Toymail Talkie Update | Shark Tank Season 8

Kids want to feel close to family, but endless screen time isn’t always the answer. Gauri Nanda created Toymail—soft, Wi-Fi-enabled plush toys that send voice messages back and forth through a connected app, keeping family conversations alive without the screens. It’s a simple, playful way for families to stay in touch, one message at a time. Will the sharks see the potential in this innovation? Discover more in our Toymail update and pitch recap.

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

Gauri entered Shark Tank Season 8, seeking $250,000 for 2.5% equity in Toymail. After her presentation, she struck a deal with Chris Sacca and Lori Greiner for $600,000 for 5% equity.

In terms of a Toymail update, the company expanded its product line with popular new characters and innovative features like the Toymail Cloud, boosting visibility and user engagement. However, despite efforts to integrate new technology and secure funding, the company struggled to scale, leading to bankruptcy and closure by the end of 2018.

Shark	Result
Chris Sacca and Lori Greiner	Accepted offer of $600,000 for 5% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer

Shark Tank Toymail Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Gauri Nanda
• Business: Two-way communication plush toy for kids
• Ask: $250,000 for 2.5% equity
• Result: $600,000 for 5% equity
• Sharks: Chris Sacca and Lori Greiner

Gauri stepped into Shark Tank, determined to make communication fun and screen-free for kids with her Toymail plush toys.

She sought an investment to enter mass retail markets, using the funds to scale production and expand her brand’s visibility nationwide.

Gauri started Toymail in 2013 with her partner Audrey Hill, who wasn’t present during the pitch.

They launched the business with a successful Kickstarter campaign, raising $83,341 to kick off their first production.

The idea is a Wi-Fi-enabled plush toy that lets kids send voice messages to family and friends—no phone needed.

In addition, the toys connect to Wi-Fi and use a simple interface that makes it easy for kids to send and receive messages.

Toymail plushies come in cute designs, each customizable, such as Bitsy the Bat, Nunu the Unicorn, and Gory the Shark.

What sets Toymail apart is how it lets kids stay close to family through these toys, with parents able to monitor conversations through a companion app.

The toys are especially appealing to families with young children, particularly parents who want safe, screen-free ways for their children to connect.

Toymail is sold online and in stores, and the app is ready for immediate use.

As Gauri showed off Toymail’s features, Chris Sacca took notice—especially when she demonstrated how the toys laugh when shaken, adding to the fun.

She handed out samples, and soon, the sharks’ questions began.

The sharks were intrigued by Toymail’s “talking” plushies.

Mark Cuban, interested in the technology, asked about the app’s capabilities, while Lori Greiner couldn’t get enough of the adorable designs.

Gauri then revealed that Toymail had already attracted the attention of Amazon and Verizon, which had invested a combined $1.6 million.

However, this also meant that she had less equity to offer the sharks. Because of the low equity in the deal, Robert Herjavec backed out.

Kevin O’Leary followed, even though he was impressed by the product.

Lori Greiner made an offer. She liked the product and thought it could be a hit with parents and kids. Her offer was different from what Gauri initially asked for.

Mark Cuban decided not to invest. He felt the company’s value was too high for the amount of equity offered.

Chris Sacca echoed the same concerns. Unlike the others, Chris offered $400,000 for 5% equity.

Lori Greiner told Gauri to try to negotiate with her. Gauri suggested that Lori join Chris’s offer.

However, before she could reply, Chris offered Gauri $600,000 for 5%, with Lori joining him if she liked.

Gauri immediately accepted the offer.

With a deal in hand, let’s get a Toymail update to see how Guari is doing.

Shark Tank Toymail Update

Our Toymail update found that the deal with Chris Saca and Lori Greiner closed.

Shortly after their episode aired, they rolled out new plush characters, such as Chunk the Sloth and a Penguin, which were instant hits with kids.

These toys kept the popular Talkie feature, letting kids send voice messages back and forth with family and friends.

However, over the next few months, Toymail introduced the Toymail Cloud, a platform packed with apps to make the toys even more engaging.

There was Sleepie for bedtime sounds, Remindie as a kid-friendly audio calendar, and Voicie, which added fun voice filters to keep kids entertained.

By November 7, 2017, our Toymail update found that the Talkies hit Amazon Launchpad, boosting visibility and sales.

Toymail also worked with Amazon Echo to integrate voice recognition, giving parents peace of mind with safer ways for kids to chat and learn.

A new subscription service was also launched, letting families download music, stories, and other content from Toymail Cloud for $2.99 a month.

Unfortunately, by 2018, Toymail hit some bumps, struggling to scale up and secure more investments.

In November 2018, Toymail filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors. In 2019, social media updates stopped, and the company’s website went offline.

Our Toymail update research found that Gauri Nanda now runs Clocky, her quirky alarm clock on wheels.

This will be our final Toymail update.

For more company updates from Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 17, look below:

• Edn Wellgarden Update
• Hotels by Day Update
• Bitsbox Update

If you’re interested in more company updates from Season 8, check out our Season 8 products page.