Snow Scholars Update | Shark Tank Season 16
While attending the University of Wisconsin, Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland noticed how frustrating it was for homeowners to deal with snow-covered driveways after a storm. The time-consuming chore was a recurring winter pain point, especially in areas with heavy snowfall. So, they created Snow Scholars. It’s a snow shoveling service that hires college students to provide affordable, efficient snow removal while giving students flexible, high-paying jobs. Will the sharks see the value in this campus-born solution? Let’s find out in our Snow Scholars update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Snow Scholars after
Jake and Philip entered
In terms of a Snow Scholars update, the company has expanded its services beyond residential properties. Further, they have paid over $100,000 in wages to students.
| Shark | Result |
| Mark Cuban | Accepted offer of $150,000 for 20% equity |
| Daymond John | $75,000 for 20% equity |
| Kevin O’Leary | $75,000 for 20% equity |
| Robert Herjavec | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
Shark Tank Snow Scholars PitchÂ
- Entrepreneurs: Jake Piekarski and Philip Loveland
- Business: Snow Removal Services
- Ask: $75,000 for 10% equity
- Result: $150,000 for 20% equity
- Shark: Mark CubanÂ
Jake and Philip started their presentation by stating the obvious frustrations of snow removal and the untapped potential of college students’ free time.
Snow Scholars is a snow removal service that employs college students to provide reliable and affordable assistance to homeowners.
They sought an investment to refine their custom-built software and expand their operations to more campuses across the U.S. and Canada.
With this investment, they aimed to scale their business and prove that a winter inconvenience could be turned into an opportunity for success.
The service activates automatically when it snows, with routes and assignments optimized using proprietary software.
Here’s how it works: Homeowners sign up online for a seasonal or vacation plan.
Next, they select specific areas for snow removal and additional services like salting or sanding. (The entrepreneurs reveal they do this for free).
Finally, college students are recruited through campus job boards and flyers. They are assigned jobs based on location and snowfall data.
Jake and Philip charge homeowners an average flat fee of $74.56 per snowfall, unlike competitors, who charge up to $300 per driveway. They say their simple pricing model has won customers’ loyalty.
Additionally, they have an impressive 73.3% net profit margin. Each snowfall costs them about $19.87 per job, leaving a profit of $54.69 per service.
CAC is just $7.08, while the average customer spends $814 annually.
The business started in November 2022. From November 2022 to April 2023, it made $18,000 in revenue and $13,000 in profit.
From December 2023 to April 2024, they made $116,800 in revenue and $85,500 in profit.
During this time, their customer base grew rapidly—from 34 customers in the first season to 353 in the second. They plan to scale to 700 customers in the near future.
The entrepreneurs use social media to attract clients. Further, they partnered with college campuses to recruit workers through student job boards and distribute physical flyers to homeowners.
College students are paid $25 per hour and earn an average of $185 per day, making it one of the highest-paying campus jobs.
The guys say they currently operate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
However, they plan to expand to four more campuses this year and have identified over 140 campuses across the U.S. and Canada that fit their operational model.
Kevin O’Leary says he likes their business and appreciates their hustle. He offers $75,000 for 20% equity.
In turn, Daymond John says he knows the business well because he used to do something similar as a kid. He matches Kevin’s offer and proposes $75,000 for 20% equity.
Lori Greiner does not understand why they need her help and feels they are better off alone. She exits the negotiations.
Robert Herjavec says he thinks the business will struggle to scale due to the unpredictability of snowfall and the peaks in demand. He decides to step out.
Out of the blue, Mark Cuban offered them $150,000 for 20% equity, and Jake and Philip immediately accepted the offer.
Was this the right move for the entrepreneurs? Let’s find out in our Snow Scholars update.
Shark Tank Snow Scholars Update
Our Snow Scholars update found that the company had completed over 3,000 snow removal jobs for approximately 1,000 customers.
Their services were no longer limited to residential properties—they had begun serving commercial clients as well.
Jake shared with WDIO that they have paid more than $100,000 in student wages, reinforcing its mission of student empowerment.
During our Snow Scholars update research, we found that the company has introduced the Whole Season Plan and the Vacation Plan.
Both plans cover snow removal for driveways, walkways, sidewalks, and stairs.
For more information about their services, visit the Snow Scholars website.
Once the dust settles, we will be back with another Snow Scholars update.
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Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.