What Happened to SmartGurlz after Shark Tank Pitch?
What exactly is SmartGurlz?
SmartGurlz is a firm that creates self-balancing robots and action dolls to encourage young girls to learn to code.
SmartGurlz teaches young girls how to code while also intellectually challenging them and encouraging imaginative, participative play.
With four various self-balancing robots to choose from, these educational fashionistas appeal to a varied range of cultures and budding personalities.
Girls may use compatible smartphones and tablets to program their Bluetooth-enabled Siggy Robots, directing their motions with a smart joystick and sending them on obstacle courses throughout the house and even outside.
Girls may use MIT’s one-of-a-kind coding block program to create more than 100 unique code combinations for their dolls, and then share their inventive ideas with others so they can engage in the same missions and adventures.
Who are the founders of SmartGurlz?
Sharmi Albrechtsen, a former executive with Oticon’s non-profit foundation, and her engineer husband, Jesper Nissen, founded SmartGurlz in 2014 to fill a void in the toy market by offering a thoughtful fusion of technology-inspired fun with traditional, fashion-forward doll play while also promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educational pursuits for aspiring young girls.
When she got frustrated with the market’s lack of educational toys, she established SmartGurlz.
As a mother of a young daughter, she had seen that the majority of the robot toys in stores were geared toward males, with a focus on shooting and combat.
Noticing a gap in the market, she decided to create her own doll-loving girl’s robot.
The SmartGurlz robots—fashion dolls with ride-on robotic seaways—were born after many hours of work.
They are unique in that they are designed to teach young girls the fundamentals of coding through the use of a mobile app.
Not only that, but each doll has its own personality and charisma.
The four SmartGurlz characters are Jen, a mechanical engineer, Jun, a “chemistry star,” Zara, a “tech wizard,” and Maria, a “math genius.”
Each girl drives a “Siggy,” which is a programmed scooter for the dolls. A scooter and doll set will set you back $79.99.
What Happened to SmartGurlz during Shark Tank Pitch?
Sharmi appeared on Shark Tank season 9 episode 10 with two teenage girls looking for $200,000 in exchange for a 5% share. This is equivalent to a $4 million valuation.
She gives her pitch, tells her story, and displays her toys.
After her presentation, she takes the Sharks on stage to test them out.
Richard is the first to go, and to his surprise, he is given a doll of himself. Sharmi, in fact, has dolls of all of the Sharks.
The two young females begin teaching Richard how to code after the Sharks have taken their positions.
She revealed that the company has only been in business for less than six months, and she informs the sharks that they have already generated $250,000 in sales.
Following that, Robert asks Sharmi about the $250,000 in sales, which she explains was produced by a combination of wholesalers, retailers, and Amazon.
When asked where the things are currently available, she says they may be purchased on their website for $79.99.
When the sharks enquire about manufacturing costs, she says that each item costs $18 to create.
Daymond is enamoured with it, but he makes a Sharky offer of $200,000 for 30% of the company. He intends to sell the toys on a licensing basis.
Because Robert feels that the toy industry is challenging, he is quitting.
Lori believes Daymond’s offer is the finest one, and she is departing.
Richard is pleased by her efforts, but he tells her that he doesn’t think he can contribute anything to the project and therefore withdraws as well.
Finally, the spotlight goes to Mark, the last shark standing. He, too, retreats, much to her disgust.
Returning to Daymond’s offer, Sharmi asks if he will consider lowering it to $200,000 for a 20% stake, to which he says no.
Trying her luck again, she offers another counteroffer—$200,000 for 25%. Finally, the shark agrees that the effort was worthwhile.
After completing the purchase, he walks up to her and quickly embraces her.
What Happened to SmartGurlz Following their Shark Tank Pitch?
This company’s sales skyrocketed after the episode aired, as they usually do. Sharmi was unfazed by the fact that the deal with Daymond never materialized.
In 2018, revenues amounted to $1.2 million. She raised an extra $525,000 in 2019 through WeFunder.
SmartGurlz also announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Walmart for a new product line set to debut in the autumn of 2019.
SmartGurlz was also voted the Best Start-up at the IEEE Women in Engineering Leadership Conference.
In 2019, she also teamed with Pitsco Education to develop Smart Buddies, an online coding curriculum for third through fifth grade kids.
Pitsco provides courses to schools across the United States. Pitsco was required to buy $5.5 million in items over a three-year period under the terms of the agreement.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, they made the curriculum available online – something that will continue to exist after the outbreak has passed.
The company is still doing well as of June 2021, and Sharmi hopes to complete the year with more than $20 million in sales.
What is SmartGurlz’s Net Worth?
Sharmi appeared on Shark Tank season 9 episode 10 with two teenage girls looking for $200,000 in exchange for a 5% share. This is equivalent to a $4 million valuation.
They accepted Daymond’s offer of $200,000 for a 25% ownership, bringing the valuation to $800,000.
The current valuation is clearly greater since the company has developed.
Who are SmartGurlz’s Competitors?
SmartGurlz’s key competitors are Nanjing Sciyon Wisdom Technology, ABB Sakti Industri, Embodied, Inc., Mega-Fabs Motion Systems, and Info Solution.
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SmartGurlz FAQS
1. What is SmartGurlz?
SmartGurlz is a firm that creates self-balancing robots and action dolls to encourage young girls to learn to code.
SmartGurlz teaches young girls how to code while also intellectually challenging them and encouraging imaginative, participative play
2. Who invented SmartGurlz?
Sharmi Albrechtsen, a former executive with Oticon’s non-profit foundation, and her engineer husband, Jesper Nissen, founded SmartGurlz in 2014.
3. How did she came up with the idea?
When she got frustrated with the market’s lack of educational toys, she established SmartGurlz.
As a mother of a young daughter, she had seen that the majority of the robot toys in stores were geared toward males, with a focus on shooting and combat.
Noticing a gap in the market, she decided to create her own doll-loving girl’s robot.
4. Where can they purchase a SmartGurlz toy and what are the prices?
They can buy them directly on the company’s website and will set them back $79.99.
5. How much was they seeking in the Tank?
They were seeking $200,000 in exchange for a 5% share.
6. Did they get the deal from the Sharks?
Yes, they did, Daymond offered them $200,000 for 30% of the company. He intends to sell the toys on a licensing basis.
7. Did they closed their deal?
No, the deal never closed.
8. Where is the company based?
They are based in San Jose, California.
9. Do they offer free shipping?
Yes, SmartGurlz offers free shipping in the USA.
10. How can they contact SmartGurlz?
They like hearing from their consumers! Please contact them at their email at [email protected] at any time.
11. Do they offer wholesale?
Send them an email at sales@smartgurlz.com.
12. Is SmartGurlz still in business?
Yes, SmartGurlz is still in business and as of June 2021, Sharmi hopes to complete the year with more than $20 million in sales.
