Last into the tank are Brian Riley and Kyle Jansen of Guardian Bikes, seeking $500,000 for 10 percent equity.

Guardian Bikes touts itself as the world’s safest children’s bikes. According to their website, their bikes are equipped with SureStop, “a revolutionary new braking system” that allows bikes to stop not only faster, but safer than ever.

They hope to create more confident riders by reducing bike-related accidents.

They offer seven different kids’ bikes, which take into consideration children’s heights and riding style.

Key Takeaways: Guardian Bikes on Shark Tank

  1. Innovative Braking System: Guardian Bikes introduces a revolutionary new braking system called SureStop, designed to make children’s bikes safer by enabling them to stop more quickly and safely, aiming to reduce bike-related accidents and create more confident riders.
  2. Product Range: The company offers seven different kids’ bikes, tailored to children’s heights and riding styles, highlighting their focus on safety and customization for young riders.
  3. Licensing Potential: Despite initially presenting as a bike company, Guardian Bikes has ambitions to license their SureStop technology, which is already in use on 40,000 bikes, indicating a broader vision beyond manufacturing.
  4. Investor Concerns: The Sharks express concerns regarding distribution, salesmanship, marketing, and the company’s dual focus on bike manufacturing and technology licensing. Kevin O’Leary suggests focusing solely on technology licensing and seeks “adult supervision” for the company’s growth.
  5. Mark Cuban’s Offer: Despite the criticisms, Mark Cuban sees potential in Guardian Bikes and makes an offer of $500,000 for 15 percent equity, contingent on verifying the uniqueness of the technology, meeting sales projections, and hiring an internal PR person. Guardian Bikes accepts the offer, securing a strategic partnership to propel their business forward.

Kevin O’Leary questions why they didn’t build it as a technology company, rather than a bike company. They hope to license the technology at some point, which is already used on 40,000 bikes in the market. Guest shark Chris Sacca calls it “a genius solution.”

O’Leary worries about distribution and Barbara Corcoran thinks they’re missing a good salesman. She goes out. Mark Cuban adds that their marketing and PR strategy “sucks.” O’Leary questions whether they would do a deal at $500,000 for 20 percent, but says he would require cutting out the bike-building business. He thinks they need “adult supervision” to grow. O’Leary then goes out when they listen to the other sharks’ thoughts.

Sacca then goes out, followed by Lori Greiner, who believes it would too challenging to get the technology on other bikes. Cuban decides to offer $500,000 for 15 percent, contingent on them confirming that it’s truly unique, they hit sales projections and hire an internal PR person. They accept.

Social Media Reacts to Guardian Bikes’ Appearance on “Shark Tank”

Each week on “Shark Tank,” budding entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their emerging business to six multi-millionaire and billionaire investors, known as sharks:

  • Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks;
  • Daymond John, fashion mogul and founder of FUBU;
  • Kevin O’Leary, self-proclaimed Mr. Wonderful and founder of O’Leary Financial Group;
  • Barbara Corcoran, real estate maven; Lori Greiner, queen of QVC;
  • Robert Herjavec, technology guru and founder/CEO of the Herjavec Group;

Venture capitalist Chris Sacca is also slated to appear as a guest shark this season.

“Shark Tank,” which is based on “Dragons’ Den,” is produced by Mark Burnett and first debuted in 2009. To date, the sharks have invested more than $87 million in various companies after engaging in numerous bidding wars and shark fights. A new episode airs each Friday at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Would you buy a Guardian Bike? Sound off in the comments section below!