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'Shark Tank' Season 15 fans accuse Arber founder Vanessa Dawson of being 'in denial' over $12.5M valuation

The margins at Arber did not appeal to 'Shark Tank's Mark Cuban and Candace Nelson, therefore, they declined to invest in the company

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Creating environments that replicate the native habitat of plants is crucial for their thriving, especially in settings like interior areas and gardens. Arber's organic plant food can assist with this.

Founder Vanessa Dawson recently appeared on 'Shark Tank' and delivered an impressive pitch. However, the figures she presented to the celebrity investors and ABC viewers astonished everyone.

Vanessa sought $500,000 for 4% of her firm, Arber. She stated that she expects to earn $2.7 million this year.

She stated that they have high-profit margins and that the product costs between $7 and $10 to produce. Surprised by the numbers, fans on Reddit wrote, "$4 to $5 million sales this year. What even is Shark Tank any more?" Another person chimed in, "The crazy part is they have to get to $15M or so in sales to even get close to the Shark getting their money back."

One user wrote, "Numbers better be off the chain. EDIT: $12.5M valuation." A fourth user sighed, "She seemed very intelligent but in a bit of denial about her margins. Might work better as an online play unless she can get the costs down significantly."

On X, one fan noted, "$500,000 for 4% makes a valuation of $12,500,000, right? What am I missing??" Another added, "#Arber is a great concept but you must have great sales to ask for the amount for such a low percentage."

Did 'Shark Tank's Arber get a deal?

Mark Cuban expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the venture, believing that the necessary margins were lacking. Mark and Candace Nelson opted out since the margins were not to their taste.

Daymond John also decided that the opportunity was not suitable for him at this time and exited the deal. On the other hand, Lori Greiner expressed admiration for Vanessa's work and stated that she would be a client, but she did not feel qualified to be an investor in this particular venture.

Kevin O'Leary wrestled with the decision and ultimately proposed an offer of $500k for a 5% ownership stake and a $1 royalty on each unit sold. However, Vanessa declined Mr. Wonderful's offer, expressing confidence that she made the correct decision for her business.

What is 'Shark Tank's Arber?

Vanessa, who has extensive experience as a serial tech entrepreneur, began working on the concept of creating garden items that are not only biologically produced but also packaged in recyclable materials. Furthermore, Vanessa was appointed a Council Member of the National Women's Business Council in April 2019 as a result of her entrepreneurial achievement.

After two years of research and development, she founded Arber on April 22, 2021 (Earth Day), and appointed Pam Marrone as chief scientific adviser to create effective product forms for the company's goods. Because all of this occurred during the COVID-19 epidemic, Vanessa and her team found it impossible to establish a supply chain.

She engaged a third-party organization to ensure the quality of her items. Arber's mission is to provide all gardeners with safe, aesthetically pleasing plant care products so that they can manage green areas. The firm also offers a variety of teaching materials to teach people how to care for plants and contribute to a more sustainable environment.

Who is the founder of 'Shark Tank's Arber?

Vanessa founded Arber, a firm dedicated to plant wellbeing, fueled by her passion for gardening. She earned a dual degree in Psychology and Biology from Queen's University and subsequently served as the Director of Business Development at Dom & Tom.

Simultaneously, Vanessa founded Evry in January 2012 before assuming the role of Investor Relations representative at 1843 Capital. Additionally, she founded The Vinetta Project and became its CEO in September 2013.

When things got better, she invested in Flytographer and Silvernest. Vanessa's life altered dramatically in the late 2010s when she moved from New York City to Los Angeles and became a mother.

For those who missed the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past 'Shark Tank' seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.