The Clean Cube Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 7
Arthur Shmulevsky and Ryan Agran pitched The Clean Cube, an automated doorman service, on Shark Tank. Despite its innovation, the Sharks worried about scalability; no deal was made, and the business closed in 2015.
The Clean Cube promised to revolutionize city living with an automated locker system handling everything from laundry and dry cleaning to package delivery. Founders Arthur Shmulevsky and Ryan Agran pitched The Clean Cube, their “automated doorman service”, to the Sharks in Shark Tank Season 7 Episode 7.
While the idea wowed with its innovation, the Sharks had concerns about growth and logistics. Ultimately, the founders left without a deal.
About The Clean Cube
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | The Clean Cube |
| Founders | Arthur Shmulevsky, Ryan Agran |
| Industry | Automated Services, Technology |
| Product | Automated locker-based doorman service for laundry, packages, and more |
| Investment Asked | $300,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Status | No Deal |
| Valuation | $3 million (at the time of Shark Tank pitch) |
The Clean Cube places locker-like cabinets in apartment building lobbies. Residents get a PIN number to open and activate the lockers. If you wanted to schedule dry cleaning pickup, you’d punch in your PIN, and the system would tell you which lockers are vacant.
Place your dry cleaning in the locker, and it’s picked up and returned without you having to wait or leave your stuff in an insecure location.
The Clean Cube also offers package delivery services. When you order something to be delivered, have it shipped to The Clean Cube offices. They will deliver it to a secure locker in your building and let you know via text or email that it’s arrived.
You can also send packages the same way, donate to Goodwill, or even put items in storage. The Clean Cube is also developing refrigerated lockers for home food delivery.
At the time of their Shark Tank appearance, The Clean Cube had its lockers in 40 buildings in New York City; they planned to have 1,000 buildings in 4 years.
Property owners love the service because it provides a value-added amenity for their building, and residents enjoy the security and convenience.
The cost to ship or receive a package was just $3. Wash and fold service is $1.15 a pound, and dry cleaning is the same cost as if you dropped it off. Shmulevsky marks up the pricing on services that serve all Clean Cubes in the city, so he’s making money on the back-end.
The Clean Cube likely needs money to fund its expansion and for increased storage, laundry, and dry cleaning space. Would a Shark invest in their innovative service?
The Clean Cube Shark Tank Pitch
Arthur and Ryan entered the Shark Tank seeking $300K for 10% equity in their business. They talked about the increasingly on-demand world we live in and how many people struggle with the “last mile” when it comes to the demand economy. The Clean Cube is their solution to the issues with the “last mile.”
They had The Clean Cube on stage, and they asked Barbara to come up and try it out. She used her password to drop off some dry cleaning in a vacant cube and to pick up a package for Mark in another cube.
The founders wanted cash to grow and scale their business. They had Clean Cubes in 40 buildings – the smallest has ten units, the largest has 168 units.
Kevin wanted to know how many Clean Cube units they needed per building, and the guys said it’s about 7 apartments per Cube.
When Kevin objected and thought landlords would want to charge rent, Arthur explained that the last three buildings actually paid them to place Clean Cubes in the building.
Barbara understood the value, noting that buildings with a doorman can charge higher rent, and The Clean Cube offers a similar benefit.
The company did $130K in gross sales a year before appearing on the show, half of which was in the last three months.
Did The Clean Cube Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Robert Herjavec said he doesn’t like the footprint; he was out.
Kevin thought each location would result in protracted negotiations, which would be a pain in his behind. So, he was out.
Lori Greiner knew there was a huge problem they were solving, but she thought they were still figuring it out; she was out.
Mark Cuban thought they were in the right place, but didn’t see a “wow factor;” he was out. Barbara didn’t see it as a big play; she was out, too.
Each Shark praised the idea but couldn’t see a clear path to scale. One by one, they stepped out, leaving The Clean Cube without a deal.
What Happened to The Clean Cube After Shark Tank?
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show.
While The Clean Cube’s time in the Tank ended without a deal, founders Arthur Shmulevsky and Ryan Agran stayed optimistic. After the pitch, Ryan shared, “It would have been great to have partnerships with Mark or Barbara… but you know, we’ll do it on our own.”
The duo had big plans, aiming to expand into 1,000 buildings within four years and capture a few percent of the New York market.
Unfortunately, the post-show “Shark Tank effect” never quite hit. The company did little marketing around its episode, and neither founder gave follow-up interviews to keep the buzz alive.
While the business managed to get into 40 residential buildings in New York City, it closed its doors in November 2015 after 3 years in business.
Where Can You Buy It?
Since The Clean Cube is out of business, the official website is no longer active. However, past updates are accessible via Google. Check out their social media pages for earlier information: Facebook and Twitter.
Why Did The Clean Cube Go Out of Business?
Though it’s unclear exactly what led to The Clean Cube’s downfall, scaling such an operation was always going to be tough, especially with growing competition from services like Amazon Lockers.
Viewers who watched the pitch shared mixed opinions online. Some, like Reddit user u/Catpaws25, praised the idea, noting it could be a great fit for cities without doormen.
Others were more skeptical, calling out the clunky interface, logistical challenges, and even joking about how long a locker might last on a New York subway platform.
Posts About The Clean Cube on Shark Tank Blog
Learn more details about the Automated Doorman Clean Cube.
Quick Summary
- Arthur Shmulevsky and Ryan Agran asked for an investment of $300,000 for 10% equity in The Clean Cube, a locker-based automated service for laundry, packages, and more.
- The Clean Cube operates in 40 New York City buildings, providing convenience and security for residents and property owners.
- The Sharks appreciated the concept but had concerns about scalability and market appeal, which led to no deal.
Check out other products that appeared in the Shark Tank Season 7 episodes.
Interested in knowing about other businesses that appeared on the same episode? Check out their business updates!
