‘Shark Tank’ preview: PopUp Play, Vibes music earplugs, Getaway tiny houses, Chirps cricket chips
Tonight, “Shark Tank” returns to ABC after a week off the air, and it will be doing so to feature four different pitches that run the gamut from food to music to rest and relaxation to children’s playtime. It’s a something-for-everyone episode, and every idea brought to the table should make for fun television tonight.
In terms of the Sharks, tonight’s a Chris Sacca episode! You’ll have a chance to see him back in the Tank alongside Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcorn, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner. We’ve got first impressions of all of the pitches below, so be sure to check that out (with videos included). Our review of the entire episode will be updated live later tonight.
Chirps – This is not the first time that we’ve seen cricket-related food products on “Shark Tank.” However, we’ve never seen it quite like this. Laura D’Asaro and Rose Wang enter the Tank making it clear that their product is the perfect “Gateway Bug” for people looking to try eating insects for the first time. They come in several flavors like sea salt, barbecue, and cheddar, and according to their website, they also offer up cookie mixes for those of you who want to try crickets in the form of another tasty snack.
According to their presentation, there is approximately one cricket in every chip.
Vibes – Have you ever been to a concert, and found that the music was too loud to the point it was deafening? Jackson Mann, the man behind the company, ended up rupturing his eardrum attending one, and that led in part to the creation of his new high-fidelity earplugs that are designed specifically for the concert experience, as opposed to ones merely designed to drown out snoring and other annoyances. Per the pitch, Vibes lower the decibels of your surroundings, while still retailing the quality of the sound. This way, you are still going to be able to hear the music wherever you are, but not at an extreme level. This feels useful beyond just the examples listed; have you ever been to a club where the music is so loud, you can’t hear yourself think? This seems to be a solution to that.
What’s also great about the company is that a portion of the sales go to foundations such as Hear the World. You are fulfilling a personal need in buying, while at the same time helping a great cause.
PopUp Play – Amelia Cosgrove and Bryan Cosgrove enter the Tank tonight to present what we feel is a totally cool idea — it’s reminiscent somewhat of Budsies, one of our favorite products to ever be on the show, but in a way that’s still totally new and great for kids today. Here’s how the idea works: Kids can design their perfect structure, whether it be a castle, a fort, or anything else that they want to play in, through their favorite device or browser. After finishing the design process, the parent can then place an order and then have the design shipped right to the house. After that, the real-life structure can be set up for unlimited playtime. It’s a way to foster creativity and imagination that still feels contemporary. Also, it may help kids study engineering and creativity.
Getaway – Finally, Pete Davis and Jon Staff enter the Tank to discuss their new tiny-house venture, which is innovative in that it allows you to disconnect from the world while still feeling comfortable at the same time. After a busy week of work, you can book to spend some time out in the woods, far enough away from the city (right now it’s set up for New York and Boston markets) that it feels peaceful, but also still close enough that it is accessible. They also offer enough amenities so that it is easy to enjoy your time outdoors. It’s like camping without all of the hassle and having to sleep outside — think of it as a small cabin designed for convenience. The prices per night also feel reasonable and perfect for people wanting a quick break.
Want to see some other highlights from “Shark Tank”? Then be sure to head over here and visit our archive page! (Photo: ABC.)