Highlights
- Bill and Cathy Schmid present Halo, a line of infant sleepwear that includes the Sleepsack, designed to prevent SIDS by encouraging safe back-sleeping.
- Halo has sold over 8 million Sleepsacks and is used in nearly 1,000 hospitals, with additional products in development, including a bassinet and expanded sleepwear line.
- The Schmids started Halo after losing their daughter to SIDS, making it their mission to help reduce SIDS cases, which still cause over 2,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Halo |
| Founders | Bill and Cathy Schmid |
| Industry | Infant Sleepwear / Baby Products |
| Product | Sleepsack wearable blanket, bassinet, and sleepwear |
| Funding | Seeking Shark investment |
| Sales | 8 million Sleepsacks sold, used in nearly 1,000 hospitals |
Bill and Cathy Schmid pitch Halo, their line of infant sleepwear and accessories designed for safe sleeping in episode 601, the Shark Tank season 6 premier. The Schmids started their business after a horrible tragedy: their 8 week old daughter died of SIDS in 1991. After that, it became their mission to create a product that keeps babies sleeping on their backs (stomach sleeping is thought to be a cause of SIDS). Nonprofit SIDS organization First Candle says SIDS remains the leading cause of death for babies 1 month to 1-year-old.
After looking for answers, Bill quit his job and founded Halo. He began asking about SIDS and researching solutions. In many ways, Halo was a pioneer in SIDS prevention. The Federal government launched a Safe to Sleep campaign in 1994 to educate parents about preventing SIDS by having their babies sleep on their back instead of their stomach. While nobody knows what causes SIDS, back sleeping seems to prevent it. SIDS deaths have been reduced in the US since this educational campaign began, but sadly, over 2,000 babies still die from SIDS each year.
The solution Bill eventually found to help keep babies sleeping on their backs was the Sleepsack wearable blanket. It’s a modification of a Dutch product Schmid found while researching solutions for SIDS that he “Americanized.” The Sleepsack keeps babies swaddled up tight and on their backs until they reach an age where they can right themselves in their crib on their own.
To date, Halo sold over 8 million Sleepsacks and has the product in nearly 1,000 hospitals. Halo is developing new products, including a bassinet, sleepwear, and an expanded line of Sleepsacks. While the company has great success already, Halo may be looking for a Shark to help with rapid growth.
Will Halo get a deal?
Halo Shark Tank Recap
Bill and Cathy will pitch the panel of five Sharks on the business and its prospects for growth. They’ll need to convince Mark Cuban, Lori Grenier, Kevin O’Leary, Daymond John, and Robert Herjavec that the company is worthy of a Shark investment. A good business plan, good financials, and sales data will impress the Sharks, but they’ll need to show them THEY are capable of running the company to “Shark standards.” A full pitch re-cap on Halo will be available on Shark Tank Blog once this episode airs.
Halo Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. Once an episode has aired, we monitor the progress of the businesses featured, whether they receive funding or not and report on their progress. The Shark Tank Blog will follow-up on Halo and the Schmids as more details become available.
Posts About Halo on Shark Tank Blog
Sleepsack Wearable Blanket by Halo
Halo Information
Video
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