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'Shark Tank' Season 14: Fans call FireFighter1 product 'for rich people' as Sharks Mark and Lori invest in entrepreneur

Lori and Mark make an investment in a young businesswoman Bianca Wittenberg who aspires to carry on her father's legacy

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Season 14, Episode 8 of 'Shark Tank' introduced the viewers to entrepreneur Bianca Wittenberg, who was delighted to present her breakthrough invention, FireFighter1. However, most Shark investors considered the business in its infant stage as uninvestable, with the exception of those who saw promise in the face standing tall with the company.

While flames can erupt at any time, it might take some time for firemen to get to the site. As a result, having a few firefighting tools on hand is usually a good idea. This is where FireFighter1 comes in since it provides a more accessible and effective alternative to traditional fire extinguishers. Bianca, a California native, noted that she lived in a forest fire-prone area. She was, however, unhappy to see that the public was not provided with enough tools to battle emergency fires, other than useless fire extinguishers. As a result, in 2015, she went back to the drawing board and came up with the concept of FireFighter1.

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FireFighter1 quickly uses 25,000 gallons of water from the swimming pool. The FireFighter 1 is a basic yet clever invention that comprises a 1.5′′ nylon fire hose that connects to a pool pump through a diverter. While it is simple for a user to connect the hose themselves, they can alternatively request that their maintenance worker or a qualified contractor do so. Aside from being resistant to wear and tear, FireFighter 1 comes with a high-pressure nozzle and provides users with a simple approach to dealing with minor flames. A 3-way diverter for installation is also included, as well as a robust protective container.

Shark Kevin O'Leary inquires Bianca about the product's use in the event of an evacuation alarm. Bianca tells that while you should escape, many times flames are a couple of miles distant and embers fly over a mile, therefore a person can use the product to wet their property before they evacuate. On the other hand, if there is a backyard BBQ fire, it can be dealt with before it spreads. Bianca is offering not only the hose but also the adaptor because pool owners are likely to have pumps. However, because the adaptor is not a standard one, it is best to have it fitted by a professional. Shark Mark Cuban asks Bianca how much is the cost of the item, to which she responds that the 50-foot unit costs roughly $124 to produce. She has been building only 25-30 units at a time and is looking for assistance to increase her margins. The 100-foot version costs $399 and costs her approximately $200 to create. Viewers quickly took to social media to call the product something for "rich people," "YEY, Something for Rich People!"

Shark Daymond John wants to know more about how the device can put out a large fire. Bianca answers that flying embers are a major concern. Shark Lori Greiner questions Bianca about her father, the original inventor, and her background. Bianca said that they had seen wildfires every year since living in Southern California. Given that many Californians had pools, her father asked why they couldn't utilize the pool water for such situations. There are costly engines that can be dipped into the pool for usage, but they are pricey and could be out of reach for many people. So he came up with the idea when Bianca was little. Bianca is attempting to fulfill her father's ambitions now that he has been gone for five years.

Lori's concern about the device was if the firemen could use it to drain pools if necessary. Bianca confirms, explaining that their goal is to make firemen aware of where the FireFighter1 is placed so that they can utilize it. In terms of revenue, Bianca informs the Sharks that the firm was founded in February 2022. Her cash flow is $23000 from sales of 49 units. Bianca collaborated with pool businesses since they already have relationships with pool owners. Bianca would pay 25% if the pool companies only sell the units on a commission basis. If she has a company that buys inventory, the commission is roughly 20%, depending on the number of units purchased.

Guest Shark Daniel Lubetzky does not believe he can bring significant value to the company, therefore he declines to make a deal. Shark Kevin O'Leary is also hesitant to invest in the company because FireFighter1 is still in its early stages. Daymond claims he won't be able to assist Bianca in growing the firm, so he withdraws as well. Lori, on the other hand, believes the product requires a lot of mouthpieces and that she and Mark could assist Bianca in figuring it out. Mark asks Bianca whether she has the patience to accomplish this, and she says yes. Mark believes it will take time for people to comprehend the product and for the word to spread, but the firm has a lot of leverage points. He believes the product might help the entire state of California. So the two make Bianca an offer of $150k for 25%. Bianca challenges Mark and Lori's offer of 20%, which they reject. With only one offer on the table, Bianca accepts Mark and Lori's offer of $150k for 25%.

Listening to Bianca's story, some fans took to Twitter to congrats her for continuing her father's legacy, "Fire Fighter 1, congrats great legacy for her and her dad. Congrats Mark and Lori." While some took the opportunity to question the need of the product, "None of my parents' houses had a fire before."

'Shark Tank' Season 14 airs every Friday at 8/7c on ABC. 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.

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