Why didn't The Peep Show get a deal? Alaska entrepreneur loses 'Shark Tank' investors with measly $28K in lifetime sales
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Watching nature blossom before your eyes is one of life's most underappreciated joys. The Peep Show is one way to appreciate this gift in all of its magnificence.
Their smart birdhouses allow you to transmit live footage to your smartphone. Founder Steve Gray recently presented the device on 'Shark Tank' but did not land a deal, mostly due to its very early sales.
Steve entered the Tank and asked the Sharks for $250,000 in exchange for 20% stock. He spoke with the Sharks about his business.
It's a birdhouse with a camera inside. His lifetime sales over 3.5 months were $28k.
Kevin O'Leary stated that he doesn't fit in the area and will not invest. He was also concerned about being sued by attorneys on the back of monkeys stealing cameras.
Robert Herjavec stated that he is not in the business of animals or birds and would not invest. Lori Greiner stated that she is unable to put money in this company since she doesn't see it as investible.
Mark Cuban stated that he did not see this company growing and not making money from it, so he would not invest. Barbara Corcoran followed suit shortly afterward.
This left The Peep Show leaving the Tank with no deal.
Where can you buy The Peep Show?
The Peep Show Birdhouse is priced at $199 without camera equipment, making it ideal for users of the Blink home video system. For those who want an integrated camera, the camera-equipped version is available for $299.
Both variations are easily acquired through their official website. Steve views these birdhouses as more than just useful goods; he considers them works of beauty.
The pricing strategy indicates a dedication to providing birds with the greatest nesting and birthing settings possible, justifying the expense as an investment in both artistry and avian well-being.
The Peep Show is recipient of Red Dot Award
The Peep Show, with the assistance of a nonprofit mentor, debuted in 2023 with an IndieGoGo campaign that has since been removed. The Peep Show got the Red Dot prize that year; Porsche, Maserati, and Apple have also won the prize for contemporary designs.
The Peep Show birdhouses are hand-built in Steve Gray's local workshop
One individual who influenced Steve's love of birds and the concept of The Peep Show is his grandpa, Chuck Gray, who had always wanted to see inside the birdhouses that encircled their family home in Alaska. Fittingly, Steve disclosed that his father created the first prototype of the birdhouse.
This pioneering design included a sewage inspection camera and a coaxial wire. The birdhouse was strategically placed on the outside of the kitchen wall, providing excellent bird observation.
To improve the viewing experience, a computer monitor was placed on the kitchen counter, transforming an everyday location into a bird-watching paradise. Steve began designing the device that is today known as The Peep Show, starting with his father's prototype.
Designating a floor in his home, he built a number of high-end consumer-grade 3D printers that run around the clock, allowing for the continuous manufacturing of these unique birdhouses.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 airs on Fridays on ABC at 8 pm ET.
For those who missed the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.