When Aaron Krause walked into Shark Tank, he wasnât holding a fancy gadget or a tech startup. He had⊠a sponge. A smiling one. His ask: $100,000 for 10% equity. The Sharks didnât know it yet, but this quirky sponge was about to become one of the showâs biggest success stories.
The Pitch
Krause didnât waste a second. He dunked his sponge into cold waterâfirm for scrubbing pans. Then into warm waterâsoft and gentle for glassware. The demo was simple, but brilliant.
And that smile? It wasnât just for looks. The mouth cleaned utensils, the eyes gave you grip. Add to that: it didnât smell, lasted longer than a regular sponge, and made cleaning (almost) fun.
The Sharks leaned in. Krauseâs energy was contagious. He wasnât selling a sponge. He was selling a cleaning revolution.
The Negotiation
The Room Heats Up
Kevin OâLeary poked at margins. Daymond John asked about branding. But it was Lori Greiner who lit up the second she heard âno odorâ and âmass market.â She saw dollar signsâand QVC airtime.
Confidence Under Fire
Krause stood tall, smiling as wide as his sponge. He fielded questions with ease. No nerves, no stumblesâjust proof his product worked.
The Hook
What really sold it wasnât just the sponge. It was the combo of utility + mass appeal. Everyone hates scrubbing dishes. Krause had solved a universal pain point with something clever, affordable, and impossible to forget.
Shark Tactics
OâLeary pressed numbers hard.
Daymond circled branding angles.
Lori played her ace: QVC dominance.
It was classic Shark Tank: testing, probing, jockeying. But Krause never flinched.
The Outcome
Lori dropped the winning offer: $200,000 for 20% equity. Twice the money, twice the stake. She bet big on her ability to take Scrub Daddy straight into Americaâs kitchens.
Krause took the deal. The handshake sealed one of Shark Tankâs most iconic partnerships.
My Takeaway
Scrub Daddy proves that simplicity sellsâif you solve a real pain point and show it clearly. Krauseâs demo was unforgettable, his ask was modest, and his confidence never wavered.
The biggest lesson? Pick the right partner. Lori wasnât the highest bidder. She was the smartest one. And her QVC machine turned a smiling sponge into a multi-million-dollar brand.
Fun Bit
The look on Loriâs face when the sponge firmed up in cold water? Pure gold. That single moment probably sold her before the numbers even hit the table.
Question for you:
đ If you were in Krauseâs shoes, would you have taken Loriâs 20% dealâor pushed harder to stick with your original 10% ask?