The Pop Pacifier Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Babies dropping pacifiers on the floor is a common frustration for parents since they get dirty and need frequent cleaning. To solve this problem, Nicki Radzely and Janna Badger invented The Pop, a pacifier with a self-enclosing case that pops shut when dropped, keeping it clean. The sharks seemed impressed with this innovative pacifier. Let’s find out if Nicki secured a deal in our The Pop Pacifier update and pitch recap. 

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

Nicki Radzely entered Shark Tank Season 9 to pitch her pacifier business. She sought $250,000 for 5% equity. After her pitch, she made a deal with  Kevin O’Leary for $250,000 for 10% equity.

In terms of a Pop Pacifier update, the company has since rebranded to Doddle & Co. They expanded their product line, added more major retail partnerships, and have achieved a steady $1 million in annual revenue.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	Accepted offer of $250,000 for 10% equity
Sara Blakely and Lori Greiner	$250,000 for 20% equity
Mark Cuban	No offer
Daymond John	No offer

Shark Tank The Pop Pacifier Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Nicki Radzely
• Business: Pacifier for Babies
• Ask: $250,000 for 5% equity
• Result: $250,000 for 10% equity
• Sharks: Kevin O’Leary

Nicki began her pitch by addressing every parent’s frustration with constantly cleaning dropped pacifiers. 

She said her product is designed to retract and stay clean when dropped, aiming to solve this common issue. Nicki is seeking an investment to scale production and expand market reach.

The Pop Pacifier addresses a specific need for parents of newborns: keeping the pacifier nipple clean. It features a unique retractable nipple design. 

Unlike regular pacifiers, the Pop’s nipple can be pushed inwards, protecting it from dirt when dropped or stored in bags. This eliminates the need for frequent washing, especially during outings.

The product might not work for every baby. If a baby chews on the nipple or keeps pulling it out of its mouth, the retraction mechanism could kick in by accident, forcing parents to pop the nipple back out again and again.

In essence, the Pop Pacifier offers a convenient way to maintain nipple hygiene, but its effectiveness hinges on the baby’s individual habits.

Nicki told the sharks that the product is patented and that she had sold about 25,000 units on Kickstarter in the four months that she had been in business. 

Despite this early success, she faced the tough goal of convincing the sharks to invest in a new company.

Her current pacifier is designed for babies under six months of age, but she hopes to launch new pacifiers for babies up to 12 months with the sharks’ help.

The product is currently sold in Buy Buy Baby and Nordstrom.

Each pacifier costs $1 to produce and sells for $10, providing a reasonable profit margin.

Additionally, she achieved approximately $117,000 in sales for the current calendar year, which is impressive for a new company.

Daymond John was the first shark to drop out, citing the high valuation. 

Kevin O’Leary offered $250,000 for 10% equity. 

Guest shark Sara Blakely offered $250,000 for 15%, noting she could promote it to millions of women on her website. 

Mark Cuban dropped out of the deal, but Lori Greiner joined Sara in offering $250,000 for 20% equity (at 10% each).

After considering her options, Nicki ultimately decided to accept Kevin’s offer because it allowed her to keep more equity in her business.

Let’s quickly get The Pop Pacifier update after Nicki’s appearance on Shark Tank.

Shark Tank The Pop Pacifier Update

Our research on The Pop Pacifier update revealed that the deal with Kevin O’Leary eventually closed successfully.

Since airing, The Pop Pacifier has grown to over $1 million in annual gross revenue. 

With Kevin O’Leary’s investment and support, Nicki boosted marketing efforts and expanded the product line to include teethers and gift bundles. 

In April 2018, the company faced a significant setback when JP Morgan froze their accounts, halting payments and operations.

The bank resolved the issue after two weeks and apologized for the mistake.

Our research on The Pop Pacifier update found that the company rebranded to Doddle & Co. and launched new products like the “Pop 2.0.” 

With Kevin’s help, they also secured spots in additional baby-specific retailers such as Destiny Maternity and Pea in the Pod. 

Our The Pop Pacifier update found that by 2023, the company had grown to around $1 million in annual revenue.

While you wait for our next The Pop Pacifier update, you can stay up to date on the official website.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9, Episode 19 here:

• The Wingman Update
• Bouquet Bar Update
• Zuvaa Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 9 page for more updates.