Stakt on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost, who are the founders, and all about the viral TikTok foldable yoga mat
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Picture this, you're just done with an intense pilates session and now want to cool down with some yoga asanas, while your body maybe ready for the challenge, your yoga mat might not be up for the challenge. We all are familiar with the tedious task of rolling our mats for that extra support to our poor old joints. The constant folding and unfolding, while struggling to get a grip on the mat can be a huge turn-off for many. Stakt founders Millie Blumka, and Taylor Borenstein fell into this category.
Tired of folding and unfolding their mats not only before and after each session, but also during the workout session for that extra support and cushioning, Millie and Taylor set out to find a solution for it. When they realized that there was no viable solution in the market, the duo set out to create one, thus blessing the world with Stakt foldable yoga mats. With these unique yoga mats, you no longer have to struggle with stashing away your mat or wondering how much you need to fold your mat to get the cushioning you need. Millie and Taylor will be pitching their unique mats on the upcoming episode of 'Shark Tank' before Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner and guest Shark Kendra Scott. While we will have to wait and watch to see if any of the Sharks find these mats appealing enough to invest their money, in the meanwhile, you can really all about Stakt and its founders here.
RELATED ARTICLES
MAXPRO Fitness on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost, who is the founder and how to exercise anywhere?
What is Stakt?
If you're on TikTok you may have seen clips of foldable yoga mats doing rounds on your page. Stakt's foldable yoga mat took the internet by storm Stakt is a patent pending, foldable fitness mat that unlocks a new level of versatility in your exercise regimen. The Stakt mat is the ultimate fitness mat- it's more supportive than the average yoga mat and doubles as a block- truly making it a 2-in-1 piece of equipment. It's the perfect addition to any home gym or studio. It conveniently stores and is super lightweight.
"The way we sweat has changed. Tired of uncomfortable workouts and cluttered storage, our Co-Founders, Millie & Taylor were inspired to reinvent the traditional yoga mat to evolve alongside exercise. Enter Stakt, the patent-pending, 2-in-1 mat that doubles as a block. Unlock a new level of support, versatility and potential for your daily movement," states the brand's website.
If you're wondering how a Stakt mat is different from a traditional yoga mat, then here you go. When folded, the Stakt mat can be used for step-ups, tricep dips, incline exercises, and more. It's 2x thicker than your average yoga mat, making it twice as supportive. The Stakt mat is 10m thick, and 69" x 23.6" when laid flat, and 3" x 23.6" when folded.
@stakt.mat The foldable stakt mat: add extra support and versatility to your routine … now in rosewater 💞
♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim
Who are the founders of Stakt?
Millie Blumka, and Taylor Borenstein are the brains behind Stakt. Millie and Taylor met during their undergrad at Tulane University and currently live in New York. Taylor studied marketing and has a full-time job outside of Stakt Mat in the finance industry, while Millie studied psychology and has a sales career with an experiential retail store doing brand partnerships. The long-time friends realized the shortcomings of their yoga mats during their many home workout sessions. They quickly identified that their yoga mats were not supportive, adaptable or appealing enough to support their new fitness regimens. They found themselves constantly rolling up the mats for more support and flexibility, as they sweat through sculpt, pilates and strength training – movement that the mats were not originally intended for.
"As the world around us changed, so did our workouts…Stakt was born out of a love for sweating and a need for adaptation. Our ‘at-home workout’ was no longer just a weekly yoga class to wind down, and we needed a fitness mat that could keep up,” Millie and Taylor shared on their website. In an interview with Ask Your Girls, Mille recounted, "They weren’t adding value to our workouts." So the duo surveyed their friends and family asking if they too experiences similar issues during their home workouts. The survey's results made it very clear that there was something missing in the market. This prompted the duo to create Stakt Mat, a foldable multi-purpose fitness mat that not only serves as a yoga mat but also step tool, yoga block, etc.
The Stakt mat went viral on the internet, making it an overnight success.
What is the cost and where to buy Stakt mat from?
You can get your very own TikTok famous Stakt mat from the brand's website here. The mats are available in three color variants- a dark-colored mat called Iron, a pastel green colored variant called seafoam green, and a cute Pinterest board-worthy pink variant named rosewater. Each Stakt mat retails for $86. The brand is currently running a special 'Shark Tank' promotional offer of $10 discount on every purchase.
These mats have earned rave reviews from its customers as well. A customer wrote, "Great mat for at home workouts. Much more comfortable for when I do abs and lower body compared to my old mat. Easy to take on the go. Easy to store in my apartment."
The brand also offers an upcycling program for their customers once they're done using the Stakt mat. For every old and used Stakt mat returned to the brand as part of their upcycling efforts, the customer will receive a credit for their next purchase!
@stakt.mat After selling out our launch- stakt mat is back in stock! #smallbusinesscheck #fitnesschallenge #yogaflow #producttok ♬ Don't Stop Me Now - Remastered 2011 - Queen
Where is Stakt mat now?
Stakt mat is currently raising funds for breast cancer research as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - We're donating a portion of sales to Northwell Health's Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. The Funds raised will directly support a female Breast Cancer researcher through the organization's Advancing Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM) awards," stated the brand on their website.
Who will steal the deal?
Owing to its simplistic and innovative design, QVC Queen aka Lori Greiner might steal the deal. Although the brand's sales numbers and profit margins will ultimately be the major deciding factor for the sharks on whether to invest in the business or not. So, we will just have to wait and watch to see if the Sharks even make a deal.
'Shark Tank' Season 14 Episode 3 airs on ABC on October 7, 2022, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Halloween Moments, Stakt Mat, Mama O's Kimchi, and
Create a Castle Sand Castle Molds.
Missed an episode? Been wanting to catch up? Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, you can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.