The Wingman Life Jacket Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Mike Fox and Pat Hughes were driven to invent The Wingman after a tragic incident where a friend drowned during a triathlon, emphasizing the need for a life jacket that doesn’t interfere with athletic performance. Their innovative solution resulted in a thin, inflatable life jacket designed specifically for water activities. Let’s find out if they secured a deal in our The Wingman update and pitch recap.

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

Mike and Pat entered Shark Tank Season 9, seeking $200,000 for 12.5% equity in their life jacket business, The Wingman. After their well-constructed pitch, they left without securing a deal.

In terms of The Wingman update, the company continues to thrive and has expanded its product line since appearing on Shark Tank. 

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Sara Blakely	No offer

Shark Tank The Wingman Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Mike Fox and Pat Hughes
• Business: Life Jackets
• Ask: $200,000 for 12.5% equity
• Result: No deal
• Sharks: None

Mike and Pat began their pitch by sharing the tragic story that inspired The Wingman: the drowning of a friend during a triathlon.

They sought an investment to optimize distribution channels and reduce production costs, which would make their product more accessible.

The entrepreneurs explained their mission to create a comfortable and convenient life jacket that encourages participation in water sports without any compromise on safety. 

They believed they had already developed a superior version of the traditional life jacket and envisioned technology that would automatically inflate the jacket upon contact with water.

The Wingman is a novel life jacket designed for athletes and water sports enthusiasts.

Unlike regular bulky vests, this ultra-thin and inflatable vest allows for greater freedom of movement during activities like kayaking, surfing, or swimming. 

A quick pull on the ripcord activates a CO2 cartridge, inflating the vest into a buoyant life preserver.

This innovative design offers several advantages. Its low profile makes it comfortable to wear for extended periods, feeling more like a shirt than a safety device. 

The inflatable nature allows for a one-size-fits-most design, catering to a wider range of users. 

Additionally, The Wingman is approved by the US Coast Guard, ensuring safety compliance while maintaining freedom of movement.

Each unit costs $65 to manufacture and sells for $249. Mike and Pat say they can reduce prices if they receive large orders. In the last 10 months, they have done $120,000 in sales.

Lori Greiner felt the business was still in its infancy and was too early for her, so she went out of the negotiations. 

Guest shark Sara Blakely exits as well, citing potential liability issues. 

Daymond John believed it was a crowded niche market and also opted out. 

Mark Cuban thought it would take a significant amount of money to succeed and dropped out.

Kevin O’Leary offered $200,000 for 50% of the company. They countered with 20%, but Kevin refused.

They then countered with 25%, but Kevin declined again. Mike and Pat did not want to give up half their company, so they left without a deal.

Now, let’s quickly get The Wingman update to see how the company has been doing.

Shark Tank The Wingman Update 

Our research on The Wingman update reveals that the company reduced its price to $199 and expanded its product line to include apparel, hydration bladders, and surfing vests. 

They sell exclusively online through The Wingman website and Amazon. 

Customer reviews on Amazon are generally positive, indicating satisfaction with the product’s quality and functionality. 

While exact updated sales numbers are unavailable, speculative data for our The Wingman update suggests that the company’s annual sales revenue is between $1 million and $1.5 million. 

It appears that Mike and Pat have successfully navigated their company in the right direction and have continued to grow since Shark Tank. 

We look forward to bringing you our next The Wingman update.

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

• Bouquet Bar Update
• Zuvaa Update
• Saucemoto Update

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