First into the tank are Nikita Salmon and Chas Smith of Sap!, seeking $600,000 for 12 percent equity.
Key Takeaways: Sap! Maple Water Shark Tank Update
- Product: Sparkling beverages made from maple and birch sap.
- Investment Ask: $600,000 for 12% equity.
- Shark Response: Robert Herjavec offered $600,000 for 30% equity, which was declined.
- Post-Show Success: Despite not securing a deal, Sap! has continued to grow, focusing on expanding its distribution and refining its product offerings.
The Story Behind Sap! Maple Water: A Quick Overview
Sap! is a new kind of beverage made from tree sap.
According to their website, the “plant-based superfood sparkling beverages [are] made from 100% pure maple and birch sap straight from the forests of Vermont.” Flavors include birch sparkling, maple soda and maple seltzer.
A 24-pack of maple water costs $38.99 and the beverages are available in a plethora of stores in the Northeast and online.
The sharks like the flavors, but Robert Herjavec and Mark Cuban don’t like the taste of the birch sparkling. They have done $400,000 in sales to date.
Cuban likes the health aspect, but finds their marketing problematic. He goes out, followed by Barbara Corcoran. Lori Greiner likes the products but goes out. Herjavec then decides to offer $600,000 for 30 percent. Guest shark Rohan Oza struggles with the “why” and goes out. The duo counters Herjavec at 20 percent, which he declines. He goes out, leaving them without a deal.
Social Media Reacts to Sap’s Appearance on “Shark Tank”
Yum I would love to try SAP! #SharkTank
— Amy Naas (@AmyNaas) January 29, 2018
I have a big sweet tooth. SAP! sounds interesting. @drinksap #SharkTank
— Ryan Bartholomee (@RyanBartholomee) January 29, 2018
SAP seems like a great beverage, I would try it. #SharkTank
— Lance Becvar (@Dadsonpowermode) January 29, 2018
I understood fully what Sap! Was explaining in their presentation.
How did the Sharks not understand it? #SharkTank missed out, it's been proven that people will pay more for healthy products.
— Go Braves! (@Solo2453) January 29, 2018
Making soda using tree sap .. this is why I love entrepreneurship & this show ! There’s always something new we see every season ! @drinksap #SharkTank
— Robert Herjavec (@robertherjavec) January 29, 2018
Wrapping Up
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;
- 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.