US-based Caymanian singer, songwriter and producer Nicholas George and his business partner have secured a $75,000 deal for their TIK PIK company, during season 15 of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’, which aired live on Friday, 3 Nov.
On the sixth episode of the popular American business pitch-and-investment reality show, George, TIK PIK co-founder, appeared on the show with his partner, Kevin MaC, head of corporate sales, who is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville. They approached the Sharks, who are the so-called “tough, self-made multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons” to pitch their guitar picks.
TIK PIK is a patent-pending guitar pick company that “sticks to your guitar without using any chemicals, adhesives or leaving behind any residue”, the company said on its website, adding the pick’s “unique design also provides a comfortable non-slip grip, making it easier to hold onto while playing”.
It added that the “secret” to its product is the “nano-suction technology” in which “thousands of tiny suction cups allow TIK PIK to stick to your guitar like a magnet… and provides a comfortable and secure grip while you are playing.”
Time in the tank
“As a huge fan of the show myself, I was both nervous and excited to walk out those doors into the tank.”
George explained the time in the tank is much longer than what gets shown on TV, “so there were many emotions that Kevin and I both went [through] as we gave our presentation, answered questions, and eventually [went through] the negotiation.”
George said one of the main things was “making sure I remembered all my facts and figures. The Sharks intentionally know nothing about you [or] your business before you walk out, so it was important to be prepared for whatever direction the conversations could go.”
The sharks bit. Judge Mark Cuban ended up making a deal with the TIK PIK duo, who took a 16% piece of the company for $75,000.
George said. “All the Sharks ended up being very nice, and there was an amazing group of professionals that work on the show [who were] there to make the experience as seamless as possible.”
During the show, George and MaC, along with the sharks, were trying the ‘picks that stick’ as they played with the guitars.
While the TIK PIK founders secured a deal, they almost missed their chance. “The show came up early in the life of the brand and product. It actually wasn’t ideal timing because we were still ‘getting off the ground’, but we wanted to take advantage of something that was in front of us, and we are glad we did.”
George added, “As someone who has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, this also ticks something off my bucket list.”
A Cayman shout-out
During the episode, Cuban gave a big shout-out to Cayman, noting how fond he is of the islands and his frequent visits. He also shared he’s a fan of George’s dad, singer/musician George Nowak, also known as Barefoot Man.
“Going in, I knew that Mark had a home in Cayman, but I didn’t realise how important our island(s) are to him and his family. Then hearing they were a fan of my dad’s music made my jaw drop!”
He added, “It was all really great to hear and is a testament to [the] Caymankind that they could go anywhere in the world but have chosen Cayman as a second home.”
‘Game changing’
George called the Shark Tank deal “a game changer” for the company. “Since we filmed the show, and now since it has aired, so many doors have opened and so much exposure has been given to TIK PIK.”
He said they’re waiting until the dust settles from the show to “get back to the new normal”.
George added, “Since it aired, it has been 17-hour workdays for me and my team. We’re getting orders filled, responding to inquiries from interested resellers around the world, and working with our factories to make sure we have enough TIK PIKS to go around.
“We are going to focus on expansion and eventually some great follow-up products that we have up our sleeves.”
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