YONO Clip on ‘Shark Tank’: What is the cost, who are the founders and how will it keep you germ free post COVID-19?
Looking for the ultimate solution to keep your things off the floor and free from germs? YONO Clip is here to solve all your problems. A robotic device you can attach to anything and anywhere to rid it of germs, the new product is just what you need in this post-COVID-19 world.
In the latest episode of ‘Shark Tank’, entrepreneurs from Atlanta, Georgia, believe they have a simple product that everyone could use to keep their belongings germ-free. Bob Mackey and Michael Green introduced their YONO Clip in Season 12 Episode 12 and it might just be what you're looking for. Going by the official website, it is “strong, portable, compact and inexpensive”. Here's all you need to know about the intriguing product and its founders.
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What is Yono Clip?
At the gym and nowhere to hang your gym bag or purse? At the restaurant or coffee shop and no place to put your bookbag, purse, diaper bag or laptop bag? Back-to-school and nowhere for your kid to put their bookbag? YONO Clip has you covered!
With the strength to hold up to 15lbs, the new ‘Shark Tank’ product can hold anything you want. Attach YONO Clip to a wall, desk or any flat, non-porous surface. Whether the surface is vertical, horizontal or diagonal, YONO Clip makes it easy to keep your things clean. Made using DURAFLEX® suction cup technology, it has softer pliability of rubber along with the added durability of polyurethane. A vacuum seal is created by proving a gel loc technology.
In case you were curious, YONO will never leave a mark on the surface. Shaped like an oblong ring, it is a 70mm stainless steel carabiner clip with one side spring-tensioned which eventually opens like a gate and closes easily when pushed with fingers.
Who are the founders?
Bob Mackey and Michael Green's story will make you believe dreams can come true. The idea first came to Mackey, who hails from Athens and attended Clarke Central High School. One day, he almost tripped over someone’s bag at the gym and looked around to see a number of bags lying around. That's when he realized the need for a portable hook.
Mackey sketched out a rough design on a paper towel during his bike workout. Slowly, he started to plan further and posted about it on Facebook. It caught Atlanta-based educator Michael Green's eyes, who was keen to team up. Green has given science presentations in elementary schools and sporting events. Meanwhile, Mackey is the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia.
Before they could get any success, a long struggle lay ahead. “We submitted it to three different professional engineering companies, and they all said it would never work,” recalled Mackey. The first go-ahead came from United Kingdom-based Aeon Engineering and their $10,000 crowdfunding campaign reached its goal in under 24 hours. Did you know the entire product packaging was done in just eight months? Back in March, Mackey submitted his ‘Shark Tank’ application and the two were then all set to be on the show.
What is the cost?
Not only is YONO Clip helpful to stay away from diseases, you can also personalize it with your company's logo! Available in a variety of six colors — including Black, White, Red, Blue, Pink and Green — the product costs $19.99 on the official website. To buy it, click here.
“One of our first customers was a woman who did water aerobics as part of physical therapy,” Mackey told Online Athens. “She told us that the YONO Clip keeps her from having to bend down to get into her bag, and it stays dry because it’s not on the ground.”
Inspiring budding entrepreneurs with his story, Green said, “We tell kids that everything is possible and that no dream is too big.” He added, “To go through the process of creating the YONO Clip and ultimately be featured on ‘Shark Tank’ is proof, and it gives us even more credibility when we have those conversations.”
Where are they now?
YONO Clip got its first recognition when they uploaded their work on Kickstarter on June 13, 2020, looking for backers who contributed $9,857 for its launch. By October 2020, the founders launched the official website.
In their pitch for Kickstarter, the founders said, “YONO Clip maximizes the life of our product by only using the highest-grade materials. Hours of research and development ensure a strong, well-built and reliable product for consumers,” adding, “YONO Clip uses low-impact, reliably sourced materials such as PLA and recycled paper packaging.” Made from environmentally-friendly, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) materials, the product claims it keeps materials and packaging out of the landfill by using recycled paper packaging.
Here's their project budget:
Who will steal the deal?
The product is exciting and the pitch seems quite fascinating, which means the founders will manage to grab a deal. Going by their Instagram handle — where a photo shows Mark Cuban and Daymond John holding it — YONO Clip might just go to these Sharks. After the post, one fan joked, “Daymond looks like he’s thinking ‘I bet this YONO guy wears a green wig too!!’”
In a sneak peek, the official ‘Shark Tank’ handle wrote: “What do you think these #SharkTank products do? Drop your guesses below and find out on an all-new episode Friday!”
What do you think these #SharkTank products do? 🤔 Drop your guesses below and find out on an all-new episode Friday! pic.twitter.com/ZXAGS9l9ZC
— Shark Tank (@ABCSharkTank) February 3, 2021
‘Shark Tank’ Season 12 Episode 9 returned to ABC after the winter break on January 8, 2021, at 8 pm ET. Catch the new episode featuring Yono Clip, NightCap, Rule Breaker and MountainFlow on February 5, 2021, at 8 pm ET or 7 pm CT 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 and iTunes.