Alan Draper
Company: Trippie
Founder: Ryan Diew
Season: Appeared on the season 9 premiere
Trippie is an airport navigation app. The app, which is currently available for free in the App Store and Google Play, seeks to “revolutionize” the airport experience for both new and frequent travelers alike.
According to their website, the app provides interactive navigation for airports, ensures a timely departure and features airport restaurant menus and photos. The app “takes the turbulence out of navigating airports” by providing maps, guides and more.
When Diew originally appeared on “Shark Tank,” he came in asking for $100,000 for 10 percent equity. Many of the sharks saw issues with the app or its premise. Lori Greiner didn’t think the app solved the right problem, while Robert Herjavec didn’t see any competitive advantage. Mark Cuban didn’t view it as a full business, but recognized the entrepreneurial struggle. All five sharks went out without making an offer. Ultimately, he left without a deal. Before leaving the tank, however, Diew explained that he didn’t have a “rich uncle” that got him to that point—a comment that rubbed the sharks the wrong way. Cuban told him to stop patting himself on the back, but also challenged Diew to prove him wrong.
Diew spoke with Business 2 Community about Trippie’s experience on the show and what their next steps are. Take a look at the Q&A below:
Q&A with Trippie’s Founder Ryan Diew
What was your strategy for navigating “Shark Tank”?
My strategy was to show the Sharks that although my product was really early stage, the amount of progress I had been able to make on the app while being a full-time Division-1 athlete and a full-time student was worth a chance at investment. With limited time and limited resources, I was able to teach myself how to make a fully functioning app that had been in four airports. Since the pitch, we’ve grown to 22 of the largest hub airports across the world.
How has Trippie changed since the episode was first recorded? Since it aired?
At the time that we recorded the episode, we were in four airports. Now Trippie is in 22 airports across the world. Trippie’s U.S. airports are responsible for 82 percent of all U.S. air traffic. Since the show aired, our userbase grew substantially and we were able to get a lot of amazing feedback for future iterations of the app.
Is there anything you would have changed about your time spent in the tank, including your pitch and valuation?
I wish that I would have held my cool a little bit better. This business is my baby and I’m just so passionate about it so to fail at getting a deal on such a huge stage was tough for me. I’ve learned from that situation though and it has helped me grow so much as an entrepreneur and as a person.
Who’s your favorite shark?
Although he gave me a hard time, 100 percent Mark Cuban. He is the realest Shark, in my opinion, and doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I’ve looked up to Mark since I was a 10-year-old Dallas Mavs fan. I hope I can take his feedback and get the opportunity to prove Mark and the rest of the sharks wrong.
Despite not getting a deal, do you think “Shark Tank” was the right move for your business?
Yes, although it was definitely tough to deal with the aftermath of my controversial pitch. I learned that the internet can be a pretty cruel place. I mean if you had told me that I would have pitched on “Shark Tank” like six months ago, I’d think you were crazy. I had no intention of going on the show before they reached out. So I take the whole thing as a learning experience for me. Millions of people got a chance to see my product and brand and the exposure has helped so much. I’m thankful for the opportunity.
What are Trippie’s next steps?
Right now, just to keep evolving and expanding. We expanded from four airports to 22 in under four months so we’re expanding quickly. We have some amazing features lined up very soon.
Where do you see this industry in 5-10 years?
I see indoor navigation as the future. Indoor navigation is huge because it breaks down navigation from the “places” level to the “things” level. With indoor navigation, we are not just finding places but we are showing users how to acquire the “things” inside of these places.
What would you say to people who want to start their own business?
Go for it! Like what’s the point of busting your ass to build up someone else’s dream? Go make your vision a reality.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who want to make it on “Shark Tank”?
Have an interesting backstory. Remember it’s entertainment.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The label of an entitled millennial could not be further from the truth for me. I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve gotten and don’t expect to be given anything. Essentially, the point that I was trying to make was that without many resources and time I’ve been able to make a solid product—so imagine if I had more resources. Just wanted to clear the air with that one. That portrayed narrative really bothered me the most.
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length
Read more: Shark Tank Update: Two Guys Bow Ties
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Alan Draper.
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Sharks are dream squashers and gold diggers. If they can’t get something out of the deal they insult you and send you on your way.
You are so right and it really disturbed me how those grown adults just tear down the dream of a young aspiring entrepreneur I know he may not have had what they were looking for but there was no absolute reason why they had to be so rude… I was about to watch that next episode and I just could not do it it made me so upset to see how passionate he was and how INSULTING they were… No one not even 1 of them must have a child and could identify with that being their child on that stage
If you feel the entitled millennial label is incorrect you sure continually use it.
Based upon your Shark Tank debut, thus article I would not use this app.
Grow up
I think you be a huge success….Just because u left w/o an offer from sharks don’t let that stop u from building ur dream
Heh, personally the backstory bit is the most annoying part of the show to me. It’s always a sob story. Like Mark told him ”everyone has one”. I have a sob story as well, who cares. Regarding the app, I don’t get it. I can just ”Hey siri, what’s the nearest bar/cantina/restaurant/comic book store/dimensional portal” and be done with it : /
I watched this episode today as a rerun and was absolutely disgusted with how they treated this young man. I’ve literally seen every shark tank eposide but this session I’m catching up on reruns and I’ve seen the praise so many horrible redundant products, products non proprietary with competitor, cry at every back story known to man, applaud people for overcoming adversity, applaud hustle, and gumption of students with less work in than coding a site coming in before they had zero sales and not even a prototype and yet they felt the need to uniquely attack this man even when down. Why? What was so unique to him? See this is the vailed issue with so many in America. It’s not seeing the overt subtlety of how we treat young black men period, but even when attempting to be more. Everyones background story matters but them, their personal history but theirs, their attempts and obstacles but theirs, their education, or work. None of that matters as matter a fact a panel of people that literally ask everyone for their backstory said it didn’t matter and essentially he didn’t matter. They didn’t have to invest in him or be nice to him, but it is something sick about people that unequally take pleasure in tearing down certain type of people, knocking their early accomplishments, and calling it “tough love”. The vail isn’t thick enough and we have 10 seasions to see the difference in how you treat educated, kind, young black men who aren’t dancing for you with a hair comb.
I’ve been watching Shark Tank for a few years and you are correct. I just watched this episode for the first time and I thought the same thing!
MICHAEL WALKER, YOUR COMMENT IS SPOT ON!