of the PrideBites products from their official website.

When we receive another PrideBites update, we will let you know.

Would you like to know more about the other companies featured in Season 7 Episode 23? Check out our other company updates for this episode below.

• TROBO Update
• NoPhone Update
• Coolbox Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 7 products.