Gallery: Your neighbors on 'Shark Tank'

Business

Gallery: Your neighbors on 'Shark Tank'

Atlanta's Shark Tank alums

Have you met your neighbors who’ve appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank? A bunch of Georgians who started their own businesses have gone on the popular show and survived. Here is a sampling of some of those who’ve appeared on the show, where hungry entrepreneurs face tough, wealthy investors (sharks) to try to persuade them to put money in their businesses.

Diana Harbour founded The Red Dress Boutique in Athens. It grew from one boutique to a sizeable online fashion retailer. The segment appeared on the ABC in October, 2014. Harbour, whose business has a big Facebook following, offered to give up 5 percent of the company for $600,000. Sharks Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec agreed to pay $1.2 million for 20 percent of the company, but the deal was reduced after the show. Cuban alone paid $600,000 for a 15-percent stake.

Amy Baxter, an emergency doctor, invented buzzy4shots. It’s a vibrating and cooling device to ease the pain and fear of needle injections. ABC aired the segment February, 2014. Baxter asked for $500,000 for five percent of the company. Sharks countered but there was no deal.

Bruno Francois of Egos Ventures in Atlanta developed an app called Cycloramic that lets some smartphones take 360-degree photos and videos, hands-free. ABC aired his segment in January of 2014. Francois asked for $90,000 in return for five percent of the company. The bidding when up from there. Mark Cuban agreed to pay $500,000 for a 15-percent stake.

Former pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page launched DDP Yoga in Smyrna. It develops a DVD program of exercise, stretching and nutrition advice. ABC aired the segment in February, 2014. Page asked for $200,000 for five percent of the company. He didn’t get a deal.

Erica Barrett sells fun food mixes, such as red velvet pancake mix. In an ABC airing in February, 2014, she asked for $100,000 for a 25 percent stake in her Decatur-based company, Southern Culture Artisan Foods. Investor Barbara Corcoran agreed to pay $100,000 for 38 percent. But after the show, Corcoran decided not to complete the deal, Barrett said.

Macon moms Erin Bickley and Jenny Greer founded Hold Your Haunches to market shapewear pants with an inner compression lining for women. The segment aired on ABC in April, 2014. They sought $75,000 for 20 percent of their company. Investors Barbara Corcoran and Lori Greiner agreed to pay $75,000 for a 40-percent stake. The deal changed after the show, with both investors paying “a couple thousand dollars” for 1 percent of the company. They have discussed expanding the deal.

Aaron Marino, the founder of Alpha M in Kennesaw, pitched his DVD system that shows guys how to dress with style. He also has a big YouTube following. Marino’s segment aired on ABC in 2012. But Marino didn’t get a deal after asking for $50,000 for 10 percent of the company.

Lori Lite of Marietta came up with a line of story books and other products to reduce anxiety in kids. A new book, “Stress Free Kids, A Parent’s Guide” came out earlier this year. Her Shark Tank segment originally aired in 2009. Lite asked for $250,000 for a 20 percent stake in her company, Stress Free Kids. On the show, she and Barbara Corcoran agreed to a deal of $250,000 for 50 percent. The deal changed significantly after the show, though Lite declined to share particulars.

Georgia Tech-trained mechanical engineer Patrick Whaley developed a line of weighted training clothing. ABC’s Shark Tank is slated to feature Whaley and his business, Titin of Sandy Springs, on Friday, Oct. 31, 2014. Whaley, whose segment was taped in advance, didn’t discuss his offer or the outcome before the show aired.

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Have you met your neighbors who’ve appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank? A bunch of Georgians who started their own businesses have gone on the popular show and survived. Here is a sampling of some of those who’ve appeared on the show, where hungry entrepreneurs face tough, wealthy investors (sharks) to try to persuade them to put money in their businesses.

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Gallery: Your neighbors on 'Shark Tank'

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