Robin Robotic Lawn Care Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Unreliable weather and inconsistent workers caused delays for Justin Krandel and Bart Lamont’s landscaping business. To address this, they created Robin Autopilot, a service that combines robotic mowing with human edging and trimming, effectively tackling the challenge of navigating fenced yards. In this Robin update and pitch recap, we’ll find out if any of the sharks are interested in investing in their innovative business.

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

Justin and Bart appeared on  Shark Tank Season 9 to pitch their robotic lawnmower service. They sought $500,000 for 5% equity. Despite their efforts, they were unable to secure an offer and left the tank without a deal.

In terms of a Robin update, the company is still fully operational but now under a new name and management. They have introduced some innovations to their product and adopted a franchise model. They are now generating an impressive $7.3 million in annual revenue.

Shark	Result
Mark Cuban	No offer
Richard Branson	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Lori Greiner,	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer

Shark Tank Robin Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Justin Crandell and Bart Lomont
• Business: Robotic lawnmower service
• Ask: $500,000 for 5% equity
• Result: No deal
• Shark: None

Robin is a robotic lawn care service targeting homeowners in the United States, designed to maintain pristine lawns despite unpredictable weather or busy schedules. 

This innovative service utilizes robotic lawn mowers, known as Robo-Mowers, which are installed on customers’ properties. Unlike traditional robotic mowers, Robin’s system reportedly includes a patented solution for navigating fenced yards.

Customers can manage the mowers and schedule mowing times through a dedicated smartphone app. The electric robots, which eliminate the need for gas or oil changes, can operate for up to 12 hours on a single charge. 

After completing their tasks, the mowers automatically return to their docking stations to recharge. This service aims to provide a convenient, weather-resistant solution for lawn care, allowing homeowners to maintain well-manicured yards without manual labor.

Each Robo-Mower costs between $1,700 and $1,900, and homeowners pay $17 a week for the service. 

Coming into the Shark Tank, Robin had generated approximately $3 million in revenue, servicing 10,000 jobs a month in Texas metro areas, and had raised over $3 million with a team of 15 crew members. 

However, the company faced a significant challenge, losing $1 million last year due to purchasing additional equipment and expansion efforts.

Robin obtains its robotic mowers from a European company that typically sells directly to customers. However, Robin’s business model is unique, offering a combined product and service approach. 

Despite this, the sharks were not convinced. 

Lori Greiner believed Robin should be a product business rather than a service and dropped out. 

Mark Cuban withdrew, thinking it would take too long to scale. 

Guest shark Richard Branson felt the valuation was too high, and Robert Herjavec did not see the business’s potential for significant growth. 

Lastly, Daymond John also opted out, leaving Robin without any offers.

Justin and Bart believed the sharks missed a significant opportunity by not investing. Were they right? Let’s find out in this Robin update.

Shark Tank Robin Update

Since appearing on Shark Tank, Robin’s business setup has changed dramatically. In July 2019, the company was acquired by The Fahey Group, an Ohio-based holdings group. 

Our research indicates that Justin and Bart are not listed on the website’s team or investor sections, suggesting they may have sold their entire ownership stake in the company.

In September 2020, Robin unveiled a new guidance system to improve the robots’ ability to maneuver in tight spaces. 

By December 2020, they entered into a partnership agreement with TurfBot Mowing, a lawn care franchise. 

This partnership established a subscription business model (Robots as a Service) aimed at lawn care companies. 

These companies pay a monthly fee to use Robin’s products and receive additional support. The subscription model offers various levels for different additional services.

In 2020, our Robin update found that they hired 40 landscaping companies. By 2021, they planned to sell to 150 mid-market landscapers and install 1,000 residential units. 

In August 2022, the company rebranded to MowBot.

Since airing on Shark Tank, MowBot has grown to over $7.3 million in annual revenue.

Despite not getting a deal in the tank, we’d call this Robin update a success.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 10 here:

• SmartGurlz Update
• DNA Simple Update
• Grypmat Update

For more company updates, be sure to check out our Shark Tank Season 9 page!