Next up is Daniel Turissini of Recharj, seeking $75,000 for 15 percent equity.
Recharj is a meditation and napping studio that creates the perfect space for rest and relaxation. According to their website, the studios, which are located in Washington, D.C. and Bethesda, Maryland, feature “premier contemplative and restorative practices, including meditation & power naps.” The meditation and napping sessions are available throughout the day while self-guided practices are open to the public when classes are not occurring. Currently, they have 35 instructors and more than 7,000 clients. Classes include mindfulness, movement, de-stressing and more.
Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban and guest shark Rohan Oza put Recharj to the test in the mini studio and agree that it’s very relaxing. Barbara Corcoran, however, immediately points out that she would be worried about sleeping in a spot where someone else already has. Turissini says they are washed regularly and sprayed between each use.
The company is expected to break even at the end of the year. Turissini, however, is still working his full-time job. His franchising vision also concerns Cuban. He doesn’t think everything adds up and goes out. Oza likes the philosophical side of the business, but doesn’t see it as investable. He goes out, followed by Herjavec. Lori Greiner likes the mindfulness aspect but thinks he has too many ideas all at once. She goes out. Corcoran worries about the business model and goes out.
Social Media Reacts to Recharj’s Appearance on “Shark Tank”
Watching #SharkTank… #Recharj needs to be in airports!!! ✈️
— Between England & Iowa (@englandandiowa) January 8, 2018
So I pay to go to sleep #recharj #SharkTank I can sleep in my car for free
— singlemotherPOV (@marsay73) January 8, 2018
I’m all for power naps but not a “nap studio” … WTF. #recharj #SharkTank
— Amy Naas (@AmyNaas) January 8, 2018
These #recharj beds freak me out, you'd never be able to convince me that it was clean after having so many other people on it. #SharkTank
— Novafan23 (@Novafan23) January 8, 2018
No way I'm "dropping in" somewhere to nap around strangers #recharj #sharktank
— Andrew McGee (@AndrewMcGee) January 8, 2018
Each week on “Shark Tank,” budding entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their emerging businesses to 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; and Robert Herjavec, technology guru and founder/CEO of the Herjavec Group.
Philanthropist and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Spanx founder Sara Blakely, Skinnygirl Cocktails founder and Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel, Vitamin Water founder Rohan Oza and former MLB player Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez are also slated to appear as guest sharks 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 $100 million in various companies after engaging in numerous bidding wars and shark fights. A new episode airs each Sunday at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Would you try Recharj? Sound off in the comments section below!
Great recap Erica, thanks, since I missed this segment. At first glance, the idea of going to a public studio to nap seems, at best, an indulgence for the rich who have nothing else to do after yoga class, and at worst, ridiculous and a waste. But I think Recharj speaks to the fact that people are less willing to hide the fact that they need more peace, need a break, and that they are interested in being taken deeper but are unable to do so for themselves. I have spent the past year working in a partnership that manufactured a product for very quick mental relief and a personal connection to mindfulness depths, and I can say that our feedback shows that the time is NOW that people are taking self care seriously. Why not look for ways to transcend the bounds of our stressful lives? I am surprised that not one Shark took a chance on this, but maybe they are waiting for something that is less complicated. To bring this kind of peace home, and to be able to find it there, that’s something they might REALLY be interested in investing in.