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‘Shark Tank’ Season 12 Episode 1: Who is Carson Grill? How 15-year-old nabbed deal with Blake at $200K for 17%

A freshman in high school, Carson is the inventor and founder of Touch Up Cup at 15

‘Shark Tank’ is back with the Sharks Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary and Guest Shark Blake Mycoskie — the founder of TOMS shoes. The first episode of ‘Shark Tank’ season 12 features two family-owned business ventures, namely, TouchUp Cup and GarmaGuard, alongside two other start-ups called Spark Charge and Rumpl.

The paint storage product, TouchUp Cup is introduced by a father-son duo Carson Grill and Jason from Cincinnati on the season premiere. They believe their product is an important solution for the paint industry. Quite unbelievably so, the 15-year-old kid named Carson was the one to strike the first deal with the guest shark Blake. 

Carson was seeking $150K for 10% but Blake offered him $200K for 25%. After a series of bargains, the kid gets a deal at $200K for 17%. What's more, in the episode, Kevin even asks him to drop out and work full-time. Well, obviously, Carson can't do that! 

Who is Carson Grill?

A freshman in high school, Carson is the inventor and founder of Touch Up Cup at 15. He came up with the idea while working with his dad around the house. “A few years back Carson was doing some touch-up painting with his dad around the house. They went to open just a few gallon cans when they realized the rust, clumps, and smell. They quickly realized that their expensive paint had gone bad! They looked at each other and said 'There has to be a better way.' That's when Carson invented the Touch Up Cup for paint!” their official website says.

In an interview with Spectrum News 1, Grill and his father talked about what it was like to go on Shark Tank in the middle of a pandemic. “He was not nervous. I was the one freaking out with all the five million viewers,” Jason said. “He wasn’t thinking about that, he was just thinking about going out, doing a great job and that’s exactly what he did. So, I’m just really proud of him.”

What's more, Carson rubbished the fact that he was nervous to be a young kid in front of the judges. “I really haven’t had worries about my age because I have had my dad to back me up,” he told the outlet. “He’s helped through the whole process. He’s helped me get to where I am today.”

What is the cost of Touch Up?

“They incorporated a stainless-steel mixing ball for easy mixing – Just Shake N’ Paint BABY,” the website reads. “This genius invention keeps your paint fresh for over 10 years!” Want to buy it? 

The Touch Up Cup is available in single containers or packs of three. You can get a single container for $6.99 and the three-pack for $14.99.

That's not all, catch a glimpse of another product called the Fresh-Line Keepers by the Grill duo, which aim to keep baked sweets fresh for longer. “The Fresh Line Keepers were cooked up by Carson as well,” the Touch Up Cup website reads. “Determined to make their sweet treats last longer, Jason and Carson teamed up to develop special containers made just for the job. The duo’s solution is a suite of storage solutions made with a specific sweet treat in mind. Each one is airtight, leakproof, and safe in the microwave, dishwasher and freezer.”

'Insane work ethic and confidence'

No wonder, people on the Internet were impressed with the young one. "This kid (Carson) is amazing. #SharkTank@BlakeMycoskie gets the first deal of Season 12," one said and another posted, "Yooo, this season of #SharkTank if off to a great start. Carson was amazing & he's only 15. I see amazing things in his future @TouchUpCup. Gotta look up what "EDI" means bc that's above me. @ABCSharkTank."

"People surprised by Carson on #SharkTank are clearly not paying attention to the capabilities and the power of the generations below them. We have an insane amount of access to information that was behind gatekeepers' generations before. This will be the new normal," one viewer said and another posted, "That teenager Carson is incredible. Insane work ethic and confidence. I am very impressed. #TheTouchUpCup @ABCSharkTank #SharkTank."

‘Shark Tank’ Season 12 Episode 1 premiered on October 16, 2020, at 8 pm ET/ 7 pm CT on ABC.