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He Asked for One Shark. He Got Three. - Tom Burden
Episode 6: He Asked for One Shark. He Got Three. - Tom Burden
Tom Burden spent his time in the Air Force keeping F-16s in the air, not building consumer products. But it was exactly that work, wrestling tools across the curved, awkward surfaces of a fighter jet, that led him to invent Grypmat, a flexible, non-slip mat that keeps tools locked in place no matter the angle.
He built the first versions in his own garage, funded early production through Kickstarter, and eventually landed a spot on Shark Tank. Burden walked in seeking $200,000 for 10% of his company. He walked out with something rarer: a combined offer of $360,000 for 30% equity, split between three sharks, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Sir Richard Branson, all at once.
In this episode, Tom talks about the years of grinding it out in a home workshop before that appearance, the sales realities of going from a single garage operation to a nationally recognized product, and what it actually took to get three sharks in the tank to agree to team up instead of compete for one guy's tool mat.
If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn a workplace annoyance into a business several sharks wanted a piece of, this is that story.
Connect with Tom Burden: Website > https://www.grypmat.com LinkedIn > https://www.linkedin.com/in/toburden
Know someone who would be perfect for the show or want to reach out? > https://unlikelysuccesspodcast.com
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By Jeffrey KoenigEpisode 6: He Asked for One Shark. He Got Three. - Tom Burden
Tom Burden spent his time in the Air Force keeping F-16s in the air, not building consumer products. But it was exactly that work, wrestling tools across the curved, awkward surfaces of a fighter jet, that led him to invent Grypmat, a flexible, non-slip mat that keeps tools locked in place no matter the angle.
He built the first versions in his own garage, funded early production through Kickstarter, and eventually landed a spot on Shark Tank. Burden walked in seeking $200,000 for 10% of his company. He walked out with something rarer: a combined offer of $360,000 for 30% equity, split between three sharks, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, and Sir Richard Branson, all at once.
In this episode, Tom talks about the years of grinding it out in a home workshop before that appearance, the sales realities of going from a single garage operation to a nationally recognized product, and what it actually took to get three sharks in the tank to agree to team up instead of compete for one guy's tool mat.
If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn a workplace annoyance into a business several sharks wanted a piece of, this is that story.
Connect with Tom Burden: Website > https://www.grypmat.com LinkedIn > https://www.linkedin.com/in/toburden
Know someone who would be perfect for the show or want to reach out? > https://unlikelysuccesspodcast.com