Tenikle Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 13
From Concept to Reality: The Journey of Tenikle! It appeared on Shark Tank Season 13 and achieved success after Shark Tank.
Hans Dose pitches Tenikle, his tripod for mounting phones and cameras, in Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 9. The idea came to him after he broke his phone on some rocks after trying to prop it up on a tree for a picture.
On the way home, he had an epiphany when he put his phone on a suction cup-mounted phone holder in his car. He thought, “tripod plus tentacles equals a third hand to replace all other mount accessories.”
Check out other Shark Tank Season 13 Episodes.
About Tenikle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Tenikle |
| Founder | Hans Dose |
| Industry | Consumer Electronics, Accessories |
| Product | Flexible tripod with suction cups for phones and cameras |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Daymond John |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $200,000 for 30% equity |
| Valuation | $2 million |
If you ever had a Gumby toy as a kid, think of Tenikle as something like that. It’s a three-legged, bendable tripod with octopus-like suction cups. It can do many things beyond functioning as a tripod, too. You can also use it as a car mount, selfie stick, phone stand, and more. There’s even an attachable phone clip that screws into the product.
He got the funds to get started with a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $107,283 back in September 2017. He also raised $126,922 on IndieGoGo. Unfortunately, production and shipping issues went unresolved for two years, and when they were finally delivered, there were issues with the product’s quality.
The company offered to allow backers to trade up for the Tenikle 2, which took another year to deliver. Now, they have their ship righted and they’re selling on their website and Amazon.
A Tenikle 360 – the newest version – costs $5, and the “2.0” is $30. He likely wants a Shark’s cash as well as help with the manufacturing and shipping SNAFUS he encountered with his Kickstarter. Do Sharks work with octopuses?
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Tenikle Shark Tank Recap
Hans enters the water in swim fins with an inflatable octopus around his waist. He’s seeking $200,000 for 10% of his company. He says he loves octopi and tells the story of how he came up with the idea. He tells about all the things it can do and shows how the suction cups can support lifting a surfboard.
Mark says he likes it. He wants numbers, though. Each unit costs $6.08 to make and sells for $45. He sold over 40,000 units for $1.3 million in sales and wrote the patent in 2015 while working at Hurley (surfboards) as a designer; it was his dream job.
He gave prototypes to friends and family, and they all found interesting uses for them. He tells the Sharks about his Kickstarter. The current product is the fourth version. He had to keep remaking the product until he had better suction.
To get to this point, he has gone $270,000 in debt. In 2020, he did $478,000 in sales. Last month, he only did $9000 in sales because he ran out of marketing dollars. He has $111,000 of inventory at cost. He and his wife moved into an RV to save money. Mark says, worst case scenario, he sells in flea markets. Hans reveals he only has $39 in the bank.
Did Tenikle Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Kevin can’t criticize the product or Hans, but he wishes him the best and goes out. Lori thinks it’s a good product, but it’s a crowded space, so she’s out.
Robert offers to pay the $270,000 debt and then give him an additional $100,000 for 60% of the business, and he wants Hans to bring in other partners; the equity to bring in those partners would come from Robert.
Daymond identifies with Hans’ situation and tells a story of how he raised money when he started. Daymond believes in Hans and offers $200,000 for 33.3%, then Daymond drops to 30%. Mark says that’s a better offer than he’d give; he’s out.
Hans looks at Robert and says, “I’m out.” The Sharks roar with laughter. Hans counters with 25%, and Daymond says no, so Hans does the deal.
Tenikle Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. In the immediate aftermath of the show, Hans had over $250,000 in sales and completely sold out on Amazon. On show night, Daymond Tweeted:
“No matter what kind of situation you’re in, there’s always hope. I believe in Hans and his product and am looking forward to working with my new partner!!”
The deal with Daymond did close, and the company got an update segment in Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 21. In the update, Hans says he did $375,000 in sales in the month and a half since he aired. Daymond announced a strategic partnership with Cody Grandadam of Litezall. As a result, Cody secured a $1 million retail order. As a result of the company’s success, Hans and his wife are looking for a new house.
The company added a Bluetooth-enabled shutter remote to its line. This lets you snap a picture remotely—much better than a selfie stick! The product is now sold in over 1,300 Lowe’s stores.
In July 2024, Tenickle sponsored Spencer Boyd in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Unfortunately, Spencer had to bow out early due to car troubles and logged his first last-place finish since 1995. By then, the company had over $5 million in lifetime sales. The estimated net worth of Tenikle is around $1.5 million, as of 2025.
The Shark Tank Blog will follow up on Tenikle & Hans Dose as more details become available.
Posts about Tenikle on Shark Tank Blog
Where Can You Buy It?
Tenikle products are available for purchase on their official website, Amazon, and other retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. For more updates, check out their social media pages: Facebook and Twitter.
Quick Summary
- Hans Dose pitched Tenikle, a flexible tripod with suction cups for phones and cameras, seeking $200,000 for 10% equity on Shark Tank.
- Daymond John invested $200,000 for 30% equity, and Tenikle later secured a $1 million retail order after the show.
- Tenikle has now sold over $5 million worth of products and expanded into 1300 Lowe’s stores, with additional product enhancements like a Bluetooth shutter remote.
Curious to know about other businesses that appeared on Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 9? Check out their business updates!
