ABC’s Shark Tank has helped entrepreneurs with their business ventures for over ten years. However, Tania Speaks, 19, is the latest contestant to impress two of the most formidable sharks on the television series.
Speaks pitched her skincare brand, Tania Speaks Organic Skincare, to the shark panel, including Kevin O’Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, and Mark Cuban. She entered the shark tank seeking $400,000 and a 10% stake in her brand. The 19-year-old entrepreneur impressed both sharks while sharing what inspired her to create the skincare business, MEAWW reported.
After being bullied in school for her bushy eyebrows, Speaks was motivated and turned a negative incident into a successful business by creating an eyebrow gel. The gel not only helped stimulate hair growth but tamed the brows. While she gained success with the gel, it prompted her to create other skincare products such as beard growth oil, cleanser, toners, and moisturizer.
The 19-year-old further impressed the shark panel when she revealed that she made $1 million in sales in 2021 and $1.4 million in sales this year. After reaching a net worth of $700,000, Speaks stated that it only cost her $1.50 to manufacture the product, but she sold it for $26.
During the show, O’Leary said he was “humbled” by the teen’s impressive entrepreneur skills and predicted that she would be a shark panelist in the future. Cuban, who was also left impressed with her business mindset and witty personality, advised her to get the products lab-tested to avoid lawsuits in the future. But, the sharks passed on the deal because they believed they wouldn’t add any value to Speaks’ successful business.
When Speaks was preparing to leave the tank without a deal, Cuban proposed an offer to help the 19-year-old with the legalities of her skincare line. The business mogul initially asked for a 20% stake with the $400,000 investment. He also wanted to arrange for Speaks to meet with his daughters to spend time with them and learn from one another. The 19-year-old humbly accepted and suggested a slight change in the deal, proposing a 15 % stake along with the $400,000 investment. Cuban gleefully accepted and closed the deal.
Speaks left tank with a rare opportunity that many entrepreneurs never achieved on the show. Fans turned to Twitter and praised the 19-year-old for her budding black-owned business.
A fan tweeted, “I am loving Tonja’s pitch on #SharkTank 19 y/o Genius! You Better Werk!!!!”
I am loving Tonja’s pitch on #SharkTank 19 y/o Genius! You Better Werk!!!!
— #BF50
™️ #BIWOP #Advocacy #Equity #Inclusion (@brijh) January 22, 2022
“So proud of this cute black girl, Tania,who is only 19 and already amazing #SharkTank,” another fan wrote.
So proud of this cute black girl, Tania,who is only 19 and already amazing
#SharkTank
— KeYuanna Greenleaf™ (@KEYW0RD) January 22, 2022
Another fan added, “She’s not really here to ask for money. She’s looking for next level guidance. Thank You @mcuban for understanding Tania. #SharkTank.”
She’s not really here to ask for money. She’s looking for next level guidance. Thank You @mcuban for understanding Tania. #SharkTank
— #BF50
“It’s hard to make Mr. Wonderful humbled, but I really am. Seeing such a young entrepreneur who’s had massive success and is already gearing up to take off higher… #SharkTank,” O’Leary wrote.
It’s hard to make Mr. Wonderful humbled, but I really am. Seeing such a young entrepreneur who’s had massive success and is already gearing up to take off higher… #SharkTank
— Kevin O'Leary aka Mr. Wonderful (@kevinolearytv) January 22, 2022
